Pianist and composer Ramon Alexander is a leading figure within Cape Jazz. He has performed with a variety of artists such as Robbie Jansen, Errol Dyers, Ibrahim Khalil Shihab, McCoy Mrubata, Allou April, Frank Paco’s Art Ensemble and The Cape Jazz Band, led by veteran drummer Jack Momple. Alexander also appears regularly on albums and concert stages with the likes of Les Javan, Schalk Joubert, Mark Hauser (Swiss saxophonist) and Zolani Mahola. He also shared the stage with and accompanied renowned accordion player Tuur Forizone (Belgium) when he visited and performed in South Africa in 2018.

He has performed his music at numerous local and international jazz/music festivals that include Grahamstown Jazz Festival (2004), Cape Town International Jazz Festival (2016), Darling Music Experience (2016), Jazz on the Rocks (2016 and 2017), Borneo International Jazz Festival (2017) and MossJazz MusicFestival (2018).

Ramon has two albums to his credit. (Picnic at Kontiki [2011] and Echoes from Louwskloof [2015] ). In 2018 Cape Jazz Piano was released by Mountain Records. The album features Alexander alongside Ibrahim Khalil Shihab, Hilton Schilder and Kyle Shepherd to mention a few.

Additional information:

  • Born Ramon Hector Alexander on 3 January 1980; Mamre
  • York High School: Class of 1997
  • 1998: Took lessons with leading Cape Town jazz teacher, Merton Barrow
  • 2004: Graduated with B.Sc (Agric) in Viticulture and Oenology
  • 2004 Pianist for Standard Bank National Youth Big Band at Grahamstown Jazz Festival.
  • 2005-2012: lectures Jazz Theory, Jazz Piano and Jazz Harmony courses at Certificate Programme at US Conservatory
  • 2013: records Musical Democracy: Cape Jazz Volume 4 with Errol Dyers, this being his last recordings.
    Smeltkroes met Luna Paige in 2018
  • 2018: Featured as one of 100 most inspirational Maties in a journalistic feature that formed part of Stellenbosch University’s centenary celebrations: http://www0.sun.ac.za/100/en/matie-voice/ramon-alexander/
  • Produced Cape Jazz legend Ibrahim Khalil Shihab’s latest album, Essence of Spring
  • Kanna Award 2019: Musical Director for My Miriam Makeba Story
  • Performed at popular jazz venues around Cape Town: The Crypt, Kaleidoscope Cafe, The Green Dolphin and the i-Studios Lapa. Muizenberg Jazz Festival.

 

For inquiries / bookings: lunapaigemusic@gmail.com