Federico Ramos

Federico Ramos
COMPLETE BIOGRAPHY
(January 2007)
Federico Ramos
Breathtakingly unexpected, like a
was involved with flamenco music.
hypnotic calling that provokes curiosity
Nevertheless, he formally studied classical
and the awakening of senses to the listener
guitar at the Real Conservatorio of Madrid
is musician and artist Federico Ramos.
during the five-year residency.
Federico's identity as a composer, guitarist
and producer is the result of his endless
endeavor into the art of music. In his
works, Federico's inner peace and outward
dynamics are also revealed, as they
summon the richness of artistic
expressions from diverse cultures.
His unceasing interests eventually brought
Federico to the United States of America.
Formal studies were continued first at the
Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts
and later in California at the Guitar
Institute of Technology (MI). In Valencia,
at the California Institute of the Arts, he
Born in the picturesque town Treinta y
was the recipient of full scholarships. In
Tres, Uruguay, Federico began his studies
due course Federico obtained a Bachelor's
in Montevideo, capital of the country.
Degree in Fine Arts and also became a
However, his drive for musical knowledge
Professor at the California Institute of the
and experiences guided him to pursue
Arts.
worldwide studies. The musical roots of his
ancestors first directed him to the
Southern Coast of Spain and while residing
in Sevilla and Jerez de la Frontera Federico
When Federico arrived to the United States
in 1980, soon began expanding his musical
and cultural spectrum. He settled in Santa
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Federico Ramos
Monica and continued to develop his
As a member of Eternal Wind, Federico also
agreeable professionalism and his skillful
participated in the recording of Metamusic,
musicianship.
also written and conducted by Dr. Lateef
exclusively for his quartet. Later on, in 1995,
In the eighties Federico co-founded Eternal
Wind, a band whose music style was
characterized by boundless expressions of
Come Back Inn with John Pisano
improvisational compositions of world
With Milton Nascimento,
1989
sounds. Eternal Wind recorded several
albums that were released by the Chicago
based Flying Fish Records Co.. Soon, Eternal
Wind toured extensively with Doctor Yusef
Lateef, who then wrote and composed two
the work The World at Peace of Yusef Lateef
and Adam Rudolph (Eternal Wind)
performed by 12 musicians, was released by
Meta Records. This live performance at the
Jazz Bakery of Los Angeles features Federico
playing acoustic, electric and midi guitars
throughout the session as well as his
performance of percussion instruments and
African kudu horn.
symphonic works intended to be performed
Ramos,
Struntz y Farah
and recorded by Eternal Wind. One of them,
In 1990, Federico Ramos, Eduardo Márquez
the African- American Epic Suite for Quintet
Del Signore and Bernardo Rubaja worked in
and Orchestra was recorded in Germany
a debuting ensemble of compositions and
with the Köln Radio Orchestra in 1993, and
performances. High Plateau fused ancient
released in Europe by ACT Records.
folk traditions of South America with a
sophisticated array of influences spanning
With George
and Olivia Harrison
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jazz, pop, avant-garde and classical music.
Federico Ramos
The instrumental textures and harmonic tints
of their native cultures offered a unique and
personalized style. Their recorded work
Newland, was released by Narada
Productions, featuring Mark Isham on
trumpet, Alex Acuña on drums and
percussion and Steve Fowler on flutes.
In 1991, Federico was introduced to the
Englishman and pioneer artist Jon Anderson
of the legendary progressive rock group “Yes”.
The chemistry created between these two
artists consolidated their creativeness on
several recording projects. Subsequently, the
Windham Hill releases of Deseo, Toltec, The
Best Of Jon Anderson-South America 1993
and Deseo Remixes followed. Federico toured
as lead guitarist on Jon's Latin American tour
of nine countries in 1993. In Belo Horizonte,
Eternal Wind - Los Angeles Times
Brazil, Federico was guest guitarist
performing with Milton Nascimento, Simone
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Federico Ramos
and James Taylor, for a benefit presentation
During the year 1994, Federico contributed
in the fight against hunger, Natal Sem Fome
his musical talents as co-producer on the
(Christmas Without Hunger).
project “Heart of Brazil” with Dionne
At that point, Federico's artistic
Warwick in the recording of Brazilian Artist
development transcended into a need for
Eliana Estevão.
welding his years of musical apprenticeship
As co-founder of the unprecedented group
of a myriad of cultures with that of his native
Hecho en México, Federico bestowed to the
country. The Uruguayan drummer José Luis
creation of a transcendental musical
Pérez, also following a similar path, joined
listening pleasure. Hecho en México's music
Federico to create Pérez & Ramos. Their
was a junction of pre-Columbian sounds of
magnificent work Flip Flop expressed a
instruments and language with other
contemporary improvisational music based
contemporary musical expressions.
primarily on the Uruguayan rhythms of
candombe and African rhythms blending
tango, Brazilian melodies and jazz. Federico
and José Luis double their primary
instruments with keyboards, vocals and
other instruments. Flip Flop had rave
reviews after released by World Alchemy
Records in February 1994.
