William Ruiz

The audience or client will experience a positive tonal rhythmic rainforest drumming voyage with counter rhythms and cacho seed shaker sounds mixed with sleigh bells and ghungroo bells. I have a tribal drumset up which includes hi hats ride cymbal crash cymbol; 12 tongue logdrum and a floor tom. Most people describe my music as rhythmic, meditational and trancelike. Grooving and naturally flowing spiritual sounding and very positive energy. I put alot of love into the music. Its definitely a unique native / indigenous world music experience. Keep in mind am a percussionist that can adapt to any musical circumstances so although my main instrument is tribal i caan pperform all kinds of music and have many groups that perform all different styles.

Drummer/Percussionist William Ruiz is Native American/Indigenous Caribbean (Taino Indian) & Spanish . His career as a musician started as a freelance interstate street busker in the USA before auditioning and becoming a Music Under New York performer.
He lives in New York, NY but spends much of his time performing all over the world. By the beginning of 2000 William was widely recognized as one of the top percussionists in the global music scene.
Ruiz incorporates Native American, Indigenous Caribbean, Asian and African influences into his work in addition to his tribal and standard trap set.
He has collaborated with top jazz improvisers and world-class music artists. Ruiz performs with drum groups, hosts drum circle events and depending on the budget works in duo situations and more with various sized musical groups, available for recording and film soundtracks. He works with dancers from, Asia, the Indigenous Caribbean, Africa and Native American cultures.
Ruiz has also played with a list of top jazz/world music artists including Cheryl Pyle – flautist, Bern Nix – Guitarist, Yockie Suryo Prayogo – Indonesian pianist, Ireng Maulana – Indonesian Jazz guitarist, Uyung Mahagenta – Indonesian bassist, Jay Rodriguez (saxes / woodwinds), Josh Roseman (trombone), Joe Exley (tuba), Sam Newsome (soprano saxophone), William Cepeda (trombone/percussion), Abdou Mboup (Senegalese – percussion), Bill Ware (vibraphone), Marvin Bugulu Smith (Jazz trap drums), Chris Theberge (percussion), Jojo Kuo (Cameroon – trap drums), Uli Geissandorfer (piano), Miho Nobuzane (Japanese –pianist) and bassists Victor Bailey, Jonathan Maron, and Yossi Fine. He has worked as personal assistant to Reggie Workman – Bassist/Composer.
He works with many different types of artists ranging from Jazz, Pop, Funk, Reggae, Hip Hop, Country, R&B, DJ’s, Spoken Word, Ethnic Music and World Fusion etc. Ruiz is available for film soundtracks, corporate events, weddings, concert performances, school events - preschool and all other grade levels including colleges. African diaspora events, Latin history month events, Pow Wows and Asian events.
He has headlined events at Madison Square Garden was featured on the MSG Channel TV Series NYC Soundtracks, performed at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center Outdoors, the United Nations, CNN, has been interviewed/ performed live on Hot 97, WBAI 99.5 - NYC radio. Ruiz has performed for Kofi Annan, Mayor Bloomberg & Tavis Smiley as well as for the Women's International Health Coalition.

keep in mind a drummer /percussionist usually has a a good amount of gear to bring so i usually drive and pay tolls and parking to get to the gigs.