The debut release from bassist/composer Amanda Ruzza titled This is What Happened explores the incredible dynamics and musicianship of this young phenom of the bass guitar. Amanda has performed with many in the industry, and has now brought her own amazing playing and compositional skills to the public. Joined by some of the music world's top players like David Binney and Cliff Korman, Ruzza shows why her schedule is full. From the opening track “Larry & I" to the title track “This Is What Happened," the listener is graced with Brazilian flavor to hard funk driven by the extraordinary technique of this bass master. If “This Is What Happened" we are all blessed to listen...
About Amanda Ruzza:
Amanda Ruzza is an electric bassist and composer based in New York City. Born in São Paulo, Brazil to a Chilean mother who loved opera and an Italian father who loved rock n' roll, Amanda developed an eclectic musical ear at an early age. Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and English, music was one more language that she learned to used to communicate across international cultural boundaries. While growing up, there were always records playing at her house, and Amanda started playing bass at the age of 12. By age 13, she was already gigging professionally. While in Brazil, she worked with distinguished Brazilian producers and arrangers, including Grammy Award-winner Moogie Canazio, Maestro Jobam and Sony Music Japan's Osny Mello.
Currently, she performs with groups in a variety of styles, such as Global Noize, and Chris Stover's Caetano Veloso Project, as well as with her own band, the Amanda Ruzza Group. Amanda's multicultural background has influenced her passion for composing music that incorporates elements of funk, jazz and South American rhythms. Her group was formed while she obtained her dual degree in Jazz Bass Performance and Liberal Arts at The New School in New York City. In addition, Amanda is also a session bassist having participated in recordings with Bebel Gilberto, Jason Miles, Simone Giuliani and Simon Katz (Jamiroquai).
As the recipient of the highly competitive Latin American World Tour Scholarship, Amanda moved to the U.S.A to study bass performance and contemporary writing and production at Berklee College of Music. In 2003, Amanda began touring and recording with the all-girl country band, Mustang Sally, based in Nashville, Tennessee. With a rugged touring schedule of 262 days a year, she performed in 43 states and four countries. While in the band, she worked with country music producer Barry Beckett, recorded four albums, and played for US military bases overseas in Japan, South Korea, and within the US.
About Amanda Ruzza:
Amanda Ruzza is an electric bassist and composer based in New York City. Born in São Paulo, Brazil to a Chilean mother who loved opera and an Italian father who loved rock n' roll, Amanda developed an eclectic musical ear at an early age. Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and English, music was one more language that she learned to used to communicate across international cultural boundaries. While growing up, there were always records playing at her house, and Amanda started playing bass at the age of 12. By age 13, she was already gigging professionally. While in Brazil, she worked with distinguished Brazilian producers and arrangers, including Grammy Award-winner Moogie Canazio, Maestro Jobam and Sony Music Japan's Osny Mello.
Currently, she performs with groups in a variety of styles, such as Global Noize, and Chris Stover's Caetano Veloso Project, as well as with her own band, the Amanda Ruzza Group. Amanda's multicultural background has influenced her passion for composing music that incorporates elements of funk, jazz and South American rhythms. Her group was formed while she obtained her dual degree in Jazz Bass Performance and Liberal Arts at The New School in New York City. In addition, Amanda is also a session bassist having participated in recordings with Bebel Gilberto, Jason Miles, Simone Giuliani and Simon Katz (Jamiroquai).
As the recipient of the highly competitive Latin American World Tour Scholarship, Amanda moved to the U.S.A to study bass performance and contemporary writing and production at Berklee College of Music. In 2003, Amanda began touring and recording with the all-girl country band, Mustang Sally, based in Nashville, Tennessee. With a rugged touring schedule of 262 days a year, she performed in 43 states and four countries. While in the band, she worked with country music producer Barry Beckett, recorded four albums, and played for US military bases overseas in Japan, South Korea, and within the US.
