Ricardo Martinez
Encyclopedia
Ricardo José Martinez Mora (born March 6, 1969 in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela
) is an electric bass guitar
player. He has been in the music industry for more than two decades, working as a session bassist, performer, arranger, songwriter, music producer, music director, banjo player (this one at the Florida Grand Opera), among other music related activities.
He is highly regarded by his colleagues for his music knowledge, rhythmic awareness, improvisational skills and versatility.
ignited the spark inside of him. Soon after that, he found himself singing not only the vocal parts but all the instrument parts of every song of every record of the Swedish band. His father apparently took advantage of that fresh interest and taught him his first music lesson. A couple of years later, the British band Queen
conquered his soul. The British band helped him to decide for the drums as his way of expression. A few years after that, the guitar got in his way and was taken as his main instrument. Around that time, started his music studies. During those years, the super Canadian trio Rush
appeared in Ricardo's life and his way to understand music changed forever. No longer after that, another powerful trio, Police
, made his way into the ears of the novice musician. But still, life and music itself have something more for the aspiring musician. A few years after the discovery of the Canadian trio, Chick Corea
showed up and life would never be the same for Ricardo. After Chick Corea, came Jaco Pastorius
, and all the great jazz players of all time.
He studied harmony, arrangement, music theory, sight-reading, composition, ear training, for two years with the late Aldo Balestrini (Berklee College of Music
graduate). After that, he heard about an audition of the most popular Top-Forty band of his town, that happened to be one of his clients as a music copyist, he was seventeen at the time. The only problem was that the vacancy was for a bass player. He took the bass for a month and won the audition. After that, he started a career as a bass player until now.
He has played with hundreds of artists, recorded in 80+ records and he's currently working on his solo project.
Now, Ricardo lives in Miami, Florida
and has an interesting career as a session player with the most famous producers and artists, and as a side-man, playing with many artists nationally and internationally renowned.
In order to compose and write songs, Ricardo uses the guitar
and the piano
. Contrary to other colleagues, he rarely uses the electric bass as a tool for compose. However, the guitar and the piano are extremely useful not only for his compositions but for his arrangements as well. Even for improvisation studies, very often Ricardo tries new and different ideas first on the guitar or the piano and then, he translates them to the bass fingering, color and intention.
Ricardo is proud to own seven electric basses. Each one of them is a particular combination of woods, hardware, construction and pickups, in order to offer to the producer or artist, the exact sound needed for their music. He also has an assortment of instruments such as a steel string guitar, two electric guitars and a nylon guitar. Korg N364 keyboard. Also, a home-studio loaded with Pro-Tools and several preamps, mics and outboard gear.
Electric basses:
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
) is an electric bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player. He has been in the music industry for more than two decades, working as a session bassist, performer, arranger, songwriter, music producer, music director, banjo player (this one at the Florida Grand Opera), among other music related activities.
He is highly regarded by his colleagues for his music knowledge, rhythmic awareness, improvisational skills and versatility.
Life
Ricardo started flirting with music since he was a little kid. When he was eight, the Swedish phenomenon ABBAABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
ignited the spark inside of him. Soon after that, he found himself singing not only the vocal parts but all the instrument parts of every song of every record of the Swedish band. His father apparently took advantage of that fresh interest and taught him his first music lesson. A couple of years later, the British band Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
conquered his soul. The British band helped him to decide for the drums as his way of expression. A few years after that, the guitar got in his way and was taken as his main instrument. Around that time, started his music studies. During those years, the super Canadian trio Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
appeared in Ricardo's life and his way to understand music changed forever. No longer after that, another powerful trio, Police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
, made his way into the ears of the novice musician. But still, life and music itself have something more for the aspiring musician. A few years after the discovery of the Canadian trio, Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
showed up and life would never be the same for Ricardo. After Chick Corea, came Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
, and all the great jazz players of all time.
He studied harmony, arrangement, music theory, sight-reading, composition, ear training, for two years with the late Aldo Balestrini (Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
graduate). After that, he heard about an audition of the most popular Top-Forty band of his town, that happened to be one of his clients as a music copyist, he was seventeen at the time. The only problem was that the vacancy was for a bass player. He took the bass for a month and won the audition. After that, he started a career as a bass player until now.
He has played with hundreds of artists, recorded in 80+ records and he's currently working on his solo project.
Now, Ricardo lives in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and has an interesting career as a session player with the most famous producers and artists, and as a side-man, playing with many artists nationally and internationally renowned.
Techniques
Among the techniques Ricardo uses, you can point out his guitar-like lines when he improvises in jazz. Given the fact that he started as a drummer, his slap technique resembles a drum pattern. His knowledge of theory, harmony and guitar, allows him to approach the chords on the bass smoothly and musically, whether is a four string bass or a seven string bass. He also loves the fretless feel and sound.In order to compose and write songs, Ricardo uses the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. Contrary to other colleagues, he rarely uses the electric bass as a tool for compose. However, the guitar and the piano are extremely useful not only for his compositions but for his arrangements as well. Even for improvisation studies, very often Ricardo tries new and different ideas first on the guitar or the piano and then, he translates them to the bass fingering, color and intention.
Instruments
Electric basses:
- Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5Music Man StingRay 5Introduced in 1987, the StingRay 5 was the first all-new Music Man bass designed and built in San Luis Obispo by the Ernie Ball team. The five-string's styling is based on the classic look of the Silhouette guitar...
, original pickup, poplar body and rosewood fretboard. - Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 4 fretless, original pickup, alder body and pau ferro fretboard.
- Fender Precision 4 stringsFender Precision BassThe Fender Precision Bass is an electric bass.Designed by Leo Fender as a prototype in 1950 and brought to market in 1951, the Precision was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use. A revolutionary instrument for the time, the Precision Bass has made an immeasurable impact on...
, P/J EMG's, maple fretboard and BadAss bridge. - Fender Jazz bass 4 strings, DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pickups, rosewood fretboard and BadAss bridge.
- Tune TWB 4 strings, Tune pickups, neck-through, bubinga body and ebony fretboard.
- Conklin GT 7 strings, Bartolini P/U, ash body, wenge and maple neck, purpleheart fretboard.
- LaklandLaklandLakland Guitars is a Chicago, Illinois-based manufacturer of electric bass guitars. The company's first bass combined elements of the Fender Jazz Bass and the Music Man StingRay. The company's current line-up includes basses inspired by classics like the Fender Precision Bass and Jazz Bass as...
Skyline 55-02, 5 strings, Lakland P/U and electronics, light ash body, maple neck.
Selected discography
- Elsten TorresElsten TorresElsten Creole Torres, in Havana, Cuba as Listoriel Leyva Torres, is a singer/songwriter/producer. He grew up in New York City with his mother and older brother leaving his father in Cuba as a political prisoner...
- Individual - 2004 / Two-time Grammy nominated. - Nino Segarra -De Nino a Nino - 2007 / Grammy nominated.
- Franco de Vita -Mil y una historias - 2006 / Grammy nominated.
- Olga Tañón -Una nueva mujer - 2005 / Grammy winner 2006
- Lina Luna -Lina Luna - 2005 / Grammy winner 2005
- Chayanne -Cautivo - 2005 / Two-time Grammy nominated.
- Rey Ruiz -Corazón arrepentido - 2006