ALEXEY LEÓN “INFLUENCIADO”

Alexey León is a saxophonist, flutist and composer, born in Manzanillo, Cuba and raised in Moscow, Russia. Previous albums: "Cuba meets Russia" 2015, "Cuban connection" 2018, "Okudzhava for my mother" 2020. Alexey León’s 4th solo album, Influenciado, is a tribute to the Afro-Cuban jazz tradition and to the pioneers of Latin Jazz. This impetuous and dissonant jazz with an intense melody and a contemporary language has been inspired by classics, such as Chano Pozo, Dizzy Gillespie, Julian Cannonball Adderley, McCoy Tyner, Chucho Valdés & Irakere, Paquito D’Rivera. Due to its harmonic structure, Influenciado (the title track) recalls the world-renowned standard of maestro Chucho Valdés, Mambo influenciado, which represents the crossbreeding of the Cuban jazz. Inspired by the Masters’ work, Alexey created an original composition, which preserves the structure of the minor blues, with nods to the Mambo influenciado and some more dissonant harmonic changes. 

To interpret this music, León is accompanied by a group of outstanding Cuban jazzmen. At the piano, Caramelo de Cuba (Dave Valentin, Paquito D’Rivera ...). In the rhythm section, Georvis Pico, Pedro Pablo Rodríguez and Reinier Elizarde El Negrón (the trio completes the Chucho Valdés quartet). The trumpet masterly performed by Carlos Sarduy (Chucho Valdés, Irakere, Richard Bona) and a very special guest, one of the most renown Spanish drummers Marc Miralta (Pat Metheny, Mark Turner, Avishai Cohen).  This work, deeply rooted in the Cuban musical tradition and the contemporary jazz, symbolises Alexey’s evolution as a musician and as a human being, reflecting his constant search for personal and musical identity.  

The music on this tight and effortlessly performed album transmits exuberant energy of the two inexhaustible sources of inspiration: the Cuban music and jazz. It is a contemporary classic. “Influenciado" will be released on One World Records 24th of December, 2021.

ALEXEY LEÓN INFLUENCIADO All compositions and arrangements ©by Alexey León except “The way you look tonight” (Dorothy Fields and Jerome Kern), “Dat Dere” (Bobby Timmons).

LINE UP Alexey León Saxophones & Flute, Carlos Sarduy Trumpet, Caramelo de Cuba Piano, Reinier Elizarde el Negrón Double Bass, Georvis Pico Drums, Pedro Pablo Rodríguez Percussion Special Guest Marc Miralta Drums

TITLES 01. Dat Dere 05:25, 02. De La Habana a Moscú / From Havana to Moscow 07:00, 03. Influenciado 03:45, 04. La Ceiba: intro 00:59, 05. La Ceiba 05:10, 06. Kiev Station Blues 04:48, 07. Guarachando 06:24, 08. Ya voy 07:36, 09. The way you look tonight 05:58, 10. Noche de Carnaval 03:30

STUDIOS Recorded by Shayan Fathi at Camaleón Studio, Madrid & Mixing and mastering by Pablo Schuller at Schuller Sound, Valencia
©℗One World Records 2021

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