Colourful, timeless free jazz ranging from dark classical tone poems to passionate cinematic soundscapes.

4 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Free Jazz, JAZZ: Modern Free Jazz



Details:
ALEX GORDON
From London, England, Zandy Alexander (Alex Gordon) is a jazz pianist who has performed and recorded extensively in many countries, usually with his own group. Today he is based in Montreal, where he also runs a recording studio.

1962-72 Attends University College School, Hampstead, London UK
1972-3 Student teacher at Chwele School, Bungoma, Kenya
1972-4 Numerous jazz workshops including three terms at Barry Summer School, receiving tuition from Ian Carr, Don Rendall, Stan Tracey, Mike Gibbs, Manfred Man, Gordon Beck, Tony Oxley and Maggie Nichols
1973-4 Attends Barnet Art College - completes Foundation course
1973-4 London dates with Paul Gilroy (today the leading authority on black culture in the UK)
1975 - British tour with Jon Owen band, including a concert at Chelmsford prison. Showcase at the 'Marquee' with the George Hatcher band
1976 - Three month residency at the Ambassador Hotel, Dubai
1977- UK tour with Bruce Ruffin. Residency at 'McKinlie's' (formerly the 'Country Club', Belsize Park), with Canute Edwards and the 'Scientists of Sound.'
1978 - Formation of 'Mirage' - live show at Ronnie Scotts
1979 - Mirage headlines at Glastonbury Festival, and plays residency at the Bamboo Club, Serracunda, Gambia
1980 - Mirage signs to Trident/Flamingo/RCA and first record 'Summer Grooves' becomes a club hit in London, and achieves chart position in France. Concerts at the 'Rainbow', the LSE, the 'Lyceum', 'Hammersmith Palais' and many soul festival all-dayers and all-nighters. Also many dates supporting Level 42. Several live Radio One broadcasts and many press interviews. Much airplay and record used as BBC theme.
1981 - Mirage plays Odeon tour of UK. Alex records with Eduardo Niebla (Towards the Sun).
1982 - Alex teams up with Marina Fiorentini to play jazz concerts in Italy and New York - (the New Music Festival). Rehearsal bands with Art Blakey junior, Chip White and Rashied Ali
1983 - Live shows in London - the 'Canteen' (with Joe Lee Wilson) and independent TV, Rome.
1984 - Residency at the 'Bar Naviglio, Milan - (also concerts at the 'Swing' and the 'Scimmie') and more dates in London including the Roundhouse, the Dome and the Royal Festival Hall cafe. Workshop with Art Blakey, Chalk Farm.
1985-6 - USAF bases in UK, 'Bulmershe College'.
1987 - Residency at 'Biggles' jazz bar, St James Square, London. Concerts at the 'People's house' and the 'Double Dose', Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Workshop with Chick Corea, Leblon, Rio
1988-9 - Dates in Rome, the 'Music Inn', the 'Big Mama', the 'Alexanderplatz' and the 'Castello'. Workshop with Billy Cobham. Alex and Marina host radio programme 'Samba Roma' for radio Citta Aperto
1990 - Organization of the Roman Carnival. BMG records the song 'Carnevale Romano', written by Alex. Live appearance on RAI national TV, concert with Nelson Mandela, Campo di Fiori, Alex signs to Tendance Records and his song 'Africa Free' receives continuous airplay in Florence.
1991-2 - Italian tour. Appearance at the Rome Palladium
1993-4 - Africa Free' remixed by Victor Simonelli and released in the U.S. by Playtime Records
1993-6 Concerts in New York including the 'Walkathon', the 'Knitting Factory', the 'Lone Star' and residency at 'Ecco Italia', Bleeker St.
1995-6 Owner manager of the musician's co-operative 'Ludlow Blue' (improvization workshop in the lower East side - frequented by Daniel Carter, Sabir Mateen, Matt Garrison and others)
1996 Showcase at 'Kenny's Castaways', W. Village NYC. Residency at 'Sous L'Escalier', Montreal, with 'Naki'.
1997 - Together with Catherine Bazin, Alex wins first prize at the 'Festival de Blues de Sherbrooke.'
1998 - Breakfast news TV and residency at the 'Black Cat', Magog, with Catherine.
1999 - Montreal club dates with Ginny B. Aullese festival, Italy, with Brent Nokes. Appearance at Laval prison - (with Dakar)
2000 & 1 - Residency at 'Jazz after Dark', Soho, London
2001 - Recording session with the 'Surfing Cowboys', Memphis
2002 - Live taping at BCAT TV, NYC with Marina Fiorentini and Tyrone Taylor. Creation of Worldgig recording studio, Little Italy, Montreal. Alex and Ginny sign to Cdbaby for online distribution. Release of cd 'I refuse to be cast down' - (Al Gordon & Ginny B), on Worldgig, Cdbaby
2003-4 - Residency with Ginny B at 'Le Cine Lumiere' and weekly jazz workshop at 'Les Minots'
2005 - Concerts with Ginny B at 'Comme Chez Soir', 'La Kemia' and 'L'Assomoir', plus release of cd 'Alex Gordon & Ginny B' on Worldgig. Residency at the 'Bora bar', Granby
2006 - Concert with Lodi August at La Maison de la Culture, Frontenac. Release of cd 'Cherokee'- (Alex Gordon & Ginny B), on Worldgig/Cdbaby. Recording session with the 'Surfing Cowboys'

Discography

'Summer Grooves' - Mirage, RCA
'Towards the sun' - Eduardo Niebla
'As from now' - Mirage, Copasetic
'Africa Free' - ZAM (with Marina Fiorentini)
'Thankful' - Red light
'Crazy for you' - Jose Feliciano
'African Freedom' - ZAM (with Marina Fiorentini - produced by Victor Simonelli, Playtime)
'Celtic distortions' - Patsy Dan Rogers
'Paul Rogers' - (production and engineering also)
'I refuse to be cast down' - Al Gordon & Ginny B, Worldgig, Cdbaby
'The politics of blues' - the Surfin' Cowboys
'Alex Gordon & Ginny B' - Alex Gordon & Ginny B, Worldgig, Cdbaby
'Cherokee' - Alex Gordon & Ginny B, Worldgig, Cdbaby