Dr. Alex Fraile – Conductor of GDYO Jazz Combo
Alex Fraile is a professional saxophone player and educator. He was born in Miranda de Ebro, Spain. At the age of 9 years old, he started to play the saxophone at his hometown’s conservatory. His career as a professional musician started when he moved in 2005 to Barcelona to pursue his undergraduate degree in Jazz Performance at the Conservatori del Liceu, getting the opportunity to study with some of the best Spanish jazz musicians, such as Perico Sambeat, Llibert Fortuny, Jon Robles, David Mengual, Horacio Fumero, and Mariano Diaz. During his time in Barcelona, he was part of different jazz and hip-hop projects, such as the Roc Calvet quartet, Rafael Lechowski, Loren, Amores Perros, and his own jazz quartet where he mixed all of these influences to produce an innovative sound. He has played in many different Spanish festivals and clubs throughout Spain and Europe. He recorded with Rafael Lechowski for Spanish National Television as well as multiple albums with a wide range of groups. In 2009, he recorded his first album, Días en Barcelona.
The same year, he moved to the United States to pursue a graduate degree and to study with Brad Leali (Count Basie Band), Stefan Karlson (Eddie Gomez Trio), Ed Soph, Lynn Seaton, and Fred Hamilton. He has received a Master’s degree and a Doctoral degree in Jazz Performance from the University of North Texas, where he was also granted a teaching fellowship. He has had the chance to study with some of the best international jazz musicians, such as Steve Wilson, Rich Perry, Benny Golson, Seamus Blake, and Will Vinson among others. He has been a part of the Grammy-Nominated One O’Clock Lab Band, recording over three records (Lab 2012, Lab 2013 and Lab 2015), and touring extensively around the United States. Since he moved to the United States, he has performed in multiple festivals and clubs throughout the country, sharing the stage with a wide array of professional musicians in the Dallas-Fort Worth area as well as international jazz artist such as Mike Stern, Bobby McFerrin, John Clayton, Peter Erskine, Terrell Stafford, and Andy Narell among others. He is currently based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where he teaches and performs regularly. All of these experiences have contributed to his formation as the accomplished, well-rounded musician that he is today.