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“A remarkable electric bassist with a certain charm distinguishing her technique and musical approach...” - Edward Blanco, All About Jazz. Amanda Ruzza hails from São Paulo, Brazil. She discovered her muse at an early age - perhaps the result of her Chilean mother who loved opera, and her father, Italian, whose passion was rock n’ roll. Growing up in a house humming with music, Amanda began playing bass early, and was playing professional performance engagements by age 13. Eventually, in Brazil, she worked with distinguished Brazilian producers and arrangers, including Grammy Award-winner Moogie Canazio, Maestro Jobam and Sony Music Japan’s Osny Mello. Besides being a musician fluent in an array of styles, Ruzza is fluent in several languages as well - Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and English. In developing her musical skills, she is able to cross all cultural boundaries.

Her work with groups covering a wide range of styles, including Amy Lee of the rock band Evanescence, Jill Sobule, Leni Stern, Fred Ho’s Eco-Music Big Band, Dave Eggar, as well as with her own band, the Amanda Ruzza Group, evidence her flexibility. Amanda draws on her multicultural background as a primary influence on her passion for composing music - music that seamlessly assimilates elements of funk, rock, jazz and South American rhythms. Ms. Ruzza earned a dual degree in Jazz Bass Performance and Liberal Arts at The New School in New York City. As a session musician on electric bass, she has contributed on recordings with Bebel Gilberto, Jason Miles, Amy Lee, Dave Eggar and Arturo O’Farrill. In addition to her performance career, Ruzza has recently produced and arranged Phantom Fish, the first release of Latin jazz phenomenon saxophonist Sérgio Galvão garnering critical acclaim and airplay in both the US and Latin America.

Prior to living in New York, Amanda toured and recorded with the all-girl country band, Mustang Sally, based in Nashville, Tennessee. While in the band, she worked with country music producer Barry Beckett, recorded four albums, and played for US military bases overseas in Japan, South Korea, and within the US.

Amanda Ruzza’s debut solo album was released in 2012, and she performs with her group and provides bass accompaniment for other artists, producers and studios.

Click here for a list of musicians with whom Amanda has worked.

“[Ruzza] delivers rock solid grooves and blistering solos...” - Kevin Johnson, No Treble

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