Biography

Pies en la tierra's biography

Pies en la Tierra was formed in 2003, out of its members’ desire to compose original music exploring mainly different Ecuadorian and Latin American rhythms.
This quartet, often extended to a quintet with guitarist Ramiro Olaciregui,
features musicians from Ecuador who are undoubtedly the most sought-after for recordings and professional works. The band’s leader, bassist Cayo Iturralde, is a renowned record producer in Quito. The band has released two albums, which boast collaborations by such artists as Valencian saxophonist Perico Sambeat and New York trumpeter Tony Speranza. Their third album will be released shortly. They have also given talks and seminars throughout Ecuador.
Last year, within the framework of their European tour, they performed at the San Sebastian Festival to rapturous acclaim.
Cayo Iturralde studied jazz and composition at the Florida International University (FIU). He plays electric and acoustic bass, which enables him to have a good command of different genres such as jazz, Latin, funk, pop and classical music.
He was the double bassist of the National Symphony Orchestra for two years. He has shared the stage with many internationally renowned musicians, including Michael Brecker, Adam Nussbaum, Iñaki Salvador, Danny Gottlieb, Gary Campbell, Michael Orta, Jon Urrutia and Paquito de Rivera. Not long ago he toured the States as a member of flutist Néstor Torres’s band.
Raimon Rovira boasts a solid background in piano and is currently on the faculty of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, where he teaches piano, ensemble and improvisation. He has played with big names of the genre, including Steve Lacy, Marvin “Doc” Holladay, Walt Zymansky and Perico Sambeat.
José Germán studied drumming at the Coyle’s Music Institute, in Columbus, Ohio. He is a highly sought-after sessionist and also a producer: he created his own record label, Aftersoul, through which produces works for films and videos, as well as other artists’ albums.
Of all the members of Pies en la Tierra, Carlos Albán is, most probably, the one who most adds to its distinctive style with his marimba arrangements. He graduated from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, where he also worked. In 2004 he was back in Ecuador and founded his own music school called Estudio de Percusión (percussion studio), where he teaches drums, marimba and symphonic percussion. He performed as a soloist and guest musician with the National Symphony Orchestra on several occasions.
Ramiro Olaciregui currently resides in New York, though he hails from Mendoza (Argentina) and lived for many years in Quito. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music and took guitar lessons with Mick Goodrick and Adam Rogers. He has shared the stage with such greats as Jimmy Heath, George Garzone, Seamus Blake and the Greg Hopkins Orchestra.

www.myspace.com/raimonrovira • www.ramiroolaciregui.com

www.piesenlatierra.com • www.myspace.com/piesenlatierra