Michael Gilbert Ronstadt: Press

Buckley: Ronstadt family music circle should remain unbroken
January 14, 2009, 4:40 p.m.
DANIEL BUCKLEY
Tucson Citizen
The Old Pueblo got a major holiday treat as the latest generation of Tucson's musical first family - the Ronstadts - teamed up in venues all over town.

Back in the late 1800s when Federico Ronstadt moved here from Mexico he created Tucson's first symphonic institution - the Club Filarmonico. Later he would be a founding board member of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. His daughter, Luisa Espinel, would become the city's first operatic diva, and would gather the Mexican folk songs her father sang to her in a collection, "Canciones de Mi Padre."

A son of Federico, Gilbert Ronstadt, would have a daughter who would be the most famous family musician yet - versatile pop singer Linda Ronstadt, who would borrow her Aunt Luisa's title "Canciones de Mi Padre" for her own mariachi tribute to Gilbert. That collection would go on to be a global smash and revive the whole mariachi culture.

Linda's generation of musical Ronstadts is well represented by Bill, John and Michael J. Ronstadt (the latter Linda's brother), and it goes on with the next generation through flamenco guitarist Chris Burton Jácome and singer Mindy Ronstadt.

But now the sons of Michael J. Ronstadt - bassist/singer/songwriter Petie and cellist/composer/singer Michael G. Ronstadt - have grown into fine professional musicians as well. And throughout late December and early January, the brothers teamed up with their dad for concerts back in the home city, including gigs with their dad's musical partner, Ted Ramirez, in the Santa Cruz River Band.

All of the recent performances were eclectic showcases of the considerable talent that has seeped into this next batch of Ronstadts. From folkie family favorites and original tunes to Mexican standards passed down from their great-grandparents, the younger Ronstadts anchored and carried the varied fare to new heights. It's what Ronstadts do.

"It's music I've heard my whole life," Petie says. "I had to learn some rhythmic patterns that were a little different from what I'm used to but aside from that it was a pretty easy jump."

"Every family gathering there'd be tons of guitars," adds Michael G. Ronstadt. "Bill Ronstadt would have his bass oftentimes, my uncle Peter would have a guitar. My cousin Kiko (Jácome) always played music. If he didn't have an instrument he sang. I guess I was the only cellist the family ever had."

And it's always been that way.

"There's a picture that we have in an old family album that a photographer friend of my family took when I was in diapers and I was playing my father's old Martin guitar," Michael J. Ronstadt recalls. "I think it was pretty well set at that point. It's just always been something that's been around."

Asked how he thought his dad and grandfather would feel seeing him playing with his kids, Michael J. says, "I think they would be very pleased and proud. Sometimes I wish my dad would have been around to see these guys. The fact that both of them are embracing that kind of music couldn't make him anything but proud and happy."

The only bad thing is that it was short-lived. Petie will join his dad and Ted Ramirez in the Santa Cruz River Band for the next few months, and there will be a few dates along the way where paths will converge. But for the most part, cellist Michael G. Ronstadt returns to his own road, supporting his CDs, backing singer Lisa Biales and working in a rock project.

Check out video of the trio, as well as the Santa Cruz River Band, online at tucsoncitizen.com. And while you're at it, run down Petie's Indie Rock group Goodbye Kiss' self-titled EP, Michael G. Ronstadt's "Cotton Dreams Parts 1 & 2" and the several Santa Cruz River Band CDs.

Tucsonans offer eclectic grab bag of CDs
November 19, 2008, 3:12 p.m.
DAN BUCKLEY
Tucson Citizen

...Michael G. Ronstadt: Cotton Dreams Parts 1 and 2

The son of Santa Cruz River member Mike Ronstadt and nephew of singer Linda Ronstadt, cellist Michael G. Ronstadt takes the family's musical tradition in a whole different direction. A student locally of Gordon Epperson, Nancy Green and Nelzimar Neves, Ronstadt earned his master's degree from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where he studied with Yehuda Hanani.

As these two very different discs attest, Ronstadt has learned his prime instrument (he also plays guitar) very well. Disc two is a collection of contemporary classical works, most of them written by Ronstadt, that show him to be a performer with an amazing command of the typical and exotic sounds of the cello, a true virtuoso and a man of instinctive musicality. As a composer Ronstadt is well qualified, creating moody soundscapes that reference a broad range of global and contemporary currents while generating something distinctively his own.

