Alex Acuña

What do U2, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald, and Michael Jackson have in common? Aside from being music legends, these artists (and many more) are named on Peruvian percussionist Alex Acuña's resumé. Further bullets on Acuña's impressive list of accomplishments include his being recruited for Pérez Prado's big band at age eighteen, performing for the influential jazz band Weather Report, and working on many major film and television productions. Aside from his studio sessions, Acuña has also produced several albums of his own. His drumming precision and moving rhythms are subtly present and complementary to Eva Ayllón's vocals on the 2002 release To My Country. Aiming to represent Peruvian music, with help from the music collective Los Hijos del Sol, the album resounds with a South American sensuality and showcases Acuña's stylistically diverse prowess. Covering a variety of Peruvian genres (including festejos, huaynos, and salsa) on the album, Acuña shows that his roots are deeply ingrained and ever-present in his work.