Miguel Espinoza Fusion feat. Leo Munoz-Corona

Musical Style: World Music Jazz Fusion

Miguel Espinoza Fusion, the collective beating heart of world-class musicians Miguel Espinoza (guitar), Dianne Betkowski (cello), David Hinojosa (percussion), and Randy Hoepker (bass), invites the listener into a rich and colorful symposium of musical traditions. Firm roots in flamenco, classical, and jazz are woven through with North African rhythms, Celtic whimsy, and Brazilian expressions for a sound that is transformative, vibrant, and deeply emotive. Their fourth album, Gabriella (2023), features the collaborative efforts of two-time Grammy winner Howard Levy, as well as fellow two-time Grammy winner David Balakrishnan, of the Turtle Island Quartet. Their third album, Living in a Daydream (2022), again features extensive collaborations with Howard Levy.

Miguel Espinoza Fusion, located in Denver, Colorado, are the winners of Westword Magazine's Best of World Music, and their albums, Turtle Dreams and Veneta, have won Indie Acoustic Project awards. Veneta ranked #9 of the Top 200 World Music Albums of 2022 and was #11 on the Top 20 2022 NACC World Charts for 16 weeks.

Described by Guitar Player Magazine as "mesmerizing", Miguel Espinoza has recorded and performed with Bela Fleck, Kai Eckhardt, Kitaro, Tuck and Patti, Rita Moreno, and Ben Vareen, among many others.

A Miguel Espinoza Fusion show is like nothing else!

Leo Munoz-Corona:

Leo was born in Mexico City and has travelled the world through music. His career started in piano, but Leo later turned to another passion, percussion, as a means to get by playing on the metro. Soon he was playing and recording with big names in the worlds of Salsa, Jazz, Latin Jazz, Latin Rock and Pop including Jaguares, Tom Coster, Willie Colon, Juanes (Ekhymosis), Lucero, Ricardo Arjona, Paulina Rubio, Emmanuel, Franco De Vita and many more. Leo has also produced and arranged for bands like Curanderos and SHEM. In 2005, he was chosen as the Musical Director for the BMI Latin Awards in Las Vegas Nevada with a tribute to Carlos Santana. Currently, Leo lives in Denver, Colorado and is actively performing and recording with local bands like Chicos Malos, Orquesta La Brava, and Quemando, as well as projects with Victor Mestas, Justin Adams, Greg Gisbert, Gonzalo Teppa, Stafford Hunter, and his wife Elisa Garcia. Aside from local gigs, Leo still performs with international artists. Since 2019, he has been a supporting teacher at the award-winning Thompson Jazz Studies Program at the University of Colorado Boulder.

PRESS

“Miguel Espinoza Fusion is world class global chamber music making that explodes the parameters of style, yet ever remains close to the heart.”

~ David Balakrishnan, founding violinist/composer of the two-time Grammy winning Turtle Island Quartet

“The musical “chat” between the musicians of the Miguel Espinoza Fusion ensemble is also one in which disparate elements that have played a role in forming this music and in like manner, it is one in which everyone has a say, bringing to this art discourse, not only the flamenco that informs Mr Espinoza’s cultural references, but a wide sound world of different periods and stylistic pursuits.”

~ Raul Da Gama, LatinJazzNet.com, Full review here

“Espinoza delivered a performance billed as “flamenco fusion” that lived up to its label. Incorporating a wide array of styles, sounds, time signatures and textures, the group offered a hypnotic tour through a wealth of genres. Drawing from Spanish, North African and even Celtic musical structures, the band offered a performance that was at once soulful and technically seamless.”

-Adam Goldstein, The Scen3.com blog, full review: The Scen3

“While the group’s music seems firmly rooted in jazz tradition, their keen (almost telepathic) sense of interaction, openness to eclectic cultural influences, freedom to innovate, and attention to timbral contrast make it into a gorgeous global chamber music performance emphasizing beauty, elegance and intricacy.”

~ Joe Ross, Roots Music Report, Full review here

“Living in a Daydream is a world music project that sits at the juncture of flamenco meets sounds from around the world. As a result, the music comes to life with swarming rhythms and hummable melodies. Espinoza excels throughout as the anchor, and his synchronism with Betkowski is outstanding. Miguel Espinoza Flamenco Fusion is an ensemble with a sincere connection to the material, exceptional guest artists, and an excellent group leader.”

-Steven Miller, Sound In Review, Full review : here

Best Jazz Album - Indie Acoustic

Best of World Music - Denver Westword

Best Instrumental Album - Indie Acoustic

Miguel Espinoza-guitar

Dianne Betkowski-cello

Randy Hoepker-bass

David Hinojosa-percussion

Leo Munoz-Corona - percussion