Adrian Ruiz

Dr. Adrian Ruiz is active as a freelance trumpeter, performing regularly throughout the state of Texas. In February 2021, he received a Grammy nomination in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category for Live at the Paramount with the Ruthie Foster Big Band. In June 2021, Dr. Ruiz authored a series of Claudio Roditi transcriptions, which are available through qPress Music Publishing.

Dr. Ruiz has performed internationally at the Guatemala, Montreux, North Sea, and Taichung Jazz Festivals. He has shared the stage with the following musical acts: Justo Almario, Benny Benack III, Angela Bofill, Don Braden, Carmen Bradford, Tony Campise, Bryan Carter, Gary Clark Jr., John Clayton, Richie Cole, Kirk Covington, Martina DaSilva, Cornelius Eady, Ruthie Foster, Joel Frahm, Gerry Gibbs, Terry Gibbs, Al Grey, Andre Hayward, Jon Hendricks, Vincent Herring, Conrad Herwig, Norah Jones, Will Kennedy, Shelley King, Doug Lawrence, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, Los Lobos, Jason Marsalis, Johnny Mathis, Buddy Miles, Butch Miles, James Moody, James Morrison, Michael Philip Mossman, Eddie Palmieri, Bernadette Peters, Tito Puente, Jr., Rufus Reid, Graham Reynolds, Joan Rivers, Joshua Redman, Bruce Saunders, Boz Scaggs, Maria Schneider, Mike Smith, The Temptations, Clark Terry, Jimmie Vaughan, War, Dale Watson, The Who, Mary Wilson and The Supremes, Carolyn Wonderland, and Red Young.

In addition to his performance schedule, Dr. Ruiz has presented clinics and performances at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference, the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) and the Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA) Conventions. He has served as an adjudicator at band contests, jazz festivals, and has presented masterclasses at various school districts throughout San Antonio and Austin.

In May 2017, Ruiz made his recording debut as a leader, releasing his first full-length album entitled Premiere: A Collection Of Originals. Scott Yanow, acclaimed jazz journalist/historian and author, states the following concerning Premiere: “Adrian Ruiz is an impressive trumpeter who makes his recording debut as a leader on Premiere…In addition to being a fine showcase for the Adrian Ruiz Quintet, Premiere: A Collection Of Originals, is a fun set of creative jazz that is easily recommended.”

Dr. Ruiz received his Bachelor of Music Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio, Master of Music from Texas State University, and Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Trumpet Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. His principal teachers were Ray Sasaki, Dennis Dotson, Jeff Hellmer, Keith Winking, Jan Roller, Andrew Gignac, and John Carroll. Ruiz currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Jazz Studies, at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX. Ruiz is formerly the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he taught the following courses: Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, History and Styles of Jazz, Jazz Arranging and Composition, Private Jazz Improvisation, and Brass Methods.