"You know you're talking about a jazz musician when the artist in question has played and recorded with Elvis, Streisand, Sinatra, Lalo Schifrin, the Lighthouse All-Stars, Quincy Jones, Gerald Wilson, Clifford Brown, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, Paul Bley, Dinah Washington and Frank Zappa, to name a few, while still finding time to record soundtracks, release highly regarded and collectible sessions as leader, experience a resurgent wave of acclaim in Europe and despite it all remain virtually unknown in the US. (...)
After debuting on Central Avenue at 16, Ortega soon found his way into Lionel Hampton's band. On a tour of Norway, Ortega met and married pianist and composer Mona Orbeck. During a late '50s-early '60s stay in New York he recorded My Fair Lady Loves Jazz, A Man and His Horn, Jazz For Young Moderns, Earth Dance and New Dance!, when not working with Maynard Ferguson. A move back to LA saw years of work in film and TV, as well as long stints with Gerald Wilson's orchestra and even an appearance on Zappa's The Grand Wazoo. A rediscovery in Europe resulted in a smattering of new recordings showcasing not only Ortega's gracefully maturing performance gifts, but also his impressive compositional talents. In the case of his French Evidence CDs, Ms. Orbeck Ortega's writing talents are represented as well."
by REX BUTTERS - ALL ABOUT JAZZ: NEW YORK
After debuting on Central Avenue at 16, Ortega soon found his way into Lionel Hampton's band. On a tour of Norway, Ortega met and married pianist and composer Mona Orbeck. During a late '50s-early '60s stay in New York he recorded My Fair Lady Loves Jazz, A Man and His Horn, Jazz For Young Moderns, Earth Dance and New Dance!, when not working with Maynard Ferguson. A move back to LA saw years of work in film and TV, as well as long stints with Gerald Wilson's orchestra and even an appearance on Zappa's The Grand Wazoo. A rediscovery in Europe resulted in a smattering of new recordings showcasing not only Ortega's gracefully maturing performance gifts, but also his impressive compositional talents. In the case of his French Evidence CDs, Ms. Orbeck Ortega's writing talents are represented as well."
by REX BUTTERS - ALL ABOUT JAZZ: NEW YORK
