NOVEMBER 2024 | Hermelindo Ruiz Mestre | Vital
NOVEMBER 2024 | Hermelindo Ruiz Mestre | VitalBY RAY PICOT
To a packed audience last November at ILAMS’ 2023 Echoes Festival, the Puerto Rican guitarist Hermelindo Ruiz made his London debut with a solo programme of music from his country, including some of his own compositions. Music from Puerto Rico is seldom heard, so this concert proved to be a perfect introduction.
Whilst Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island, it is part of the USA, so its not surprising that leading composers from there, like Roberto Sierra have made a successful career there. Ruiz is a classically trained, award-winning musician who holds prestigious degrees in his own country and a doctorate from the United States. However, it is clear that Ruiz’ heart is in Puerto Rico from what he plays and writes, with a keen interest in promoting the traditional music of his country. This is exemplified from his first recording, Danzas Puertorriqueñas, which explored the danzas of the relatively unknown native musician Juan F. Acosta whilst his most recent disc, Danzas Live, widens this exploration.
Despite a successful international solo career, Ruiz is achieving a successful parallel career as a composer. He released a book of compositions when he was 21 (some of which were recorded in Spain) as he has continued to write; a visit to his website (www. hermelindoruiz.com) will offer you an exciting selection of solo performances, as well as his latest excursion into chamber music, To Soar beyond.
The album, Vital, which is the subject of this review, is Ruiz’ bold and accomplished first recording of his own compositions. He explains in his notes that the title refers to the vitality of life and his personal musical search for it.
One of the oft-paid compliments of Ruiz’ playing style is his lightness of touch, refinement and a deft hand at bringing out rhythmic nuances. These are also the pervading qualities of this album, alongside his full rich tone and a strong sense of spontaneity, which makes it such a pleasure to play. The presence of the Puertorican danza is there too, but often as a backdrop to his writing, which explores a pleasing range of timbres of his very fine guitar. Ruiz is undoubtedly a contemporary composer but one in touch with his roots. This can be heard from the start with his wonderfully catchy (and difficult), Macarachimba, and the technically challenging Espacio.
Throughout the album the music is unfailingly melodic and very natural, which reflects Ruiz’ incidental discovery of the pleasure of composition when he was 16. He has over the years developed a depth to his work, as is evinced by the three short suites on this album. There are some clearly exploratory pieces like the short and acerbic Etude and the Three Sketches, but they sit very naturally with the rest of his material. Perhaps the high spot for me is the suitemontTres piezas a la Montaña, which seems to encapsulate so much of this fine musician’s musical journey.
The album has a very natural ambiance and you really can hear every subtle nuance of Ruiz’ playing. The albums I have referred to including Vital, are all available on the major digital platforms to stream or download.
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