Alex Wilson (musician)


Alex Wilson is a pianist, composer, producer, arranger, and educator.

Biography

Alex was born in the UK and was brought up in Sierra Leone, UK, Austria and Switzerland.
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, Wynton Marsalis, Hugh Masakela & Ernest Ranglin quickly being signed to the Candid label. He won the Rising Star award at the 2001 BBC Jazz Awards.
To date, he has released eight solo albums in a Latin Jazz and salsa vein; he also composes commissions, produces Latin hip hop, runs a 12-piece salsa band, works as a session keyboard player and works in educational institutions. His commissions include NITRO, the Royal Opera House, the Royal Northern College of Music, and several library music companies. He also works with in schools in London such as Essex Primary School.
Alex Wilson is Special Lecturer in the Department of Music at University of Nottingham.
In 2011, Alex was invited to be pianist, arranger and musical director for guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela on their album Area 52 which was recorded in Havana, Cuba, with C.U.B.A., a 13-piece Cuban orchestra, and special guest musicians. The album was released in January 2012. The project toured the world in 2012, during which Alex continued his role as pianist and musical director.
2013 saw the release of his first album for trio with Davide Mantovani on bass, and Frank Tontoh and Tristan Banks on drums. The album is called 'Trio' and is released on Alex Wilson Records.

Discography

Selected Discography as sidesman

2012 Diaspora Wilber Calver - pianist/arranger/producer

2012 Area 52 Rodrigo y Gabriela - pianist/arranger

2008 Transition in Tradition Courtney Pine

2008 Afropeans Courtney Pine featured guest

2007 Boulevard de l’Independence Toumani Diabate

2007 I Love Louis Gwyn Jay Allen musical director, arranger, producer

2005 Motor City Roots Jazz Jamaica pianist / arranger

2005 Tears of Joy Antonio Forcione

2004 Massive Jazz Jamaica pianist / arranger

2001 Victory’s Happy Songbook Cleveland Watkiss

1999 Just a Dream Sandra Cross

1998 Dreams Come True Sandra Cross

1997 Migrations Gary Crosby’s Nu Troop