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Alex Ligertwood
The voice from
Scotland ....
His voice is recognized literally the world over as
the lead vocalist of Santana. Over 16 years with Carlos, Alex Ligertwood
provided his unique sound and interpretation on 12 albums. He earned Gold
Records for four of those Santana efforts, and scored Top 40 hits with six
albums and/or singles. Alex shares Santana's soulful R & B style, which is
clearly evident on the Santana hits "Winning" (Zebop), "All I Ever Wanted"
(Marathon), and "Hold On" (Shango). His live rendition of the classics like
"Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va" scored Gold with Santana's "Sacred Fire:
Live In Latin America Album."
There's something
deep in the soul of Scotland that produces great blues and R & B singers.
Some of music's top vocalists over the years -- from Rod Stewart to Maggie Bell
to Alex Ligertwood -- have come out of that musically fertile land. Alex
Ligertwood grew up in the rough and tumble city of Glasgow. For him, it was a
place just east of Detroit or Memphis. He loved American music, especially
Motown, Rhythm and Blues, and Soul. R & B was raw, electric, and didn't hold
anything back. His musical idols included the legendary Ray Charles, Sam Cooke,
Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye -- good company for a budding
vocalist.
Alex began his musical path by performing with
local R & B groups in his native Scotland. In the mid-sixties he was a
member of the critically acclaimed R & B group, The Senate. This group
included the late drummer Robbie Mcintosh, who would later be known for his work
in the Average White Band which toured Europe as the supporting band for Ben E.
King.
It didn't take long for others to recognize the
Scotsman's natural talents. One of the first to spotlight Alex's big soulful
voice was Jeff Beck. He promptly made Alex lead vocalist for the Jeff Beck Band
in the early seventies. Next up was a stint with another legendary British band,
Brian Auger's Oblivion Express. Over the years, Alex recorded several albums
with Auger's jazz-rock unit, singing and co-writing with Auger. During the same
period, Alex performed and recorded with fellow Scottish soulmates, the Average
White Band.
In the late seventies, Alex served as
vocalist/guitarist and co-writer with the Narada Michael Walden Band and the
David Sancious & Tone Band before joining Santana in 1979. Alex brings a
vocal intensity that feeds the volcanic playing of Carlos Santana. He has
recorded and co-written numerous albums for Santana, including: "Marathon",
"Zebop!", "Beyond Appearances", "Viva Santana", "Shango", "Spirits Dancing in
the Flesh", "Milagro", and "Sacred Fire".
Alex has been
musically associated with Santana for more than eighteen years. This clearly
exhibits the regard that Carlos Santana holds for Alex's musical talents. A
perfect showcase for Alex's vocal power is "Somewhere in Heaven", a ballad from
"Milagro", co-written by Alex that brings both sides of Alex and Santana
together -- the lyrical and the fiery -- in a passionate, spiritual
tour-de-force.
His vocal talents have also been featured on the
Spyro Gyra album "Dreams Beyond Control", an honor considering that Spyro Gyra
is strictly an "instrumental band". Alex has also recorded on albums with Ben E.
King, Didier Lockwood, Carly Simon, The Dixie Dregs, Michelle Colombier, Jeff
Lorber, Billy Squier and many others.
Alex is currently playing with David Garfield, in the band "CATS".id Garfield - keyboards http://www.davidgarfield.com
"...touring and
recording with Willie Bobo, Freddie Hubbard and Tom Scott. The Chicago born, New
York and St. Louis bred Garfield can summarize his entire, admittedly all
encompassing career in three simple words: 'I make music. That's my mission
statement. Things developed slowly over time, till I was playing every different
kind of music in unique situations."
Steve Ferrone,
Drums
Currently a member of Tom Petty & The
Heartbreakers, Steve Ferrone’s touring and recording credits include The
Average White Band, Chaka Khan, Paul Simon, George Benson, and Eric Clapton.
