Biography

Formerly known as Alex Corrêa, Alec Orea was born in august 17th, 1981. As the son of a classical pianist, was at the age of five his first contact with the piano, but was at thirteen when he decided to follow the music path.  At seventeen, Alex began his undergraduate studies at Universidade Estadual de Londrina - Brazil, which brought him into a significant contact with many sound environments, anthropological and philosophical studies, and skills aimed at teaching music.

By the age of 25, Alec moved to São Paulo in Brazil and focused on studying the development of a contemporary language in the context of instrumental music, and as a result he recorded his first album in 2010, entitled “Sintoma” in partnership with Adauto Dias, Nenê and Arismar do Espírito Santo. Besides being a performer he also worked as a teacher compounding the faculty of the Conservatory Souza Lima in São Paulo, Brazil.

The search for new sonority and textures also resulted in the desire to do a master's degree so as to continue and share all these discoveries. Thus, in 2013, Alex was invited to attend a jazz master program in The Netherlands where one year later, he was awarded with the VNO-NCW NOORD TALENT AWARD 2014. As a result of the prize, he was invited to write and perform his original called “SoulBrothers” with the Noord Nederland Orkest.

Being in touch with musicians from different cultures has always been the focus of his attention and personal accomplishment. In 2014 he went to New York for one semester as an invitation from Queens College and since then Alex has been sharing the stage with many great musicians such as Alex Sipiagin, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, Will Vinson, Boris Kozlov, Donald Edwards, Gene Jackson, Raul de Souza, Gabriel Grossi, Christophe Schweizer, among others.

Highlights

In 2017 he recorded his first piano solo Project (live), at the Maledeine Room in Geneva and joined to the Raul de Souza quartet and quintet, touring all over Europe and Brazi.

In 2018, features his new quintet with two tours in Europe and India. Also in Collaboration with Christoph Schweizer, Alex Sipigain and the Jazz Kombinat Big Band.

In 2018 move to India for a six month teaching residence at Berklee Global Music Institute.

In 2018 was featured at the Jazz Kolo Festival in Kiev with Igor Zakus, Maciek Kadziela and Adam Zagorski.

In 2019 is invited by Flora Purim to be the Music Director at the Flora Purim and Airto Moreira sextet, by playing a significant tour together all over Brazil and Europe.

In 2019 produced, arranged and recorded the last album of Raul de Souza called Plenitude.

In 2020 recorded his debut album called Concerto para Piano e Universo – 1st and 2nd movements,  featuring Alex Sipiagin, Will Vinson, Sidiel Vieira and Rodrigo Digão Braz.

In 2022 recorded in Germany the Duo album with Christoph Schweizer, released in 2023 by YellowBirds Enja Records.

In 2023 was featured by the Gotemborg Jazz Orchestra in a live recorded concert, playing and conducting his own arrangments for Big Band.

In 2023 released his album Gratitude Recorded in New York, featuring Alex Sipiagin, Boris Kozlov and Donald Edwards.