Alex Wilson (musician)

Alex Wilson (born 21 November 1971) is a British pianist, composer, producer, arranger, and educator.

Biography
Alex Wilson was born in the UK and was brought up in Sierra Leone, UK, Austria and Switzerland.

In 1993, after gaining a degree in electronics from the University of York, he embarked on a professional career as a pianist, performing and recording with Courtney Pine, Jazz Jamaica, Sandra Cross, Adalberto Santiago and Jocelyn Brown, Wynton Marsalis, Hugh Masakela & Ernest Ranglin quickly being signed to the Candid label. He won the Rising Star award at the 2001 BBC Jazz Awards.

To date, he has released eight solo albums in a Latin Jazz and salsa vein; he also composes commissions, produces Latin hip hop, runs a 12-piece salsa band, works as a session keyboard player and works in educational institutions. His commissions include NITRO (a British black theatre company), the Royal Opera House, the Royal Northern College of Music, and several library music companies. He also works with in schools in London such as Essex Primary School.

Wilson is Special Lecturer in the Department of Music at University of Nottingham.

In 2011, Wilson was invited to be pianist, arranger and musical director for guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela on their album Area 52 which was recorded in Havana, Cuba, with C.U.B.A., a 13-piece Cuban orchestra, and special guest musicians (Anoushka Shankar on sitar and Le Trio Joubran on oud). The album was released in January 2012. The project toured the world in 2012, during which Wilson continued his role as pianist and musical director.

2013 saw the release of his first album for the trio with Davide Mantovani on bass, and Frank Tontoh and Tristan Banks on drums. The album, Trio, was released on Alex Wilson Records.

Discography
Selected Discography as sidesman
 * Anglo Cubano (Candid Records, 1999)
 * Afro-Saxon (Candid Records, 2001)
 * R&B Latino (Candid Records, 2002)
 * Aventuras (Alex Wilson Records, 2005)
 * Inglaterra (Alex Wilson Records, 2007)
 * Salsa con Soul (Alex Wilson Records, 2008)
 * Mali Latino (Alex Wilson Records, 2010)
 * Alex Wilson presents Salsa Veritas (Salsa Veritas GmbH 2011)
 * Alex Wilson - Trio (Alex Wilson Records, 2013)

1997	Migrations				Gary Crosby’s Nu Troop 1998	Dreams Come True			Sandra Cross

1999	Just a Dream				Sandra Cross

2001	Victory’s Happy Songbook		Cleveland Watkiss

2004	Massive					Jazz Jamaica	pianist / arranger

2005	Tears of Joy				Antonio Forcione 2005	Motor City Roots			Jazz Jamaica	pianist / arranger

2007	I Love Louis				Gwyn Jay Allen	musical director, arranger, producer

2007	Boulevard de l’Independence	       Toumani Diabate

2008	Afropeans 				Courtney Pine	featured guest

2008 	Transition in Tradition		       Courtney Pine

2012   Area 52                                 Rodrigo y Gabriela - pianist/arranger

2012   Diaspora                                Wilber Calver - pianist/arranger/producer