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Alex Acuña

Born in Pativilca, Peru, 100 miles north of Lima, Alex Acuña was born into a musical family that inspired him and helped shape him as a musician. His father and five brothers were all musicians. Alex taught himself how to play the drums from the age of four. By the time Alex turned ten, he was already playing in local bands. As a teenager, he moved to Lima and became one of Peru's most accomplished session drummers, performing on many recording projects for artists, as well as film and television productions.

In Lima, Alex also earned a glowing reputation for his live performances. So much so, that at the age of eighteen, Alex was chosen by the great Latin band leader, Perez Prado, to join his big band. It was with the Prado band that Alex first traveled to the United States. In 1966, Alex moved to Puerto Rico to work as a studio musician and play locally. During this period, he also studied for three years at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, playing as a classical percussionist with the Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the famed Spanish cellist master Pablo Casals.

Alex moved to Las Vegas in 1974, where he played with such greats as Elvis Presley and Diana Ross, Paul Anka Olivia Newton John. Between 1975 and 1977, he made part of jazz history when he became both drummer and percussionist for one of the most innovative and pioneering jazz groups of our time, Weather Report. He first performed as percussionist (October 1975 to April 1976), and later as drummer (April 1976 to October 1977). He recorded two albums with the group: “Black Market” (1976) and the highly successful “Heavy Weather” (1977), which included the famous tracks “Birdland” and “Havona.” “Heavy Weather” became the first jazz-fusion album to sell a million copies.

Alex next moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1978 where he quickly earned the position of a valued session drummer and percussionist for recordings, television and motion pictures. His countless album credits include such diverse artist as U2, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston, Sergio Mendes, Yellow Jackets, Chic Corea, Julio Iglesias, Koinonia, Juan Gabriel, Luis Miguel, Placido Domingo, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul and also has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, Metropole Orchestra. Alex has also performed live with the likes of Al Jarreau, Bobby McFerrin Roberta Flack, Antonio Carlos Jobim, The Gipsy Kings, Paco de Lucia, Celia Cruz, Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, Christina Aguilera and Tito Puente, Roy Orbison, Bruce Springstein, name a few. Additionally, Alex has recorded film scores under the direction of Dave Grusin, Alan Silvestri, Michele Legrand, Bill Conti, Michele Colombier, Marvin Hamlish, Maurice Jarre, Mark Isham, Michael Gianchino, John Powell, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Lalo Schiffrin, and others. He became the recipient of many awards and honors including the Emeritus MVP award from NARAS (National Academy of Recording for the Arts and Sciences) and winner of the "Best Latin/Brazilian Percussionist" of Modern Drummer's Readers Poll for fifteen consecutive years.

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Album Review

Terell Stafford: Between Two Worlds

Read "Between Two Worlds" reviewed by Neil Duggan


Family is a major theme on Terell Stafford's Between Two Worlds, with compositions dedicated to his daughter, mother and wife. His band has been playing with him so long they must feel like family too. They include tenor and soprano saxophonist Tim Warfield, pianist Bruce Barth, drummer Johnathan Blake and bassist David Wong. In fact, Wong plays with Stafford every week as part of the renowned Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Percussionist Alex Acuña is the new member of the family.

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Album Review

Billy Valentine: Billy Valentine And The Universal Truth

Read "Billy Valentine And The Universal Truth" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Dopo quarant'anni d'assenza dal mercato, l'etichetta Flying Dutchman torna con una produzione intensa e avvincente, che ci riporta ai suoi anni migliori. Protagonista è Billy Valentine, soul singer degli anni settanta tornato alla ribalta cinque anni fa (col sorprendente quanto ignorato Brit Eyed Soul) e qui accompagnato da formazioni che includono Jeff Parker, Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins, Pino Palladino, Theo Croker, Larry Goldings, Linda May Han Oh, e altri nomi di primo piano. Bob ...

37
Album Review

Vince Mendoza/Metropole Orkest: Olympians

Read "Olympians" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Eight-time Grammy-winning composer/arranger Vince Mendoza, born and raised in Norwalk, CT, has enjoyed great success overseas--in Europe, to be more precise--since releasing an album with Germany's WDR Big Band in 1994. The following year, Mendoza began collaborating with the Dutch Metropole Orkest and in 1998 was named its principal guest conductor. Olympians is Mendoza's third recording with the massive, string-laden Metropole. He has recorded other albums with the London and Czech Symphony Orchestras. Here in the U.S., ...

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Album Review

Vince Mendoza Metropole Orkest: Olympians

Read "Olympians" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


Many years ago Dizzy Gillespie recorded an album called The New Continent (Limelight, 1965). Whether it was commercially successful is hard to say, but it featured an all-star cast of Los Angeles session players. The recording made a deep impression on some listeners because it was creative, dynamic, exotic and simply enjoyable. Good compositions (by Lalo Schifrin), arrangements and musicians will do that, even if the result is a bit different than mainstream jazz. Or mainstream Gillespie. ...

