JimCruzMusic.com.com
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ~ Plato
Jim Cruz, Guitarist
Greetings! Thanks for dropping by my site. My name is Jim Cruz and I am an Atlanta-area musician and guitarist.
About Me
I've played guitar for over 45 years. Originally from Long Island, NY, I've performed professionally since I was 16. My years of playing experience includes performing with many bands in different musical genres, as well as occasional session work.
More recently I was a member of the small Jazz trio, Alchemia, playing jazz standards and some originals. I have also been active for many years as part of the music ministry in local churches where I and my family were members.
My main areas of musical focus though the years has been in Jazz, Blues, Rock, Classical and acoustic guitar styles.
My main areas of musical focus though the years has been in Jazz, Blues, Rock, Classical and acoustic guitar styles.
In addition to performing, I have been a professional guitar instructor for over 30 years and have literally taught hundreds of students in the Atlanta area. A number of other guitar teachers and pro musicians in our area were my former students.
Beginnings...
My fascination with the guitar and music started as a child in my home town of Lindenhurst, New York. Growing up in a Hispanic home, my parents played Spanish music on the stereo during their weekend card games with friends. My little sister and I would be occupied with our crayons and coloring books while the most amazing sounds would play from my Dad's vinyl records. I loved the pulse of the exotic rhythms and the melodies passionately played with finese by these Spanish virtuoso guitarists. I thought it was amazing. I didn't know who they were, but the music certainly caught my imagination early on.
When I was 10 years old, my Dad bought me an electric guitar from a pawn shop that looked cool but played horribly; it had a warped neck and hurt my fingers when I played on it. But I was determined to learn how to play even if it was painful. The determination paid off and after learning and playing 3 years on that guitar, I earned enough money, as a paper delivery boy, to buy my first good guitar: a beautiful natural wood color Fender Stratocaster. It was a professional instrument. My fingers moved effortlessly around the instrument the first time I played it, mostly because of the strength and dexeterity built up from playing on a difficult guitar for so long.
Growing up as a teenager in the 70's, I was hearing the legendary sounds of classic rock greats such as Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Jimmy Page, Robin Trower, Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Duane Allman/Dicky Betts of the Allman Brothers, Steve Howe of Yes and many others. That music became my food and inspiration. Then a friend introduced me to the early pioneers of Jazz/Rock fusion: John McLaughlin, Chick Corea's band featuring Al Dimeola, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, and more. My musical appetite and my hunger for learning deepened. I was practicing all of the time and read many books about music, music history, music theory as well as music magazines. I had the privalege of studying under some fantastic guitar teachers through those early years that helped me to grow as well as honing my skills playing with many wonderful musicians.
When I was 10 years old, my Dad bought me an electric guitar from a pawn shop that looked cool but played horribly; it had a warped neck and hurt my fingers when I played on it. But I was determined to learn how to play even if it was painful. The determination paid off and after learning and playing 3 years on that guitar, I earned enough money, as a paper delivery boy, to buy my first good guitar: a beautiful natural wood color Fender Stratocaster. It was a professional instrument. My fingers moved effortlessly around the instrument the first time I played it, mostly because of the strength and dexeterity built up from playing on a difficult guitar for so long.
Growing up as a teenager in the 70's, I was hearing the legendary sounds of classic rock greats such as Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Jimmy Page, Robin Trower, Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Duane Allman/Dicky Betts of the Allman Brothers, Steve Howe of Yes and many others. That music became my food and inspiration. Then a friend introduced me to the early pioneers of Jazz/Rock fusion: John McLaughlin, Chick Corea's band featuring Al Dimeola, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, and more. My musical appetite and my hunger for learning deepened. I was practicing all of the time and read many books about music, music history, music theory as well as music magazines. I had the privalege of studying under some fantastic guitar teachers through those early years that helped me to grow as well as honing my skills playing with many wonderful musicians.
Over the next few decades, my life was filled with lots of musical activity. My musical travels took me from New York, Los Angeles, Florida and finally Atlanta, GA where I reside now. My main focus for my music now is teaching and writing and recording my own compositions and collaborating with others.
