PEDRO ALFONSO (VIOLINIST, PIANIST, COMPOSER)

You won't find Pedro Alfonso's name listed on the bestselling music charts... yet. But many of the artists topping those charts, from Gloria Estefan to Shakira to Bacilos, depend on the Cuban-born violinist, pianist, composer, arranger and musical director when recording their award-winning works or performing at prestigious venues around the world.

Less than two years after arriving in the US in October 1998, the violin virtuoso's distinctive talents were heard on Estefan's Alma Caribeña (Caribbean Soul), which was honored with a Grammy Award and a Billboard Latin Music Award. That same year, he recorded with Shakira on her MTV Unplugged CD, which won a Grammy Award, too. Most recently, he worked with Bacilos, which took home the Latin Grammy for Best Album by a Pop Duo or Group for its CD Caraluna. Numerous tracks on the CD, including its single Mi Primer Millón (My First Million), also honored with a Latin Grammy as Best Tropical Song, feature Alfonso's signature violin sound.

With a discography of more than 80 major-label CDs, Alfonso has recorded and toured with many of the biggest names in Latin music, including Shakira, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Bacilos, Julio Iglesias, Alejandra Guzmán, Luis Enrique, Gianmarco, Franco DeVita, Ednita Nasario, Alexander Pires, José Feliciano, Fulano, Jaci Velasquez, David Bisbal, Don Omar, Oscar de León, Tito Nieves, Olga Tañón, Pablo Montero, Andrés Cepeda, Patricia Manterola, Thalía and Jon Secada. The multi-talented musician, who had a career in theater as well as music before arriving in the US, also has performed as a pianist in many projects, like the soundtrack of the Meryl Streep film Music of the Heart.

From 1992-1998, Alfonso lived in Chile, where he worked as violinist, pianist, arranger and musical director in collaboration with such artists as Carmen Prieto and Alberto Plaza; he also performed at the International Festival of the Song in Viña Del Mar in 1994 , 1996, 2004 and 2007. In his native Cuba, Alfonso was a violinist in the Symphonic Orchestra of Matanzas; participated as actor, composer, and musical director in the theatrical comedy troupe La Seña and co-founded the literary/humor magazine Seña.

Today, as he continues his recording and touring career with the top stars in Latin music, he has launched his solo career with the release of "Strings to your heart", an eclectic collection of original compositions and standards that reveals yet another facet of Alfonso's talents. Energetic and imaginative, the CD's jazz sensibility extends to pieces as diverse as familiar pop music hits and a La Comparsa with a Latin-Swing percussion twist. The CD features some big musicians playing with Pedro Alfonso, like Paquito D'Rivera and Al di Meola.

PEDRO ALFONSO - STRINGS TO YOUR HEART (2006)

Pedro Alfonso: Violin, background vocals, piano,

 keyboards, percussion, arrangements, programming, producer

Paquito D'Rivera: Sax

Al Di Meola: Guitars

Lee Levin: Drums

Dan Warner: Guitars

Jose Gregorio Hernández: Percussion

Richard Bravo: Percussion, drums

Beppe Gemelli: Drums

Danny Rodríguez: Charango

Tony Rijos: Guitars

Yasmil Marrufo: Cuatro

DJ Refugee: Arabic chants.

many thanks to Lisa Reedy Promotions

more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels