Ruben Diaz Flamenco-Jazz Project

Ruben Diaz Official Website: www.rdiaz.org

Ruben Diaz is possessed of flamenco roots that are embedded in his family. Indeed, his father, Luis Chavarr�a, was a student and a disciple of Andr�s Segovia.

So, quite naturally, it was his farther who first introduced an eight-year-old Ruben to his icon, Paco de Luc�a. Ruben�s youthful enthusiasm and relatively untutored efforts were disciplined soon thereafter when he commenced formal studies with the renowned Argentinean classical guitarist, Manuel L�pez Ramos, from whom Ruben obtained a solid foundation in classical guitar technique. Thereafter, he became deeply involved in flamenco music and culture with the gipsy community of southern Spain which, in turn, led back to what was to become a longstanding and close association with Paco de Luc�a who has been both Ruben�s example and preceptor for nearly two decades.

Ruben also studied traditional Bachian harmony with the Mexican composer, Humberto Hern�ndez Medrano (a devotee of Katchaturian and Carlos Ch�vez) as well as modern harmony with prominent Mexican pianist, Ricardo P�ez.

Ruben has already performed as a soloist with the National Symphonic Orchestra of Mexico, in the opera �La Vida Breve� of Manuel de Falla as well as toured around the world � notably in Italy, Japan, the United States and, of course, Spain (including the most distinguished precincts of Madrid). In Italy, where he has worked extensively, he has had the opportunity to collaborate with many distinguished musicians such as Paolo Fresu, Walter Caloni, Massimo Colombo and Stefano Cherri (of the �Linea di Confine� quartet) as well as the Stauffer Quartet. He has also performed with the renowned flamenco guitarist, Rafael Riqueni, in Taormina, Sicilia.

Ruben has always scrupulously followed the example of his preceptor, Paco de Luc�a, by committing himself to both live performances and recordings and, likewise, he now collaborates with artists from many different countries in projects that include his own compositions incorporating jazz elements as well as jazz performers resulting in a flamenco-jazz fusion.
Ruben is also committed to contributing to what has become a long tradition of great flamenco art by imparting his own skill and knowledge to those who share his interest and enthusiasm through his own individual classes, open clinics and conservatory teaching.