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Alex Kautz

Renowned for his musicality, elegance and versatility, Alex Kautz stands out as a distinguished percussionist, educator, and composer. With an unwavering passion for jazz and world music, he has crafted a captivating and distinct musical voice and unique artistic expression.

Alex has been an important part of the NY competitive music scene for the last decade and has played and/or recorded with some of the top artists in the industry today including Tim Ries, Magos Herrera, Nilson Matta, Chico Pinheiro, Steve Willson, Lenny Andrade, Fabio Gouvea, Helio Alves, Victor Prieto, Robert Rodriguez and Michael Rodriguez among others.

In addition to his work with various artists, Alex has taken the lead in various projects where he combines the sounds  of Brazilian music fused with jazz. Notably, he played a vital role as a co-founder of the collective ensemble known as "Trio Afora" and he is releasing his new album, "Where We Begin," with Sunnyside Records in Spring 2024.

A Magna Cum Laude graduate from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Alex received the “Best Achievement merit Scholarship” while attending the prestigious institution in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Music. He later received a full scholarship award from Mexico’s National Fund for Culture and Arts (FONCA) to study a Masters of Arts Degree in Aaron Copland School of Music in New York.

As an active educator since 2001, Alex has been an important part of the artistic community in different countries including USA, Mexico, India, and Brazil teaching private lessons as well as master classes. In addition he has been a guest professor in Souza Lima Conservatory and College of Music in Sao Paulo, Brazil, JAZZUV School of Music in Veracruz Mexico and in Swarnabhomi School of Music in India and he is currently part of the faculty at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music and Mannes Concervatory in NYC.

Gear

Alex Kautz uses Bosphorus Cymbals exclusively


Tags

4
Album Review

Helio Alves: Samba Of Sorts

Read "Samba Of Sorts" reviewed by Kyle Simpler


It is not uncommon for people in the United States to discuss the British Invasion of the 1960s, when groups like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Yardbirds became staples of American radio. But alongside this, another invasion was becoming part of the American music scene: bossa nova. “The Girl from Ipanema" (Verve 1964) topped the charts, and seemingly overnight, the sixties exuded the Latin vibe. While bossa nova echoed the sixties spirit, it was far from a passing ...

5
Album Review

Alex Kautz: Where We Begin

Read "Where We Begin" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright


Born and raised in São Paulo, drummer Alex Kautz moved to Mexico City with his parents in 1996. His sound world growing up included his parents' MPB (música popular brasileira), bossa nova and samba, along with North American rock and a bit of classical music. Jack DeJohnette's New Directions (ECM, 1978)--with Lester Bowie, Eddie Gomez and John Abercrombie--turned his head toward jazz in a big way. Chick Corea's Return to Forever (Light as a Feather, Polydor, 1973) caught his ear ...

Album Review

Magos Herrera: Aire

Read "Aire" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Se amate l'universo musicale latino nelle sue varie espressioni--più o meno jazzisticamente orientate--verrete coinvolti profondamente da questo disco intenso e sorprendente. Magos Herrera è una cantante e compositrice messicana poco nota in Italia ma considerata tra le massime vocalist contemporanee. Magos risiede a New York dal 2008 e in due decenni ha pubblicato dischi ricercati, spaziando da contenuti jazzistici (ad es. Distancia con Aaron Goldberg e Lionel Loueke) a personali incursioni nel patrimonio musicale di Centro e Sudamerica ...

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Samba Of Sorts

Sunnyside Records
2025

buy

Where We Begin

Sunnyside Records
2024

buy

Aire

Sunnyside Records
2023

buy

Afora

Independent
2016

buy

Mexico Azul

Sunnyside Records
2011

buy

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