Alain Pérez Rodríguez

Alain Pérez is a contemporary popular Cuban musician, singer, guitarist, bass player, percussionist, pianist, composer, producer and Cuban arranger, associated with the jazz scene, and boasts an extensive discography. His talent has allowed him to work with Cuban musical groups and musicians of the caliber of Irakere, Van Van, Isaac Delgado and his Group, Paquito de Rivera and Celia Cruz.

Twenty years of life and work in Spain working with many of the world's greatest musicians failed to modify his accent, nor did they cause him to lose simplicity and Cuban essence. Alain Pérez's essence remained intact to return and share with the audience that is most dear to him: the Cuban people.

He was born in the city of Trinidad. At the age of eight he began as a vocalist in a children's musical group in the province of Cienfuegos, and at the same time began studying music theory. In 1988 he enrolled at the "Manuel Saumell" Conservatory of Music in Cienfuegos, to take classes in classical guitar and piano.

In 1993 he moved to Havana, where he continued his guitar studies at the National School of Art (ENA). In 1996 he graduated from the intermediate level with the highest score and the special title of Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar and Orchestra Conducting. His first music school was his own home. Alain grew up listening to Cuban guajiras and sones. His father, the experienced composer Gradelio Pérez, taught him the importance of quality lyrics.

In 1995, while in his third year of guitar at the National School of Art (ENA), he had the opportunity to become part of the prestigious and acclaimed Cuban Latin Jazz group Irakere.

His first presentation on an international stage was as an arranger and singer alongside Irakere and maestro Chucho Valdés at the Salsa Festival in Cali, Colombia.

It was in 1996 when Alain Pérez made the definitive leap to the top of the Cuban music scene. The great opportunity came when he received an invitation from salsa singer Isaac Delgado to perform with his group at a well-known cabaret in Havana. This time he had to replace the bass player and Alain accepted the challenge and ended up becoming the musical director of the group.

In 1998 he arrived in Spain as part of an orchestra of star Cuban musicians touring Europe. He decided to stay for a season because he was offered to record his first solo album and ended up establishing his residence on the peninsula. Since then the experience of working with Spanish musicians has been beneficial in both directions. Alain has contributed the strength and flavor of his sense of rhythm.

In 2002 he participated alongside Granadian flamenco singer Enrique Morente and other musicians in the "África-Cuba-Cai" project, an encounter between flamenco, Cuban music and Senegalese rhythms.

Later he recorded "El pequeño reloj" with Morente, where you can hear the distinctive sound of Alain Pérez's bass doubling the falsetas of a bulería in which Morente sings to Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer. But without a doubt, it was his collaboration with Paco de Lucía that generated the most talk about his talent and his possibilities. The result can be heard on the album Cositas buenas. The project brought together a fabulous sextet that conducted a successful world tour and in which Alain Pérez was on bass.

He has received the highest praise from music critics. A cultivator and defender of salsa, timba and Latin-Jazz, he has to his credit an extensive discography and the creation of such incredible and innovative songs as La sandunguita and Con la punta del pie.

His talent has allowed him to work with Cuban groups and musicians of the caliber of Irakere, Van Van, Isaac Delgado and his group, Paquito de Rivera, Celia Cruz, Javier Masó "Caramelo, Tomatito, El Cigala, Wynton Marsalis, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and many more. In Spain he has worked with several of the greats: Enrique Morente, Paco de Lucía, Diego El Cigala, Niño Jósele, who have not hesitated to incorporate the Cuban rhythm in their latest productions.

In the year 2000 he collaborated on his recording project El desafío. In Spain his work was recognized with the First Prize SGAE Latin Jazz Award in 2002 and in 2006 he released the musical project on stage accompanied by excellent musicians. The result is the excellent album En el Aire released by the "AYVA Records" label.

In 2010 his album Apetecible was released, a fusion of various musical currents in multiple genres – bolero, guaracha, cha cha cha, mambo, funk, rock, soul – with touches of jazz and flamenco.

In 2017 he returned to his homeland, presenting ADN, his most recent recording project, with which, he comments, he arrives to stay.

Alain is married to Daria Delgado, they have been together for 21 years. She is the sister of musician Isaac Delgado and they met when she was part of his group. Then came the girls. They were born in Spain, but they are Cuban, as they themselves say. They are 9 and 11 years old and are adorable.

Awards
At the twentieth edition of the Lucas Awards he won the Popular Dance Music Video award with his video "ADN", directed by the multi-awarded Joseph Ros. Return to my fixed idea, to my personal project that always took a back seat. I decided to return to defend Cuban music, my father's lyrics, popular dance music, always respecting the genres, the roots, the traditions.