Ramon Vázquez
Bassist | Educator | Composer |Recording Artist | Producer
Ramón Vázquez Martirena is an award-winning bassist and producer recognized for his profound influence on the global Latin and Jazz landscapes. A 2023 San Juan Jazz Hero (Jazz Journalists Association), Ramón has a storied history of high-level performance, including his 2019 world tour with Chucho Valdés and Irakere. He has had the privilege of sharing the stage with legends such as Chick Corea, Paquito D’Rivera, Kenny Garrett, Dianne Reeves, Regina Carter, and Joey DeFrancesco, alongside collaborations with prominent Latin artists like Ernan López-Nussa.
As a visionary in musical education and programming, he was a founding member of the Jazz and Caribbean Studies undergraduate program at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico in 2004. His leadership in the festival circuit is extensive, having served as the Musical Director for the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival (2007–2015) and producing major Jazz Festivals in both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Additionally, he directed the SOFO Culinary Fest in Old San Juan for over a decade (2004–2017).
Ramón’s production credits bridge commercial success and artistic depth. In 2020, he produced a significant series of virtual concerts featuring renowned local artists, adapting high-caliber performances for a global digital audience. His portfolio includes the Boleros album by Andy Montañez (featuring Miguel Zenón and Omara Portuondo) and the "El Colmo de lo Exquisito" series for Fundación Cortés. His versatility is further highlighted by his work on Tito El Bambino’s El Patrón and the hit "Feliz Navidad."
A sought-after clinician and speaker, he has represented the jazz community at Berklee College of Music, Sciences Po Paris, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the Jazz Foundation of America’s Annual Gala at the Apollo Theater.