This past Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Santana trumpeter, Bill Ortiz, released Winter In America; his latest solo effort. The title of the EP stems from the cover Ortiz did of the late Gil Scott Heron’s 1973 “Winter in America” hit; paying homage to the artist. The album is a follow-up to his solo debut “From Where I Stand.” In Winter In America, Ortiz features fellow Santana member, as well as other conscious emcees like The Grouch and K-Maxx, Winter In America glorifies consciousness in a time where society “celebrates ignorance,” said Ortiz in a statement.
As a trumpeter for Santana for 11 years now, Ortiz has always involved himself in both Hip Hop and R&B movements. Having worked on the classic Souls of Mischief debut album and collaborating with artists such as Tony! Toni! Tone!, Sheila E. and TLC. Recently, Ortiz has been recording and touring with Carlos Santana and received endorsements from Shure microphones and Rebel Spirit Clothing. Ortiz is also spending a generous amount of his time and energy involving himself in music education, as a clinician and private instructor.
With his diverse background in music, Ortiz said he enjoys mentoring younger musicians and sharing his experiences with them. “What I am trying to do with my musical voice is reflect all of those elements of who I am as a musician and person.” While Winter in America EP dropped on January 16th here in the US, both digital and physical releases of the EP will be available worldwide on January 31st.
Amazing
the only santana album i care about is juelz.
no homo.
DIPSET!
you obviously have no ear for music.