ALEX ACUNA

Alejandro Neciosup Acuña aka Alex Acuña (born December 12, 1944) is a Peruvian Afro-Cuban jazz drummer and percussionist.

Born in Pativilca, Peru, Acuña played in local bands from the age of ten, and moved to Lima as a teenager. At the age of eighteen he joined the band of Perez Prado, and in 1967 he moved to Puerto Rico. In 1974 Acuña moved to Las Vegas, working with artists such as Elvis Presley and Diana Ross, and the following year he joined the jazz-fusion group Weather Report, appearing on the albums Black Market and Heavy Weather. Acuña left Weather Report in 1978, and became a session musician in California, recording and playing live with (amongst many others) Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald, Jim Walker (musician), Chick Corea, Whitney Houston, Plácido Domingo, Phil Keaggy, Sergeant Petter, Sam Phillips, former Weather Report bandmates Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Beck, Roberta Flack, U2, and Al Jarreau. He can be found on recordings by musicians as culturally diverse as Lee Ritenour, Peter Gabriel, Johnny Clegg, Robbie Robertson & Jackson Browne.

In the 1980s Acuna also recorded and toured with the Christian jazz band Koinonia, which featured session musicians Abraham Laboriel, Justo Almario, Hadley Hockensmith, Harland Rogers, and Bill Maxwell. He played on Willy DeVille's Crow Jane Alley album.

He has also worked as an educator at University of California, Los Angeles and Berklee College of Music.

Discography

(1976) Black Market - Weather Report
(1977) Heavy Weather - Weather Report
(1992) Thinking of You - Alex Acuña and the Unknowns
(2000) Acuarela de Tambores - Alex Acuña
(2002) Los Hijos del Sol: To My Country - Alex Acuña

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Alex Acuña was born on December 12, 1944 in Pativilca, Peru - a small coastal village 100 miles north of the capital city of Lima, Peru. His real name is Alexjandro Neciosup Acuña. A self-educated musician, he was inspired by his father and brothers (all of whom were musicians). By the time Alex turned ten, he was already playing in local bands. As a teenager, he was one of Peru's most accomplished session drummers, performing on many recording projects for artists as well as film and television productions. Alex also earned a glowing reputation for his skills as a live performer.

At the age of eighteen, Alex was chosen by the great Latin bandleader, Perez Prado, to join his big band. It was with the Prado band that Alex first traveled to the United States. Several years later, he began studying at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, playing as classical percussionist with the Symphony Orchestra for the Pablo Casals Summer Festivals in San Juan, P.R. In 1974, Alex moved to Las Vegas and there, played with such greats as Elvis Presley and Diana Ross. Following this chapter of his career, Alex became both drummer and percussionist for one of the most innovative jazz groups of our time, Weather Report, recording “Black Market” and the famous “Heavy Weather” album.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1978, Alex quickly earned the position of a valued session drummer and percussionist for recordings, television and motion pictures. He became the recipient of many awards and honors, including the Emeritus MVP award from the L.A. chapter of National Academy of Recording for the Arts and Sciences and winner of the “Latin/Brazilian percussionist” Category of Modern Drummer's “Reader's Poll” for five years running.

His countless album credits and live performances are comprised of such diverse artists as U2, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Al Jarreau, Ella Fitzgerald, Roberta Flack, Andre Crouch, The Winans, Tracy Chapman, Sheryl Crow, Whitney Houston, Bruce Willis, Seal, Yellow Jackets, The Brecker Brothers, Chick Corea, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Carlos Santana, The Gipsy Kings, Julio Iglesias, Herbie Hancock, Koinonia, Juan Gabriel, Luis Miguel, Placido Domingo, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, and Integrity Music Productions internationally with artists such as Ron Kenoly and others.

Alex has recorded film scores under the direction of Dave Grusin, Alan Silvestry, Michele Legrand, Bill Conti, Michele Colombier, Marvin Hamlish, Maurice Jaree, Mark Isham, Hans Zimmer, John Williams and many more!

In 2007 he was the percussionist on the last Joe Zawinul record “Brown Street.”

Source: All About Jazz