Get ready for Alex Wilson

Alex Wilson was one of last year’s most interesting surprises. The initial "Who’s he?" got an affirmative answer when his debut album Afro-Saxon turned out to be a mindblower that grabbed listeners and got them asking for more. Well, what we requested took quite sometime to come but it finally happened recently with the arrival of his latest effort Anglo Cubano. The album is once again a wonderful surprise. It is a joyously exciting take on Latin jazz that can send even the most retiring wallflower grooving on the dance floor.

Sure, we also get going with lots of sexy moves from Latin idols like Ricky Martin, Mark Anthony and even J.Lo. So what can be so extraordinary about Alex Wilson? Well, he does his thing with the piano and his mastery of the instrument cannot be faulted. Then there is his music, which is very cosmopolitan and which he writes most of the time. And then there is the way he plays the piano. His technique or I should say artistry has a buoyancy that is young and exhilarating, while also maintaining some degree of sophistication. He took on African rhythms in his first album. For his second he puts on a salsa groove that is most engaging.

Anglo Cubano is an Englishman’s impression of Cuban music. The combination is a strange one but Wilson is no ordinary British guy and is definitely not of the stiff-upper lip variety. Of Sierra Leonene ancestry, he is now based in London after living in Europe and studying in the US of A. His first instrument was the guitar but he taught himself piano as a teen-ager and is now an accomplished jazz pianist aside from being a composer, producer and arranger.

Anglo Cubano combines two diverse cultures with vibrant results. The album was recorded in London and Havana, Cuba and Wilson performs with Cuban and British musicians including an 18-piece salsa band. The music contained also comes from these two sources. Britain is represented by Leon Russel’s This Masquerade with vocals by Lauren Darylmple, who sounds great by the way, and Sting’s Englishman in New York. The latter really pulls out all the stops with fantastic percussion playing by the Clave y Guaguanco and reminds me of being caught in 5th Avenue during Puerto Rico Day one summer.

Cuba’s song contribution is the old favorite Capullito de Aleli in a very smoothly done version. Then to round things up Wilson balances the whole package with his new compositions that can be very Latin like Anglo Cubano, Sigo Caminando, Valerie and Donde Carmela or blends of Latin and jazz like Straight to the Source, also with very interesting percussion grooves, and Havana Thoroughfare, that could have provided a compelling score to a travelogue of Cuban nightlife.

Alex Wilson will be in town for performances around Manila next week. Watch for him at the Republic of Malate on Wednesday, Aug. 29, the Dusit Hotel on Thursday, Aug. 30, the Ayala Entertainment Centre in Cebu on Friday, Aug. 31 and the Bacolod Convention Center on Saturday, Sept. 1.

The show is a presentation of the British Council and is aptly titled Fusion, as it is a blend of various music styles. Wilson will share the bill with British cellist Matthew Barley, Filipino cellist Alfonso "Coke" Bolipata, saxophonist Tots Tolentino, percussionist Bo Razon, bassist Meong Pacana, drummer Mar Dizon and vocal stylist Mon David with Toti Fuentes as the musical director.

With all these talents abroad you can bet that these shows will be mighty exciting. Get your tickets to one or two as I do not think they will be anything alike given the kind of minds and hands who will be together on stage. A gathering like this happens only in a rare while and I would be very interested to find out what our artists will be able to impart to Wilson as far as Filipino music is concerned.

For tickets, you may check out Susan Arcega at 914-1011 to 14, the Dusit Hotel F&B Office at 867-3333, the Cebu Arts Council at 032-233-0452 or the Negros Cultural Foundation at 034-434-5552. Wilson’s visit is being supported by Globe Telecom, Spectrum Music, Dusit Hotel, the Subic Bay Arts Centre, Republic of Malate, Citylite 88.3 and Joey@Rhythms 92.3