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performing in various rock bands in the area and at just 17, he was playing professionally at 21-and-over
venues with musicians many years his senior. Ruggiero attended the University of New Mexico to continue
his musical studies and after a year and a half, Greg relocated to Los Angeles and was signed on an
independent record label. Continuing to develop he started checking out fusion bands, which initiated his
transition to Jazz. Wanting more musically, Ruggiero left Los Angeles to continue his studies at UNM and
assembled Continuum, a fusion trio, which soon became one of the most popular bands in the area.
Continuum was featured in the May 2000 edition of Downbeat magazine, were Ruggiero was called a
“Dynamic Guitarist.” In his study of jazz history, Ruggiero began an obsession with Wes Montgomery,
putting the pick down and becoming a thumb player. In 2001, he spent 3 months in NY attending jam
sessions in Harlem and performing in organ trios. After returning to New Mexico, Greg became one of the
most sought after musicians in the area, performing in a wide variety of groups from progressive jazz trios
to the Parisian swing band “Suite 42” to R&B groups. A new more personal voice began to emerge. Over
the next three years Ruggiero would make frequent visits to New York to study with guitarist Peter
Bernstein and Kurt Rosenwinkel and establish strong musical relationships with many of the musicians
Greg performs with today. Ruggiero assumed the role of mentor to many young musicians in the
southwest, as a frequent clinician at the University of New Mexico as well as hosting weekly jam sessions at
a number of clubs in the area.
Permanently relocating to Brooklyn, New York in the summer of 2004, Greg Ruggiero has continued to
develop his art alongside some of the finest young musicians on the scene today. Greg performs as an
integral member of the Tommy Crane quintet (of the Greg Osby 4) and performs regularly with Fresh
Sound recording artist Rob Wilkerson (Michael Buble) and Max Jazz recording artist Frank LoCrasto
(Jeremy Pelt), as well as in his own trio and quintet. Through a busy schedule of performances and
teaching, Ruggiero continues to widen his musical interest and foundation, currently checking out a more
diverse pallet of classical, East Indian, Bulgarian music and Gregorian Chant for example. Ruggiero has
recently been added to the New School University Applied Music teaching roster and was a 2004 guest
artist and clinician at the Crossties Jazz Festival hosted by Delta State University in Greenville, Mississippi
along with Mulgrew Miller. He has performed with Kevin Hayes, Frank Morgan and George Garzone, to
name a few. Most recently, he has been honored to take part in the Jazz of Enchantment radio program
and educational series as one of the top 20 Jazz artists associated with New Mexico, including such artists
as Frank Morgan, Bobby Shew and fellow colleagues Rob Wilkerson and Matt Brewer (Greg Osby 4).
Greg’s debut record is currently in the works and is scheduled for a summer 2006 release.