ALEXEY LEON, “INFLUENCIADO”
Alexey Leon is a saxophonist, flutist and composer, born in Manzanillo- Cuba and raised in Moscow-Russia. Previous albums: "Cuba meets Russia" 2015, "Cuban connection" 2018, "Okudzhava for my mother" 2020. Alexey León’s 4th solo album, "Influenciado", is a tribute to the Afro-Cuban jazz tradition and to the pioneers of Latin Jazz. This impetuous and dissonant jazz with an intense melody and a contemporary language has been inspired by classics, such as Chano Pozo, Dizzy Gillespie, Julian Cannonball Adderley, McCoy Tyner, Chucho Valdes & Irakere, Paquito D’Rivera. Due to its harmonic structure, Influenciado (the title track) recalls the world-renowned standard of maestro Chucho Valdes, "Mambo influenciado", which represents the crossbreeding of the Cuban jazz. Inspired by the Masters’ work, Alexey created an original composition, which preserves the structure of the minor blues, with nods to the "Mambo influenciado" and some more dissonant harmonic changes. 
To interpret this music, Leon is accompanied by a group of outstanding Cuban jazzmen. At the piano, 'Caramelo de Cuba' (Dave Valentin, Paquito D’Rivera...). In the rhythm section, Georvis Pico, Pedro Pablo Rodriguez and Reinier Elizarde 'Negron' (the trio completes the Chucho Valdes quartet). The trumpet masterly performed by Carlos Sarduy (Chucho Valdes, Irakere, Richard Bona) and a very special guest, one of the most renown Spanish drummers Marc Miralta (Pat Metheny, Mark Turner, Avishai Cohen). This work, deeply rooted in the Cuban musical tradition and the contemporary jazz, symbolises Alexey’s evolution as a musician and as a human being, reflecting his constant search for personal and musical identity. 
The music on this tight and effortlessly performed album transmits exuberant energy of the two inexhaustible sources of inspiration: the Cuban music and jazz. It is a contemporary classic. “Influenciado" will be released on One World Records 7th of January, 2022.