Hugo Alcazar

His beginnings Hugo Alcazar was born in Lima - Peru (may 23, 1971) and started playing drums at the age of seven. By his nineteen years he had already begun playing professionally. He attained a degree in percussion faculty from the National Conservatory of Music in Lima.

He studied Peruvian Cajón with the best "cajoneadores" (Cajón players) such as Juan "Cotito" Medrano, Leonardo "Gigio" Parodi and Freddy "Huevito" Lobatón and Batá Drums with the recognized Cuban percussionist and educator Roberto Borrell.

Main Projects Performed with such jazz greats as Maria Schneider Orchestra, Ingrid Jensen, Russell Ferrante, Pedro Aznar, Katchie Cartwright, Bill Watrous, Bobby Shew, Arthur Lipner, Billy Kerr, Jeff Gardner, Mark Levine, Michele Weir, Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra and the Jazz Peru Project Band with Ndugu Chancler, Kenny Werner, Lenny Pickett, Geoffrey Keezer - ÁUREA Project ,Duet drumset solo 's in Perú with famous drummers as Walfredo Reyes Jr, Sony Emory and Akira Jimbo.

Many concerts with Eva Ayllón, Cesar Peredo y Los de Adentro, Mixtura Jazz A Capella, Richie Zellon, Pilar de La Hoz and others. Extensive touring with Gabriel Alegria's Afro-Peruvian Jazz Sextet in the United States , Canada and Peru spreading the Afro-Peruvian Rhythms and the fusion with the jazz.

Representations Currently, Hugo Alcázar represents Vic Firth (sticks products), Music Market - Yamaha Drums (Beech Custom Absolute), Cymbals Pork (cymbals), and A Tempo (Cajón and Peruvian percussion instruments).

Merits In 2003 the guild Radio and Television journalists of Peru granted him the Medal of Institucional Honor and Diploma to the Merit, in recognition to his outstanding performance and career, as well as for his contribution to the development and progress of Peru.

Awards

"Aurea is brilliant mix of Afro rhythms, South American folk songs and great jazz colorings making it a tasty full of flavors musical romp. For the recording Keezer invited Peruvian percussion master Hugo Alcazar to join him. He had met Hugo while on tour and was very impressed with his musicianship. Essiet Okon Essiet, a Nigerian born bassist residing in New York was also invited along with a couple of master sax men with bright futures - Steve Wilson and Ron Blake." http://contemporary- jazz.suite101.com/article.cfm/geoffrey_keezer_aurea_gets_so uth_american_hue "Short, pithy review: Pianist Geoffrey Keezer's latest CD Aurea is excellent. It grooves like crazy in new (Afro-Peruvian) ways and stirs the emotions, especially when the spellbinding Argentinian singer Sofia Rei Koutsovitis is featured. Keezer is a harmonic monster and virtuosic spinner of long lines, but everything he plays is essential and tasty." By phum Thu, Jul 2 2009 Jazzblog.ca "Frissons, anyone? For me, they're guaranteed when Koutsovitis sings on Aurea and when Keezer and percussionist Hugo Alcazar on the CD bring La Nostalgiosa home. On the disc, this song is dressed up with flute and guitar, and indeed, there are some elaborate arranging successes by Keezer in addition to simpler fare. Overall, the music brims with sounds that are by turns new, deep, stirring and funky. Pressed for a single adjective, I'd call it: beautiful." By phum Thu, Jul 2 2009 Jazzblog.ca "Back to Aurea, which prompts happy thoughts... The disc's opener, the Keezer composition Cayendo para Arriba, does exactly what a lead-off tune should do, signalling its key elements — rich, intriguing grooving, ear-catching melodies, vivid, detailed arrangements, a multitude of voices, and bad- ass piano-playing. Really, it's got it all, thanks to stops-out playing by Keezer, alto saxophonist Steve Wilson, bassist Essiet Okun Essiet, drummer Jon Wikan and the disc's indispensable Peruvian percussionist Hugo Alcazar. If you're a detail person, the track, like the rest of the disc, reveals new pleasures on subsequent listens. If you just want the music to wash over you, Cayendo para Arriba will do that again and again too." By phum Thu, Jul 2 2009 Jazzblog.ca "Firstly, the Peruvian percussionist, Hugo Alcázar brings a wild, yet sophisticated reading of both, Keezer’s as well as the Latin standards and traditional songs." by Danava http://www.latinjazznet.com/2009/06/12/reviews/cds/geoffrey- keezer-aurea/

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