ZANDY ALEXANDER
From London, UK, Zandy Alexander, (keyboards, vocals, production), has performed and recorded extensively in many countries, usually with his own group. Today he is based in Montreal, where he also runs a recording studio.
1962-72 Attends University College School, Hampstead, London
UK
1972-3 Student teacher at Chwele School, Bungoma, Kenya
1972-4 Numerous jazz workshops including three terms at Barry Summer School,
receiving tuition from Ian Carr, Don Rendall, Stan Tracey, Mike Gibbs, Manfred
Man, Gordon Beck, Tony Oxley and Maggie Nichols
1973-4 Attends Barnet Art College - completes Foundation course
1973-4 London dates with Paul Gilroy (today the leading authority on black culture
in the UK)
1975 - British tour with Jon Owen band, including a concert at Chelmsford prison.
Showcase at the 'Marquee' with the George Hatcher band
1976 - Three month residency at the Ambassador Hotel, Dubai
1977- UK tour with Bruce Ruffin. Residency at 'McKinlie's' (formerly the 'Country
Club', Belsize Park), with Canute Edwards and the 'Scientists of Sound.'
1978 - Formation of 'Mirage' - live show at Ronnie Scotts
1979 - Mirage headlines at Glastonbury Festival, and plays residency at the
Bamboo Club, Serracunda, Gambia
1980 - Mirage signs to Trident/Flamingo/RCA and first record 'Summer Grooves'
becomes a club hit in London, and achieves chart position in France. Concerts
at the 'Rainbow', the LSE, the 'Lyceum', 'Hammersmith Palais' and many soul
festival all-dayers and all-nighters. Also many dates supporting Level 42. Several
live Radio One broadcasts and many press interviews. Much airplay and record
used as BBC theme.
1981 - Mirage plays Odeon tour of UK. Alex records with Eduardo Niebla (Towards
the Sun).
1982 - Alex teams up with Marina Fiorentini to play jazz concerts in Italy and
New York - (the New Music Festival). Rehearsal bands with Art Blakey junior,
Chip White and Rashied Ali
1983 - Live shows in London - the 'Canteen' (with Joe Lee Wilson) and independent
TV, Rome.
1984 - Residency at the 'Bar Naviglio, Milan - (also concerts at the 'Swing'
and the 'Scimmie') and more dates in London including the Roundhouse, the Dome
and the Royal Festival Hall cafe. Workshop with Art Blakey, Chalk Farm.
1985-6 - USAF bases in UK, 'Bulmershe College'.
1987 - Residency at 'Biggles' jazz bar, St James Square, London. Concerts at
the 'People's house' and the 'Double Dose', Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Workshop
with Chick Corea, Leblon, Rio
1988-9 - Dates in Rome, the 'Music Inn', the 'Big Mama', the 'Alexanderplatz'
and the 'Castello'. Workshop with Billy Cobham. Alex and Marina host radio programme
'Samba Roma' for radio Citta Aperto
1990 - Organization of the Roman Carnival. BMG records the song 'Carnevale Romano',
written by Alex. Live appearance on RAI national TV, concert with Nelson Mandela,
Campo di Fiori, Alex signs to Tendance Records and his song 'Africa Free' receives
continuous airplay in Florence.
1991-2 - Italian tour. Appearance at the Rome Palladium
1993-4 - Africa Free' remixed by Victor Simonelli and released in the U.S. by
Playtime Records
1996 - Residency at 'Sous L'Escalier', Montreal, with 'Naki'.
1997 - Together with Catherine Bazin, Alex wins first prize at the 'Festival
de Blues de Sherbrooke.'
1998 - Breakfast news TV and residency at the 'Black Cat', Magog, with Catherine.
1999 - Montreal club dates with Ginny B. Aullese festival, Italy, with Brent
Nokes. Appearance at Laval prison - (with Dakar)
2000 & 1 - Residency at 'Jazz after Dark', Soho, London
Creation of Worldgig recording studio, Little Italy, Montreal. Alex and Ginny
sign to Cdbaby for online distribution. Release of cd 'I refuse to be cast down'
- (Al Gordon & Ginny B), on Worldgig, Cdbaby
2003-4 - Residency with Ginny B at 'Le Cine Lumiere' and weekly jazz workshop
at 'Les Minots'
2005 - Concerts with Ginny B at 'Comme Chez Soir', 'La Kemia' and 'L'Assomoir',
plus release of cd 'Alex Gordon & Ginny B' on Worldgig. Residency at the
'Bora bar', Granby
2006 - Concert with Lodi August at La Maison de la Culture, Frontenac. Release
of cd 'Cherokee'- (Alex Gordon & Ginny B), on Worldgig/Cdbaby. Recording
session with the 'Surfing Cowboys'
Discography
'Summer Grooves' - Mirage, RCA
'Towards the sun' - Eduardo Niebla
'As from now' - Mirage, Copasetic
'Africa Free' - ZAM (with Marina Fiorentini)
'Thankful' - Red light
'Crazy for you' - Jose Feliciano
'African Freedom' - ZAM (with Marina Fiorentini - produced by Victor Simonelli,
Playtime)
'Celtic distortions' - Patsy Dan Rogers
'Paul Rogers' - (production and engineering also)
'I refuse to be cast down' - Al Gordon & Ginny B, Worldgig, Cdbaby
'The politics of blues' - the Surfin' Cowboys
'Alex Gordon & Ginny B' - Alex Gordon & Ginny B, Worldgig, Cdbaby
'Cherokee' - Alex Gordon & Ginny B, Worldgig, Cdbaby
'Lotus tree' - Alex Gordon & Ginny B, Worldgig, Cdbaby
'Little Miss Tao' - Zandy Alexander (same guy - new artist name!!) Worldgig,
Cdbaby
'Anima Mundi' - Zandy Alexander, Worldgig, Cdbaby
'The songs of the ancestors' - Zandy Alexander, Worldgig, Cdbaby
'Because the song' - Zandy Alexander & Ginny B, Worldgig, Cdbaby