Rodrigo Muñoz

Experience: 30+ years
Specialization: Session musician (Classical Guitar, Latin Percussion), composing, arranging.

Composer, arranger, guitarist, percussionist, and bassist Rodrigo Muñoz has been active in Winnipegʼs music scene for over 30 years. He is the leader of the popular Latin Jazz ensemble Papa Mambo, and as a percussionist, he has performed with Latin legends Tito Puente and Jose Luis “Changuito” Quintana and Canadian jazz star Jane Bunnett and Hilario Duran.

Rodrigo studied Classical Guitar under Harold Micay at the University of Manitoba, and Afro Latin Percussion in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He has taught at the Manitoba Music Conservatory, University of Manitoba Prep Studies Department, and presented clinics at the University of Manitoba, Canadian Mennonite University, Norway House, Long & McQuade Music, and numerous high schools in the province. Rodrigo has been a member of The Manitoba Chamber Orchestraʼs outreach ensemble for the past 12 years and has served on music-related juries for The Manitoba Arts Council, The Canada Arts Council, and The Canadian Juno Awards.

Besides his solo guitar recitals, he has performed with numerous ensembles and soloists, including the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, the Brandon University Choir, the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir, and the Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers.

Recently Rodrigoʼs three-movement work “Marejada” was premiered at a Groundswell Concert in Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall and two of his symphonic arrangements were premiered by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra at three sold-out concerts in 2010 (“Afro Cuban Nights”). One of his latest instrumental works “Latin American Suite for guitar, cello and violin” was premiered at a Winnipeg Classical Guitar Society concert. Rodrigoʼs arrangements, as well as some of his compositions, were featured at a sold-out concert with the WJO.

As a member of Trio Bembe Rodrigo won a Western Canadian Music Award for Best World Music Recording. His latest recording with his band Papa Mambo is titled “El Swing de Papa Mambo” and features all of Rodrigoʼs compositions and arrangements.

His recordings include:

Papa Mambo–Papa Mambo (1992–Indie)

Soy La Mulata–Irazu (2002–Urtext Digital Classics)

A Mis Padres (Solo Guitar) (Uncontrollable Records)

Your Daughters and Your Sons—The Duhks (2003–Sugar Hill Records)

Fragmenti–Paris to Kyiv (2004–Indie)

Amanecer–Papa Mambo (Uncontrollable Records)

Crooked Chacha – Papa Mambo (Uncontrollable Records)

A Mis Padres 2 (Solo Guitar) (Uncontrollable Records)

Duo Latino Concertatnte (guitar duets) (Uncontrollable Records)

Norte Tropical (with Jim Hiscott) (Uncontrollable Records)

El Swing De Papa Mambo (Uncontrollable Records)