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Alain Ortiz Samada
Born on July 15th, 1983, in Santiago de Cuba, Alain Samada discovered his passion for music at a very young age. After moving with his family to Havana, he joined his school band at just nine years old, taking his first steps into the world of percussion — an instrument that would define his lifelong artistic journey.
Under the guidance of renowned timbalero Daniel Díaz Vila —then a member of the legendary orchestra Ritmo Oriental— Alain mastered the fundamentals of snare drum technique and developed the strong musical discipline that would shape his professional foundation.
He continued his studies at the Fernando Carnicer School of Music, later graduating with honors from the prestigious Amadeo Roldán Conservatory, where he studied under distinguished teachers such as Agustín Gómez Lavín, Roberto Concepción, and Mauricio Gutiérrez. In 2010, Alain earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the University of the Arts (ISA) in Havana, with an outstanding final performance.
After fully absorbing the depth and richness of Cuban musical culture, Alain expanded his horizons and is now based in South Korea, where he explores a wide range of sounds — from American jazz and Latin jazz, to salsa and traditional Korean folk music. His musical voice merges the Afro-Cuban rhythmic tradition with Eastern textures, resulting in a style that is both virtuosic and deeply spiritual.
Throughout his career, Alain has collaborated with renowned artists from Cuba and around the world, including:
Original Cuban Circus (European Tour)
Ernán López-Nussa’s Trio
Orlando Valle “Maraca” — founder of the Cuban Jazz Quartet
Raúl Gutiérrez (Chile)
Hyo Jeon Lee (South Korea)
Selected Discography
Aire de Conciertos – with Con Clarinete (Cuba)
Original Cuban Circus – DVD
Canto a Jesús – Eric Méndez (Cuba)
Días de Lluvia, Puente Special, Doce de Coco, Prado Vive, Afro Georgian Project – Raúl Gutiérrez (Chile / Georgia)
Things Fall Together – Victoria Falana (Nigeria)
Blue Violets – Tamta Tskhvitava (Georgia)
…and many other international collaborations.
Awards and Honors
First Prize, JoJazz International Jazz Competition (Havana, Cuba)
Special Recognition for outstanding accompaniment work
First Prize, Guillermo Barreto In Memoriam International Percussion Festival (Drum category)
International Festival Appearances
Alain has performed at some of the most respected jazz festivals, including:
Havana International Jazz Plaza Festival (Cuba),
Tobago Jazz Festival (Trinidad & Tobago),
Valdivia Jazz Festival (Ecuador), and
Daeyeon Jazz Festival (South Korea).
Currently, Alain is finalizing his first album as drummer, composer, and producer, a project that embodies his artistic and spiritual maturity. Simultaneously, he is working on his second album, scheduled for release in 2026 — the result of years of musical exploration and creative evolution.
As he often says: “I’ve gathered a lifetime of music to share — every note is a piece of my heart transformed into sound energy.”
Beyond his technical mastery and global experience, Alain’s life and artistry are deeply rooted in faith. After a personal encounter with God during his youth, his music took on a new purpose — to express gratitude and inspire others through the divine beauty of sound.
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