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HECTOR CONTRERAS & HIS LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE
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ALEX WILSON (PIANIST, COMPOSER, BANDLEADER) official website - myspace page Alex was born in 1971 of British and Sierra Leone parentage. His childhood was spent in the UK, Sierra Leone, Austria and Switzerland during which he studied classical guitar and later jazz piano. In 1993, after gaining a degree in Electronics from the University of York, he embarked on a professional career as a pianist, performing and recording with Courtney Pine, Jazz Jamaica, Sandra Cross, Adalberto Santiago and Jocelyn Brown, quickly being signed to the Candid label. He now has five solo albums out in a latin jazz and salsa vein and continues a diverse career which currently includes a commission from the Royal Opera House, composing for theatre productions, producing latin hip hop, running his 12-piece salsa band, work as a session keyboard player and education work in music colleges. ALEX WILSON SALSA ORCHESTRA - SHOW ME
ALEX WILSON - INGLATERRA (2007) Lead Vocals: Alfonso de Jesus (1,7), Davide Giovannini (1,2,8), Lauren Dalrymple (8), Osvaldo Chacon (5), Shahid Abbas Khan (3), MC Magico (6,9), Criolla (6), Mary Pearce (2,9), Aquilla Fearon (4) Backing Vocals: Alfonso de Jesus (1,2,7), Davide Giovannini (1,2,3,5,7), Joe de Jesus (8) Trumpets: Shanti Paul Jayasinha (1,2,4,5,6,7), Steve Dawson (1,2,7), Darren Wiles (4), Jesus Alemany (8) Trombones: Trevor Mires (1,2,3,4,6,7), Joe de Jesus (8) Saxophones: Paul Booth (5,8) Timbales/Kit: Davide Giovannini (1,2,3,5,7,8), David Pattman (4,6) Congas: Emeris Solis (1,2,3,4,5,7), David Pattman (6), Thomas Dyani (8) Bongo: David Pattman (all tracks) Tabla: Kuljit Bhamra (3) Hand Percussion: David Pattman (all tracks) Drum Programming: Alex Wilson (2,6,9) Bass: Rey Crespo (1,2,5,7), Javier Fioramonti (3,4), Neville Malcolm (8) Piano / Keyboards: Alex Wilson
review by Pietro Carbognani: ALEX WILSON - INGLATERRA (2007) review by Latin Lady Dj Margarita: ALEX WILSON - INGLATERRA (2007) review by Cristina Warner: ALEX WILSON - INGLATERRA (2007) review by Gillian Heaton: ALEX WILSON - INGLATERRA (2007) recensione di Roberto Rabbi: ALEX WILSON - INGLATERRA (2007) review by John L. Walters: ALEX WILSON - INGLATERRA (2007)
1. La Vida Que Nos Merecemos (Crespo/Giovannini/Wilson/MCS) more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels
Ever since pianist Alex Wilson burst onto the UK music scene in 1993, he has refused to stand still or be musically typecast. Born to British parents of Sierra Leone background, and brought up in the UK, Sierra Leone, Switzerland and Austria, Alex developed an open minded and world view of music, where frontiers were there to be crossed and boundaries to be broken. A love of jazz, latin, soul, reggae and African music led to a busy career from the mid-1990s, playing regularly with saxophonist Courtney Pine, ska-boppers Jazz Jamaica, Colombian timbale maestro Roberto Pla and many more top London bands. Variety, in Alex's case, certainly was the spice of life! From 1996, when he launched his solo career, he released 3 albums on the jazz label Candid Records, including the groundbreaking "R&B Latino" in 2001, a CD that successfully fused contemporary Cuban music with soul and R&B. All three CDs were well received amongst critics and dancers alike! "Inglaterra" is Alex's 5th solo release, and the second on his own Alex Wilson Records (the first being the 2005 Alex Wilson Quintet latin jazz album "Aventuras"). Without a doubt, this is Alex's first album aimed purely at the dance floor. In true Wilson style, "Inglaterra" brings together many genres of latin dance music under one roof - salsa moderna, salsa dura, Cuban son, reggaeton, latin soul and the new sound of bhangra salsa. Regular Alex Wilson musicians from previous sessions, such as Colombian sonero Alfonso de Jesus, soul singers Mary Pearce and Lauren Dalrymple, and drummer/vocalist Davide Giovannini, are joined by new artists and guests including vocalist Aquilla Fearon, Colombian MC Magico, Cuban sonero Osvaldo Chacon (ex-Bamboleo), and Asian musicians Kuljit Bhamra and Shahid Abbas Khan. At the head of this super tight unit is Señor Wilson playing pure piano grooves, content to let his compositions and musicians do the talking. In contrast to his other albums, not one piano solo graces this CD. Without the band leader's rock-solid montunos and tumbaos to hold everything in place, this well-oiled musical machine would grind to a halt! The unity between the musicians in conjunction with the original material, class arrangements and fine production, means this album can proudly hold it's own against anything coming from Latin New York, Cuba or Puerto Rico. "Inglaterra" really is Alex Wilson's coming of age CD and taking his career to the next level. Original latin music from the UK, paying respect to the past, but looking forward to the future. Adrian Gibson (Jazz Cafe/Freestyle Records - London)
ALEX WILSON - AVENTURAS (2005)
Alex Wilson (piano, organ)
review by Rudy Mangual: ALEX WILSON - AVENTURAS (2005) 1. Aguabajo (Wilson) 2. Hamattan (Wilson) 3. Changes (Wilson/Pearce) feat Mary Pearce 4. Kalisz (Wilson) 5. Irisi (Wilson) 6. Currulao Cool (Wilson) 7. Soldier (Wilson/Roberts) 8. Cascara (Wilson/Giovannini) 9. Solar (Davis) 10. Good Friends (Wilson) more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels
ALEX WILSON - R&B LATINO (2002)
1. Tell Me How It Feels 2. If You're Out there 3. R&B Latino 4. Use Me 5. Another Star 6. Walk With Me 7. Freedom in The Frame 8. No Sense 9. Over You 10. A Guarachar Con Alex more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels
ALEX WILSON - ANGLO CUBANO (2001)
1. Anglo-Cubano 2. Havana thoroughfare 3. Sigo Caminando 4. Englishman in New York 5. The Masquerade 6. Capullito de Aleli 7. Donde Carmela 8. Valerie 9. Straight to the Source more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels
ALEX WILSON - AFRO SAXON (1999) This is the first album I ever recorded under my own name. I had been approached by the owner of Candid Records, Alan Bates, with the suggestion of recording some albums. At the time, this was not in my plans, however I jumped at the opportunity. In this period I was playing reggae with Sandra Cross, Jazz with Gary Crosby, Latin with Roberto Pla, funk with Frank Tontoh and this album reflects that in its variety
1. Afro Saxon more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels
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RAY BARRETTO
ARTURO SANDOVAL
HECTOR LAVOE
WAYNE GORBEA
CARLOS PATATO VALDES
JUAN PABLO TORRES
DAVE PIKE
MARIO BAUZA'
CHICO O'FARRILL
ISRAEL "CACHAO" LOPEZ
MONGO SANTAMARIA
PONCHO SANCHEZ
DIZZY GILLESPIE
FANIA ALL STARS
JOE CUBA
TITO PUENTE
CAL TJADER
FRANCISCO AGUABELLA
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