He has also appeared on recordings by The Bee Gees, Scritti Politti, Brian May, Anita Baker, George Benson, Jonathan Butler, Bryan Ferry, Climie Fisher, Eric Clapton, Christine McVie, Peter Frampton, Jeff Golub, Rick James, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Freddie King, Tracy Chapman, Pat Metheny, Marcus Miller, Morrissey-Mullen, Dick Morrissey, Jeffrey Osborne, Paul Simon, Bernie Worrell and Jaco Pastorius.
John Pena, John Pena - bass http://www.myspace.com/johnpenabass1
"He's performed and
or recorded with artists such as: the late Celia Cruz(Queen of Salsa),Brian Head
Welch(ex guitarist from Korn),Carlos Santana,Julio Iglesias,Justo Almario,Sergio
Mendez,Tania Maria,Natalie Cole,The Crusaders,Herb Alpert,Bobby Brown,Chaka
Khan,Take 6,the late Jerry Garcia,Chick Correa,Steve Vai,Diana Ross,Tolu,Aretha
Franklin,Ricky Martin,Barry Manilow,Larry Carlton,Michael McDonald,Joe
Sample,Jeff Koz,Arturo Sandoval,Los Lobotomys,Dionne Warwick,Katherine
McPhee(American Idol),
Mickey Thomas (Jefferson Starship), John Cafferty,Glen
Hughes (Deep Purple),Don Felder (Eagles),Alex Acuña & the Unkowns, Oscar
Castro-Neves, Ivan Lins, David Garfield & the Cats, the late Michael
Brecker,David Sanborn,Patti LaBelle,Vesta,Anne Nesby,Patti Austin,Kenny G,Tommy
Walker,Andrae Crouch,Yolanda Adams,Walter Hawkins and many more
James Harrah James Harrah - guitar http://www.jamesharrah.com
"Artists Recorded With MADONNA,
JANE CHILD, MELISSA ETHERIDGE, HERBIE HANCOCK, RAY CHARLES, ARETHA FRANKLIN,
BILLY RAY CYRUS, JEWEL, MILEY CYRUS, HAYDEN PANTIERRE, KELLY CLARKSON, BRENDA
RUSSELL Tour JAMES IS CURRENTLY TOURING WITH DAVID GARFIELD FROM 4/27 - 5/20 IN
EUROPE - COUNTRY/PLAYING DATES CAN BE FOUND @ www.davidgarfield.com
Has
toured with Melissa Etheridge, Madonna, Ricky Lee Jones, Mary Chapin Carpenter,
Shelby Lynne, Brenda Russell, Jewel - Promo tour, Huey Lewis"
Alex is also on the new Mike Porcaro of TOTO cd "Brotherly Love" with Glen Hughes and Bobby Kimball.
"TROC " (BARTER)
english translation
"TROC, 2011": the pioneers of jazz-rock made in France are
back
It was forty years ago.
In the early
70's, jazz was turning power in the wake of Miles, The powerful winds of change will
soon also to land on our shores.
Here and there, jazz and fusion is
converted to new music, audio swapped to release
the telluric energy. This is precisely the alchemical
formula of a group called TROC composed of Alex Ligertwood (former lead singer
of Santana), André Ceccarelli, pianist Henry Giordano, guitarist Jacquie
Giraudeau, soon replaced by Claude Engel and Jannick Top on bass. Soon, the group is
illustrated on stage and no doubt barter then plays in the big leagues, without
falling into the pale copy of effusions jazz-rock. Just listen to the disc the quintet
recorded in 1972 at Castle Erouville produced by Yves Chamberland on CY
Records.
Four decades later, they are back. It all started three years ago, during the rehearsal for a
show around Francis Lai.
André Ceccarelli has resumed playing with his friends after
forty years.
However, if TROC in the footsteps of their
unique - but historic - groove, do not hear an ounce of nostalgia, quite the
contrary. Moreover, the glorious seniors are joined by cadets who
were still in short pants in the seventies Starting with Eric Legnini,Olivier
Ker and David El Malek Ourio.
For sure, who would
doubt that grandpas, pioneers of jazz-rock made in France are back, still on the
thread of music that has not aged.
