Alex Pinto

Alex Pinto is an award winning guitarist and composer from the Pacific NW. Hailed as the most original guitarist by the jury on his way to third prize at the 2008 Montreux International Jazz Guitar Competition, Pinto has established himself as a guitarist with a sound and concept unlike any player on the scene today.

He released his debut album, Inner State, on Pursuance Records in 2011, with All About Jazz calling it, "...a rhythmically vital, modern jazz album that's constructed on a global stage, and introduces a guitar talent and composer with great promise." Pinto's guitar playing would go on to be featured in Guitar Player Magazine, Downbeat Magazine and elicit praise from Rez Abbasi, one of today's modern jazz guitar giants - "Alex is one of the very few players of his generation to seriously take on the challenge of creating a hybrid music, namely one of Jazz and Hindustani music. I can only imagine what he'll produce in the years to come." Pinto would later be recognized as a top new talent selection from leading jazz blog, Jazz Station.

Pinto was an active member in the bustling, creative hotbed of San Francisco, where he led his own jazz trio, performed guitar with indie rock outfit The Lawlands, played bass in emerging bands, Magic Fight and Petejota and performed alongside musician/animator Jeremy Rourke. Pinto also co- founded the SF Offside Festival, a new jazz and creative music festival, in 2012 that was selected by NPR as one of 6 creative presenters finding new audiences for jazz music.

Pinto recently completed a Senior Fulbright-Nehru Research Scholarship at the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music (SAM) in India, where he pursued new directions in hybrid music. His research focused on integrating Carnatic South Indian Classical Music with Modern Jazz. His time in India resulted in the dawn of a new project and self titled EP All India Permit which will be released in the fall of 2014

Awards

2013: Senior Nehru Fulbright Research Scholar 2012: Jazz Station Best New Talent 2011: Downbeat and Guitar Player features 2010: Finalist Six String Theory Guitar Competition 2008: 3rd Prize Gibson Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition