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Based in New York City, Alexander Pastrana Sotto, born in Neiva (Huila, Colombia), is a pianist, composer, arranger, music producer, and brand ambassador for the prestigious Nord Keyboards.

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He has performed with multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning artists such as Jeff "Tain" Watts, Ari Hoenig, Luisito Quintero, Carlos Vives, John Benitez, Samuel Torres, Oscar Stagnaro, Francisco Zumaqué, Chabuco, Maria Escobar, Yuri Buenaventura, the Colombian National Symphony Orchestra, the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, and Bogotá Big Band. He has also collaborated with icons of Latin music like Fruko y Sus Tesos, Tony Succar, Luis Enrique, Henry Fiol, Charlie Cardona, Wilfrido Vargas, Willie González, Charlie Aponte, Tito Allen, Ray De La Paz, Ray Sepúlveda, Luisito Carrión, Raulin Rosendo, Little Johnny Rivero, Eddie Montalvo, Alfredo de la Fé, Héctor Lavoe’s Orchestra, Lebrón Brothers Orchestra, Zaperoco Group, Il Divo, Oro Sólido, Lucho Bermúdez Orchestra, and Billo's Caracas Boys, among others.

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Alex Pastrana has partnered with globally renowned companies such as Rhodes, VI Labs, and Premier Sound Factory, contributing to the development of software and plugins. These collaborations highlight his engagement with technological innovation in music, working with high-quality tools like the entire suite of Rhodes plugins, Modern D (VI Labs), and Kawai Legend (Premier Sound Factory), positioning him as a reference at the intersection of music and technology.

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He has performed on prestigious stages and festivals such as Blue Note São Paulo, Cartagena International Music Festival (IX Edition), Bucaramanga International Piano Festival (XXXII Edition), Mompox Jazz Festival (VI Edition), Teatro Libre International Jazz Festival (XXX Edition), Jazz al Parque in Bogotá, Salsa al Parque, Colombia al Parque, Café Bohemia Jazz Club in New York, River View Jazz Festival, Pier Fest, Dizzy's Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Zinc Bar, Terraza 7, Bar Lunático, Hartford Jazz Festival, among others.

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Alex Pastrana holds a Bachelor's degree in Music (with Honors) from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (2019), a Master’s degree in Music (Summa Cum Laude) with distinction for his thesis from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (2023), and a Master of Music in Jazz from New Jersey City University (2024).

Awards and Recognitions:

  • Latin Grammy Nomination for the album "Chabuco Desde el Teatro Colón."

  • Winner of the XXIV National Bambuco Festival in Pereira.

  • Two-time winner (2015 and 2017) of the Young Performers Series by Banco de la República of Colombia.

  • Winner alongside The Bará Group at the XXX Teatro Libre International Jazz Festival.

  • Recipient of the Teatro Libre Jazz Festival award, which included a Steinway & Sons piano.

  • Honored with the Timanco Chief Award by the Huila Departmental Assembly.

  • Winner of the national call to join Bogotá Big Band.

  • Winner of the National Interpretation Contest "Anselmo Durán Plazas."

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Work as a Leader:

  • "Villamil en Jazz: Una Interpretación Creativa" (2015): A reinterpretation of Jorge Villamil Cordovéz’s music through jazz.

  • "Rajando Leña" (2020): A project showcasing the convergence of jazz and rajaleña.

  • "Tierra de Promisión: A Journey Through Jazz" (2021): Musicalizing the 55 sonnets of José Eustasio Rivera using contemporary music, improvisation, and jazz aesthetics.

  • "In The Big Apple" (2024): An album recorded with jazz legend Jeff "Tain" Watts, capturing the essence of rajaleña fused with New York City’s vibrant jazz scene. This album is set to release soon, reflecting the interplay of these two musical traditions.

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Work as a Producer:
Alex Pastrana has produced albums for artist María Escobar, collaborating with international artists like Toquinho and Colombian musicians such as Chabuco, Adriana Lucía, and Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto.

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Work as an Arranger:
He has arranged music for concerts with the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra ("Chabuco Filarmónico"), Colombian National Symphony Orchestra, Czech National Symphony Orchestra (ÄŒNSO), Huila Departmental Band, Bogotá Big Band, Juancho Torres Big Band, Los Alfa 8, Yuri Buenaventura, and others.

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Guest Speaker at Conferences and Masterclasses:

  • Dialogued Concert: "Rajando Leña: Appropriation of Rajaleña Elements from a Jazz Pianist’s Perspective." (Banco de la República)

  • The Contribution of Huila's Traditional Music (Rajaleña) to Jazz. (Banco de la República)

  • The Music of Luis Alberto Osorio Scarpetta Through Jazz. (Banco de la República)

  • Remembranzas y Nostalgias Training Program: New Tunes for Cultural Enterprises. (Universidad Surcolombiana)

  • 2nd International Symposium on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Orange Economy. (Universidad Surcolombiana)

  • Dialogues with Huilense Literature: José Eustasio Rivera’s Tierra de Promisión. (Banco de la República)

  • 2nd Symposium on Musical Interpretation: Introduction to Improvisation Workshop. (Bacatá Cultural Center)

  • Jazz Piano Workshop. (Universidad de Cundinamarca)

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