Other past collaborations include recordings
and performances with the following artists:
USA: Jackson Browne, Lionel Ritchie, Jon
Hassell, Mark Isham, Norman Connors,
Charlie Haden, Ahmed Abdul Malik , Scarlet
Rivera, Cecil McBee, Billy Childs, Freddie
Hubbard, James Newton; BRAZIL: Milton
Nascimento, Moacir Santos, João Noguera,
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Federico Ramos
Martinho da Vila, Geraldo Azevedo, Jose
compositions. Notably, the collaboration with
Roberto Bertrami; INDIA: L. Subramaniam,
Michael Feinstein was nominated for a
Ustad Zakir Hussain, Amiya Dasgupta; Other:
Grammy. The Savage Rose's disc “For Your
Faramaz Assef (IRAN), Cheb Mami
Love” was granted the Gold Sales Award in
(ARGELIA), Maynard Ferguson and Ashley
Denmark in 2002. The recording of “En Vivo
Maher (CANADA), Jorge Calandrelli
Desde el Auditorio Nacional” with Mexican
(ARGENTINA), Luis Pérez Ixoneztly and Joan
superstar Joan Sebastian was awarded the
Sebastian (MEXICO), Foday Musa Suso
Grammy for the 2006 best live disc. Also
(GAMBIA), Akin and Fahir Atakoglu
released in 2006 was a DVD of the Latin
(TURKEY), Struntz & Farah (COSTA RICA and
American Tour with Jon Anderson. For 2007,
IRAN),Wilkins and Ritchie Gajate Garcia
an educational disc for DW drums under the
(Puerto Rico), Camilo Sesto, Julio Iglesias,
guide of Alex Acuña includes a vast array of
Trigo Limpio, Paloma San Basilio, Lola Flores,
Latin American styles.
Los Marismeños and Mocedades (Spain).
In 1995 Federico again joined talent and
North Star released Calido's Tropical Nights in
creativeness with Uruguayan drummer José
the year 1994. The duet of Federico and
Luis Pérez and Uruguayan bassist Eduardo
guitarist Ramón Stagnaro featured melodic
Márquez Del Signore (Jon Anderson's Latin
songs with subtle syncopation and superb
Band). The Trio found in the combination of
arrangements offering to the listener an array
their spellbinding sounds the name of Ritual
of exotic rhythms of Latin and Spanish
and the compact disc Presencia was released by
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Federico Ramos
Amazone Records. Presencia was presented in
Montevideo, in the Teatro Solís in July 1997 with
a multitudinous audience and sold out tickets.
The Uruguayan people applauded these
musicians with a heartfelt welcome. Ritual
traveled to Montevideo accompanied by their
guest artist, pianist, composer and producer
Tommy Eyre, the Englishman that had arranged
Joe Cocker's version of “A Little Help From My
Friends”.
Federico Ramos and Alejandro Blanco on Stage
From 1996, Federico's artistic field expanded and
he was in demand to engage in different work
projects, collaborations and special guest
performances. Among these musical productions
Federico's highlighted participations are: Cielo y
Tierra: Heaven and Earth, Warner-México 1996,
with Jon Anderson, performing acoustic guitars
and choirs; Pippo Spera: Someone, Amazone
Records 1997, acoustic guitars; Drifting, Vision
International Inc. 1997, guest guitarist; Adam
Perez - Valenzuela - Ramos - Fowler - Marquez
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Federico Ramos
Rudolph's Moving Pictures: Contemplations,
Meta Records 1997, acoustic guitars, charango,
oud, bamboo flutes; Cayambe: Influences, Andes
Inc. 1997, guitars; Cayambe: America, Andes Inc.
1998, guitars; Heart & Soul, North Sound Music
Group 1999, flamenco guitarists (with individual
performances also by Ramón Stagnaro and Adam
Del Monte), soloist guitars, composer and
arranger.
Rigoberta Menchu and Federico Ramos
During the early months of 1997, Sony Music
contracted Federico as producer of Alexis Peña 's
recording project. For this occasion Federico
convoked the participation of renowned
musicians such as Alex Acuña and Alphonso
Johnson (“Weather Report”), Alex Ligertwood
(“Santana”) and Tommy Eyre (B.B. King, George
Michael, Gary Moore). In February of 2001
“African American Epic Suite” by Dr. Yusef
Lateef with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
With Dionne Warwick, 1997
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Federico Ramos
Federico also has participated in movies and
television's soundtracks such as “The Blue
Iguana” (Polygram Films 1988), “The
Fistfighter” (Mecamerica 1989), “Crackdown”
(Concorde Film 1990), “Raging Angels” (New
Image 1994), “School Spirit” (TNA/New
Horizon 1995), “Night Hunter” (Concorde
Film/New Horizon 1995), “Under the Hula
Moon” (Periscope Pictures 1995), “Steal Big
Steal Little” (Paramount Pictures 1995),
Hercules (KTLA 1995), The Larry Sanders
Show (HBO 1996), Terry Plumeri's “Deadly
Ransom” (Master Film International 1997),
“Ambushed” (HBO 1998), and many more. As
a session player on selected TV and Films
Federico also worked with Hans Zimmer
(DreamWorks 1999),“The Road to El Dorado”
and for Danny Elfman on the soundtracks of
“Proof of Life” and in 2006 with “Nacho
Libre”. Also with famed composer James
Horner in “The Legend of Zorro”.
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Federico Ramos
Federico Ramos
www.federicoramos.com
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