I am from Montevideo, Uruguay.
After playing drums and keyboards when I was a teenager I decided on the electric bass after hearing Uruguayan and Argentinean musicians like Arturo Meneses, Popo Romano, Urbano Moraes, Pedro Aznar and the world famous Jaco Pastorius and Marcus Miller.
Afro-Uruguayan musicians such as Rubén Rada, Jaime Roos and Eduardo Mateo also strongly influenced me. Candombe, the African rhythm brought to America by slaves and adopted into Uruguayan popular music is also present in the way I compose and play.
In Uruguay I formed part of different bands playing with some friends where I learnt the basics of music.
In Spain I was founding member of Sacale and Frenética, both bands mixing Latin, Jazz and Funk. I also co-founded the Jazz trio DIR with pianist Israel Calvo and drummer David Fernández.
I lived in Spain for 14 years and have been influenced by Flamenco and Gypsy music and played with the Zaragoza gypsy based band Combays.
In England I have collaborated with Puravida, Orquesta Montpelier and KeChevere. Also co-founded Mankala and played with Alex Hutchings, James Morton and Matt Jones in different formations.
I am able to play many styles of music including latin, rock, salsa, funk or jazz. I am a professional musician with over 300 live performances in Spain, Uruguay, France and the UK where I have been writing and producing for different bands and on my own projects.
I consider myself a composer and producer, as I have written and produced the music in all the bands I have been in directing or collaborating with other musicians and I am also able to work on the complex format of the electronic arena.
I am a freelance bass player here in the UK and also work with my own band.
Copyright © 2008 Raul Marti Viera