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Album Review

Marilyn Scott: The Landscape

Read "The Landscape" reviewed by Jim Worsley


Some artists feel obligated to put out a new record every one-point-three years, or whatever their factory warranty calls for (mileage may vary). Others are more interested in quality than quantity. On her first record since Standard Blue (Prana, 2017), jazz vocalist Marilyn Scott has something to say about The Landscape. More than the title track, Scott's concerns with our landscape is the scope and focus of seven original compositions, all co-written with pianists Russ Ferrante or Scott Kinsey. Scott ...

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Album Review

Lyle Mays: Eberhard

Read "Eberhard" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


La prematura scomparsa di Lyle Mays nel febbraio 2020 ha privato il mondo di uno straordinario musicista, troppo poco considerato al di fuori dell'importantissimo contributo da lui dato all'interno del Pat Metheny Group, dove ha rappresentato l'ideale complemento del chitarrista dal 1977 al 2010 prima di decidere di abbandonare definitivamente la scena musicale per dedicarsi professionalmente al mondo del software, un altro dei suoi numerosi interessi. Se i periodi trascorsi a fianco di Pat Metheny ne hanno ...

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Album Review

Lyle Mays: Eberhard

Read "Eberhard" reviewed by John Kelman


When pianist, keyboardist, synthesist and composer Lyle Mays passed away at the far too young age of 66 following a long battle with a recurring (but, to this day, undisclosed) illness in February 2020, it was a major loss for his fans. It was an especially deep body blow to those who'd followed his decades-long work as performer and compositional collaborator with Pat Metheny in the guitarist's critically and commercially acclaimed Pat Metheny Group. Mays had been largely ...

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Recording

Pianist Louis Siciliano Releases 'Ancient Cosmic Truth' with Alex Acuña, Randy Brecker, Claudio Romano and Umberto Muselli

Pianist Louis Siciliano Releases 'Ancient Cosmic Truth' with Alex Acuña, Randy Brecker, Claudio Romano and Umberto Muselli

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

There are times in your life when you discover an artist that opens your mind to the infinite possibilities of the universe. For decades Louis Siciliano has been exploring the world of Electro Global Jazz by synthesizing a thousand years of Western musical tradition with ancient Indian, Persian and African musical cultures. So highly regarded as an innovator in the music industry, he now sits on the Grammy Awards panel delivering judgement on his peers. Now his self-titled quintet, consisting ...

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Recording

West Coast Jazz Recording Artist George Kahn Releases New Album "Straight Ahead" Featuring Alex Acuña And Lyman Medieros

West Coast Jazz Recording Artist George Kahn Releases New Album "Straight Ahead" Featuring Alex Acuña And Lyman Medieros

Source: Imaginary Friends

West Coast Jazz pianist George Kahn’s ninth album is a groove party from start to finish. The twelve tracks (all featuring George on piano, Alex Acuña on drums, and Lyman Medeiros on bass) were recorded live in studio over three days. The songs build on Kahn’s love affair with West Coast Jazz, presenting seven new originals dedicated to jazz greats like Dave Brubeck, Wynton Kelly and Joe Sample. Five cover tunes (Adele, The Weekend, Ed Sheeran and more) round out ...

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Education

La JazzPro Connection Presents Alex Acuna Six Hour Master Class Saturday August 29, 2009 Studio City

La JazzPro Connection  Presents Alex Acuna Six Hour Master Class Saturday August 29, 2009 Studio City

Source: All About Jazz

L.A. Jazz Pro Master Class Series Saturday August 29 2009 Studio City Acuña Q&A Q&A with Alex Acuña L.A. Jazz Pro Master Class Series 2009 Whether Alex Acuña is behind a drumset, any number of world-percussion instruments, or just on the other end of a phone, joy and excitement come through clearly; but, it doesn’t take long to realize that this is one serious cat. A great combination. He was kind enough ...

Collier & Dean
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Ayi Solomon
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Afro Peruvian Jazz Orchestra
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José Valentino
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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Ancient Cosmic Truth

Musica Presente Records
2023

buy

My Story In Song

Herron Song Records
2023

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Olympians

Modern Recordings
2023

buy

Billy Valentine And...

Flying Dutchman
2023

buy

Between Two Worlds

Le Coq Records
2023

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Holz-Stathis:...

MVD Audio
2023

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Quixote

From: Olympians
By Alex Acuña

One Finger Snap

From: Gifts
By Alex Acuña

Little Scorpio

From: Pride and Joy
By Alex Acuña

Unzip

From: The Landscape
By Alex Acuña

California Avenue

From: Sleek Buick
By Alex Acuña

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