GABRIEL ALEGRIA
Genres: Latin Jazz, World Fusion • Peru

Gabriel Alegria is one of the most influential figures of the jazz music scene in Peru. He is exploring and developing a uniquely Afro-Peruvian jazz music concept by combining the common African roots found in American jazz music and Afro-Peruvian music from the coast of Peru. In all of Gabriel's music, the rich legacy of the black music of coastal Peru can be heard in the context of contemporary jazz expression. The importance of this approach has been compared to the Brazilian and Cuban musical contributions that changed jazz music in the 20th century. Gabriel's latest recording Nuevo Mundo features collaborations from jazz stars Tierney Sutton, Bobby Shew, Russell Ferrante and Bill Watrous as well as Peru's formidable artists: Freddy 'Huevito' Lobaton, Hugo Alcazar, Laurandrea Leguia, Jocho Velazquez and Joscha Oetz. The recording is inspired on locations and situations along the rich and mysterious Peruvian coastline. In 2000 Gabriel founded read more...