2011-2012 Season
Edgar Cruz
September 29, 2011
Renowned Jazz Guitarist
Edgar Cruz: Guitarist Extraordinaire
Each year Edgar Cruz performs more than 200 concerts and has played
throughout America, Europe and South America. He has been a headliner at
the prestigious Chet Atkins Guitar Festival in Nashville since 1995 and
is a strong icon at major festivals in Oklahoma. Those who have
witnessed Cruz’s performance immediately become entranced at the
precision, speed and complexity with which his fingers strike the
strings of his guitar to create a symphony of sound unusual to just one
instrument.
Cruz offers an incredible live repertoire of the greatest hits of the
guitar, such as “Malagueña,” “Classical Gas,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “In
the Mood,” “Dueling Banjos,” “Hotel California,” a classical medley,
Latin favorites, originals and medleys on the fly. Audience interaction,
participation, clapping, singing, dancing, snapping, “olés” and “yee-haws”
are all encouraged. Seventeen CDs and two DVDs are currently available.
They cover moods from Latin, classical, international, rock, jazz,
mariachi, romantic, Christmas and originals. Future works include a live
video.
Edgar has been named the Oklahoma’s Top Performing Artist and/or
Acoustic Guitarist for more than 10 years by the Oklahoma Gazette. He
has received numerous civic acknowledgments for his contributions to
various charitable events. He also performs a wide variety of bookings
including concerts, festivals, weddings, receptions, banquets, schools,
churches, conventions, fiestas, memorials or any special occasion. Edgar
holds a bachelor’s of music degree in guitar performance from Oklahoma
City University.
His YouTube video of “Bohemian Rhapsody” has more than 10,000,000 hits
worldwide.
Discography:
Original TBA (2010)
Pieces of Edgar (2007)
Guitarras de Baile (with Ruben Romero) (2006)
Sweet Georgia Blue (with David B. Hooten) (2005)
Guitarras de Fuego (with Ruben Romero) (2004)
Guitarras de Amor (with Ruben Romero) (2003)
The Cruz Trio in Concert (2003)
The Essence of Mexico (with The Cruz Trio) (2003)
Opening Night 2 (2002)
Timeless (with David B. Hooten) (2000)
Spanish Blood (2000, remastered in 2005)
Reminiscence (1998)
The A.R.T. of Edgar Cruz (1996)
Opening Night (1995)
Those Were the Days (1992)
Classical Demands (1990)
Throw Another Tape on the Fire (1989)
DVD:
“Arranging for Solo Guitar: The Queen Titles,” Edgar Cruz, Video
Progressions. Accolade Award (2005)
“Gallery: Spanish Blood – The Guitar Music of Edgar Cruz,” OETA Emmy
Award Winning Documentary (2005)
