Alec Orea Quintet, Alex Sipiagin and Will Vinson

Once you experience the charisma and the talent of Alec Orea (formerly known as Alex Corrêa), you will understand why convinced artists like Alex Sipiagin, Raúl de Souza, or Flora Purim to invite him into their groups, and why audiences always love to remember him and his music. A virtuoso pianist as well as an unusually gifted composer, he develops an exciting and individual new amalgam of modern Brazilian music, Jazz, and classical elements. In 2020, his major work „Concerto para Piano e Universo“ is completed by featuring Will Vinson and Alex Sipiagin as frontline soloists of his debut album. (Christoph Schweizer)

I´ve felt in love for him from the very first note. (Flora Purim)

"Concerto for Piano and Universe" is inspired by Alec´s experiences in different cultures around the world, from his Brazilian roots to Europe, India and the United States - hence the name "Universe".
In addition, Alec brings to his work the influences of his musical training, beginning in classical music and on to the field of jazz improvisation.
The starting point of the composition is the idea to create a spectacle that transcends the pattern of a "jazz tune", where the musicians focus on the stylistic improvisation over a short harmonic scheme, and instead to find a way of building a large scale form using compositional and improvisational elements as building blocks.
Thus, the essential character of the show is that of a classical work in two movements of ca. 33 minutes each.. The musical nuances range from accompanied and unaccompanied solo sections by the members of the quintet via extended written ensembles. It’s this textural variety combined with lots of rhythmical energy and the composer’s sheer natural musicality that make "Concerto for Piano and Universe" stand out among today’s concepts fusing classical music and jazz.
Born in 1981 in the south of Brazil and son of a classical pianist, Alec Orea, (formerly known as Alex Corrêa) first made contact with the piano at the age of five. At 17, he goes to college and starts his professional career by the age of 25 when he moves to São Paulo. Since then, he´s shared the stage with many significant Brazilian musicians such as Gabriel Grossi, Nenê, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, Arismar do Espírito Santo, among ohters. In 2013, he took up studies at Prins Claus Conservatorium in the Netherlands, where in 2014 he won the VNO-NCW Noord Talent Award. in 2015 he started working with the legendary trombonist Raúl de Souza, with whom he appeared at Festivals in Hamburg and Austria in 2017 and 2018. In 2019 he produced the last album of Raul´s career in collaboration with Christophe Schweizer. His talent was also spotted by world-famous trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, who invited him to New York and played on his single recording "Gratitude“, as well as on the premiere performance of the first part of the "Concerto“ written for the jazz kombinat bigband in Hamburg in 2018. Also in 2018, Alex’s Trio played concerts in India (while he was on faculty at the Global Music Institute in Delhi), Ukraine, and Germany. As of 2019, Alex Corrêa serves as musical director for Flora Purim and record his debut album as a quintet, Concerto para Piano e Universo, part 1 and 2.
Will Vinson Originally from London, Alto Saxophonist/Composer Will Vinson has made his career in New York City and the world. Since his arrival in NYC, he has appeared and/or recorded with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ari Hoenig, Jonathan Kreisberg, Marcus Gilmore, Chris Potter, Kurt Elling, Lage Lund, Aaron Parks, and many others. Will is a member of a number of leading ensembles, including pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s Quartet (he appears on Charlie and the Grammy-nominated Caminos), Ari Hoenig’s Punk Bop and Nonet (Will appears on Inversations, Bert’s Playground and Live at Smalls), Miguel Zenon’s Identities Orchestra (Grammy-nominated for Identities are Changeable), and his own groups featuring, among others, Lage Lund, Jeff Ballard, Aaron Parks, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Shai Maestro and Mike Moreno.
Trumpeter Alex Sipiagin was born in Yaroslavl, Russia, in 1967. Since moving to New York in 1991, he has become a leading figure in the world of Jazz trumpet playing, with credits including Michael Brecker, Dave Holland, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Mingus Big Band and many others, and over 25 recordings as a leader.
Sidiel Vieira on bass and Rodrigo “Digaõ” Braz on drums are among the finest younger rhythm section players in Brazil today.

Program and cast

Alec Orea: piano
Alex Sipiagin: trumpet
Will Vinson: alto saxophone
Sidiel Vieira: bass
Rodrigo D. Braz: drums