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Alex Diaz

Born in Bani, Dominican Republic, Alex Diaz began playing music at an early age. At age 10 he enrolled at Jose Reyes Music School in his hometown. Soon he was lead snare drum in his town’s Municipal Band under Professor Amable Botello. A couple of years later he found himself performing with local bands such as Nina El Gago, Yeyen y su Bajo, Los Antillanos del Sabor, among other popular bands of the region. At age 16 he joined the group Los Juveniles del Sabor, whose lead vocalists were Ruby Perez and Aramis Camilo, considered among the best in the country. He continued to perform with local acts such as Julita del Rio and Sonido Latino.

In 1980 a young Alex relocated to New York City to try out the scene. His first gig was with Victor White, Dominican merengue singer famous with Wilfrido Vargas. Then the big break came, a call from Jazz Pianist Hilton Ruiz. This proved to be the catalyst for his making a name for himself among NYC finest percussionists. Soon after that his career took off performing with big names such as Tito Puente, Jose Figaro, Chucho Valdes, Mario Bauza and the Afro Cuban Band, Dizzy Gillespie and the United Nations Orch., Xavier Cugat, Ceila Cruz, Alfredo “ Chocolate” Armenteros, and Cachoao, just to name a few.

Currently in New York, Alex Diaz keeps busy performing with the ensemble Son de la Calle around New York City and international venues. He is considered the pioneer of the merengue-jazz concept, inherited by his mentor the great Mario Rivera” El Comandante,” considered the best Dominican musician ever! His project “ The Bebop Bogaloo Kings” is the First of many attempts in combining Jazz and Contemporary music with Santo Dominigo’s folkloric beat “ merengue.”

On his new 2012 release is “Beyond 145th Street” Diaz is accompanied by stellar sax man Ivan Renta, bassist Ruben Rodriguez, and pianist Perdo Bermudez, among others, which delivers merengue jazz on a whole other level. Source: James Nadal

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Album Review

Alex Diaz: Beyond 145th Street

Read "Beyond 145th Street" reviewed by James Nadal


Merengue, the national music of the Dominican Republic ferociously driven by percussive provincial rhythms such as pambiche, perico ripiao, el maco, guinchao and palo, is the natural choice for conga master Alex Diaz to blend his native roots with jazz improvisation in Beyond 145th Street . Diaz and featured saxophonist Ivan Renta continue their musical innovations and tribute to the late saxophonist Mario Rivera, who was associated with Tito Puente, which began with the release of Merengue ...

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Festival

4th Edition South Florida Dominican Jazz Fest - Tributes "El Comandante" Mario Rivera Set for October 17

4th Edition South Florida Dominican Jazz Fest  - Tributes "El Comandante" Mario Rivera Set for October 17

Source: Fernando Rodriguez

In October 2012, Landestoy Enterprises presented a completely new and exiting concept from the Dominican Republic: The South Florida Dominican Jazz Fest. A multicultural event that brought to Florida the best Jazz currently being made by musicians in the Dominican Republic as well as Dominicans living in the United States. October of this year is just around the corner and Miami is preparing itself for the 4th versión of this event. The level of success of the presentations have been ...

Festival

South Florida Dominican Jazz Fest Presents Dominican Accents and Flavours to South Florida

South Florida Dominican Jazz Fest Presents Dominican Accents and Flavours to South Florida

Source: Jazz en Dominicana by Fernando Rodriguez

South Florida Dominican Jazz Fest presents Dominican accents and flavours to South Florida. Next Friday, October 19th at 8:00pm the first version of The South Florida Dominican Jazz Fest will be held. The event will be inaugurated by the creators of Festival - Jazz en Dominicana & Landestoy Enterprises, they will be accompanied by the Mayor of Miami, Tomás Regalado and the Chairman Miami-Dade Board of County Commisioners, Joe Martinez. This multi-cultural event, during one complete evening, present jazz lovers ...

Festival

A Dominican Trifecta To Be On Stage At The South Florida Dominican Jazz Fest

A Dominican Trifecta To Be On Stage At The South Florida Dominican Jazz Fest

Source: Jazz en Dominicana by Fernando Rodriguez

Recently Jazz en Dominicana and Landestoy Enterprises informed that in Miami on Friday, October 19th, during the celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Month, they will be presenting - The South Florida Dominican Jazz Fest. A multicultural event will bring to Florida the best jazz being performed by musicians in the Dominican Republic and Dominicans living abroad. The organizing committee now informs that they have added a third band with which a - Dominican Trifecta - has been competed for this first ...

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Festival

Jazz With Dominican Accents and Flavours In South Florida

Jazz With Dominican Accents and Flavours In South Florida

Source: Jazz en Dominicana by Fernando Rodriguez

Jazz en Dominicana and Landestoy Enterprises inform that in the coming month of October, during the celebrations of Hispanic Heritage, will be presenting - in Miami - a completely new and exciting concept from the Dominican Republic: The South Florida Dominican Jazz Fest. This multicultural event will bring to Florida the best jazz being performed by musicians in the Dominican Republic and Dominicans living abroad. On Friday, October 19th, Miami will witness the Jazz proposals from the land that gave ...

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