Disc one finds him with his group, the Gypsum Ensemble - a cello- and bass-dominated (plus flute) kind of experimental pop band that pulls in an equally broad slice of the musical spectrum. Neither is easy listening music, but both discs are worth the journey, taking the listener on unexpected, worthwhile musical journeys. ...

Michael Ronstadt on the cello at Valatie Community Theatre
By Andrew Amelinckx
( HYPERLINK "http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2008/09/08/news/news02.txt" http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2008/09/08/news/news02.txt accessed 9/8/08)
Hudson-Catskill newspapers

VALATIE - A cellist from Philadelphia performed at the Valatie Community Theatre Sunday, mixing classical and contemporary works for a small but appreciative crowd.

Michael Ronstadt, 24, played pieces by composers as varied as Johann Sebastian Bach, Consuelo Vel‡zquez - a Mexican songwriter of 1940s popular music and Liz Malys - a Valatie native now living in Alaska. He performed an original piece of his own as well.

Ronstadt said he liked to "break down the barriers" between classical and other types of music.

"Good music is good music," he said.

The concert began with Bach's Suite Number One for Unaccompanied Cello.

"It's great coming back to it with more Bach suites under your belt," Ronstadt said.

The suite is one of six, with six movements each. It is considered the least difficult of the six.

His next piece was "Idego" written by Malys for Ronstadt's senior undergraduate recital at the University of Arizona where they both studied. "I was her cello teacher for a little while," said Ronstadt. "She's a great composer."

"'Idego' ... is a musical narrative of the struggle between one's id and ego," stated Malys vie e-mail.

The piece contained passages that are dissonant paired with others that were melodic. "Let me know if you figure out which part is the ego and which part is the id," quipped Ronstadt during the performance.

Next was another contemporary composer's work - Mark Summer's "Julie-O."

"This is a lighter piece," Ronstadt told the crowd.

Summer is a Southern California native who performs with the Turtle Island Quartet. Ronstadt seemed to enjoy himself as he plucked, slapped and bowed the cello while performing the piece.

Ronstadt surprised the audience with his next selection. He belted out the lyrics to "B/same Mucho," a Spanish language song written in 1940 by Vel‡zquez, while strumming his instrument more like a guitar than a cello.

Afterwards he said that his family played Mexican folk music and that his musical influences include mariachi, "South West folk" as well as bluegrass and jazz.

"I'm also influenced by rock," he said.

The final piece was written by Ronstadt and also included lyrics. "Haunted" contained elements from many musical styles with as many tempo changes. Ronstadt again used a variety of playing techniques, including strumming, plucking and slapping.

Ronstadt said that when he switches gears during a performance the audience is often surprised.

He has been in Columbia County for the last week for an annual week-long seminar for cellists held in Columbia County with Yehuda Hanani, an acclaimed cellist and Spencertown resident. Ronstadt is also studying under Hanani at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, where Ronstadt is working towards his Masters degree.

The Valatie Community Theatre, located on Main Street in Valatie, is a not-for-profit created to rehabilitate and preserve the Theatre which was opened in 1921 and is in the midst of renovations according to the theater's Web site.

To reach reporter, Andrew Amelinckx please call (518) 828-1616 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com.

A Ronstadt is mastering the cello.
Article from: AZ Daily Star (Tucson, AZ) Article date: July 27, 2006 More results for: Michael G. Ronstadt Cello July Tucson AZ | Copyright information
Byline: Cathalena E. Burch

Jul. 27--Michael G. Ronstadt is carrying on the family business, but his path will veer somewhat from his famous country-singing aunt (Linda) and troubadour father (Michael J.).

The latest member of Tucson's musical dynasty is taking a left turn at Pop Avenue and heading east to Classical Corner, with a couple detours along the route.

Ronstadt, a recent University of Arizona music school grad, leaves next month for Ohio's University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, where he will pursue a master's degree in cello performance.

On Saturday, he and his Rillito Duo partner, pianist Aryo Wicaksono, will play what could be one ... (more online)