Quique Cruz
Quique Cruz is a Chilean-born musical composer/multi-instrumentalist and writer who has performed, taught and recorded music since the age of fourteen. He has created, participated and consulted in multimedia productions involving theater, dance, visual arts, and film. He is the leader of the popular latino fusion jazz trio Quijerema.
In 2002, Cruz received the prestigious Oshita Composer Fellowship from the Djerassi Foundation. He is presently a National Endowment for the Arts fellow, composing a
45-minute suite to be used as the soundtrack for a documentary film, After the Fire, Water, directed by Oscar Nominee Marylyn Mulford. He composed the score Tinta Verde for the documentary film Pablo Neruda, Presente! (Quijerema 2004) and worked with noted film composer and Emmy Winner Mark Adler on two documentary films, Chicano Park, directed by Marylyn Mulford, and The Fall of Fujimori (2005 Sundance). He is also the composer for the new feature film Pisagua, by noted Chilean filmmaker Cristian Galaz.
Besides performing Latin American folk music, Cruz has joined on stage: Jackson Browne, Mimi Farina, Pete Seeger , Jorge Strunz, and Sting, among others. He has recorded with Jackson Browne(Lives in the Balance, Electra Asylum, 1985), Strunz & Farah (Guitarras, Fantasy, 1985), William Ackerman (Conferring with the Moon, Windham Hill, 1986), Pete Sears (Watchfire, Redwood, 1988), Kenny Loggins (Leap of Faith, Columbia, 1992), and Alex de Grassi (The World’s Getting Loud, Windham Hill, 1993). More recent recordings include nine original compositions on Tatamonk (Tropo Records, 2000) with Alex de Grassi and seven original compositions on Amistades (Wariznake, 2000) with Rafael Manriquez, as well as Tinta Verde, the score for Pablo Neruda, Presente! (Quijerema 2004). He has recorded music for television’s America's Cup (CBS), under the musical direction of Mickey Hart, and for the film Vibes (Columbia Pictures), under the musical direction of James Horner.
Cruz was producer of the albums: Un Solo Camino (RaÃz,1980), Amaneceres (Monitor, 1982) and Por America del Centro (Monitor, 1983). He was co-producer of the LP Grupo RaÃz Anthology in
At Flute Fest, Quique Cruz will conduct a workshop, Introduction to the Flutes of Central and South America. He will also perform with John Calloway. Maria Fernanda Acuna will join them on percussion.