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Floodtug is a composition of mine inspired by Edgar Meyer’s classical meets americana. Recorded with Ben Cassorla (guitar).

You can also hear me on this fabulous track, On the Faraway, by Krissy Weisman and Sam Weisenberg:

Here’s an early composition of mine, named Five for the time signature, with Kinky San quartet in Paris (Jonas Muel on tenor sax; Jonathan Thomas on guitar; Uriel Barthélémi on drums):

Music Bio:

Unsatisfied with the size of his violin, Travis DiRuzza began playing the upright bass in middle school. He received his bachelor’s degree in 2004 from Columbia University in New York City where he studied music composition with spectral music composer Tristan Murail, as well as John McGuire, mentee of Penderecki and Stockhausen. He studied jazz bass with Brad Jones and classical with Jeremy McCoy. Playing professionally in a variety of styles in New York, Travis worked in venues such as the Knitting Factory, Carnegie Hall, and John Zorn’s now-closed Tonic, with musicians such as Joey Weisenberg and Ben Cassorla.  He also traveled abroad to record albums with foreign musicians, such as “spontaneous actions” with guitarist Carsten Radtke in Germany and “Without a Country: Songs of Stateless Peoples” with singer Maria Krupoves in Lithuania.

Travis lived in Paris from 2005 to 2008, continuing his musical pursuits. In addition to club dates, he composed, performed, and toured with the Pseudonymo marionette company. He also appeared at the 2006 summer music festival in Romania with native-born singer Maria Raducanu. Travis was an artist in residence at Steim electro-acoustic music research center in Amsterdam, recording in trio with Uriel Barthélémi and Tarek Atoui.

From 2009-2011 Travis lived and toured in Asia and Europe with Vatchapuj Collective and Alukomarai, appearing at the Kathmandu Jazz Festival in Nepal, as well as other venues in Thailand, Malaysia, France, and Belgium.  He came back to New England briefly, working with artists such as the late Charles Neville, Ted Levine, and Robert A.A. Lowe (“Lichens”).

Travis moved to San Francisco in 2012 to complete a Masters and PhD in Philosophy and Religion at the California Institute of Integral Studies. There he began playing with South African musician Sharon Katz and The Peace Train humanitarian band, and collaborating with the dancer, Soleil Chappelle. Travis was invited back to France in 2013 to offer a jazz workshop and concert with the Freshy Fresh Orchestra. In 2017, he took up residence in Sarasota, Florida. In 2020 he completed a voice and guitar cover album, called Take Cover. In 2021 he released his concept album for sextet and narration, titled The Wicked Wonder: A Symphonic Fairytale.