Album Notes

Luis Mario Ochoa

Born in Havana, Cuba, Luis Mario's earliest musical influences came from his father Luis Ochoa Sr. singer, guitarist and founding member of "Trio Voces de Oro", one of Cuba's most romantic ensembles.

At the age of 11, Luis Mario began full time music studies at some of Havana's most renowned conservatories. After 13 years of intense studies, he graduated with an honors B.A. in classical guitar from The University of Havana's Institute Superior of Arts.

While most of his extensive learning was in the classical genre, his heart never abandoned his roots in "popular music". A deep passion has always resided with Luis Mario when it came to the North American jazz standard compositions of the 40's and 50's. He revered singers with the musical stature of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Nat King Cole; as well as their Cuban counterpart in the Feeling Movement Cesar Portillo and José Antonio Mendez, the Mexican trio Los Tres Ases, and Chilean singer Lucho Gatica; artists reflecting similar styles but in Latin American music.

Luis Mario was also a devoted listener of Quinteto Los Amigos, headed by the great Cuban pianist Frank Emilio Flyn, and the fusion sounds of Irakere, Eumir Deodato, Laurindo Almeida's group and Stevie Wonder.

In discovering the inimitable Celia Cruz, Luis gained a renewed appreciation of the Cuban dance music traditions.

The energy and "sabor" that Celia infused into her
interpretations, together with the exceptional musical arrangements of her accompanying bands, made a lasting impression on him.

Eventually, all these influences converged and shaped Luis' style as a guitarist, vocalist, composer and arranger.

In 1990 Luis Mario arrived in Toronto, Canada embracing the city as his new home. In 1992, he formed his band Cimarrón, (See-mah-rón, meaning "free spirit"), and three years later recorded their first CD A La Cubana. Being one of the first recordings to emerge from Toronto's Latin music scene, the album introduced Canadian audiences to the ensemble's unique sound; tracks from this CD were featured on the TV series Traders.

La Fiesta was released in 2000 to both media and audience acclaim. Tracks from this release have been featured in the US production Brave New Girl, and Bailey's Billions, a Canadian production, as well as in the TV series The Associates.

Apart from his productive composing, performing and recording schedule, Luis teaches a Latin Jazz Ensemble at the renowned Humber College Institute, as well as conducting a Cuban Music Workshop sponsored by World of Music Toronto.

His most recent release "Cimarrón" is a perfect blend of Cuban Jazz-Fusion. The self-titled CD hits the streets January 15th, 2006 which includes an all-stars cast of jazz and Latin jazz musicians from Toronto, as well as three very special guests: Paquito D'Rivera, Guido Basso and Luis' dear father Luis Ochoa Sr.

Cimarrón is a landmark disc for Luis Mario Ochoa, which for the first time presents the considerable talents of this quadruple threat singer/guitarist composer/arranger to a wider audience. It should go a long way to bring his gratifying music to Latin-Jazz lovers all over the world.