Dr. Juan Álamo is an internationally known performer, composer, and educator. Originally from Cidra, Puerto Rico, Dr. Álamo has presented solo recitals at universities and has performed in percussion and jazz festivals throughout the United States, Central and South America, Europe, and the Caribbean. Dr. Álamo serves as an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Percussion Ensemble at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Dr. Álamo has recorded and performed in collaboration with renowned artists such as Keiko Abe, William Cahn, Ney Rosauro, Orlando Cotto, Steve Shick, Tito Puente, John Wooton, Dave Samuels, Michael Spiro, Alfredo Naranjo, Claudio Rodditi, and Ted Piltzecker. He has performed and recorded with the San Juan Pops and played the classical orchestral repertoire with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Krzyszt Penderecki and Sergiu Comissiona.
His first solo marimba recording Remembrance was released in 2007, and features standard repertory as well as two of his compositions for marimba. Dr. Álamo released his second album Marimjazzia with Big Rounds Records. Marimjazzia is an innovative project in which Dr. Álamo strived to develop a new approach, sound and concept to solo marimba performance by combining influences from classical, jazz, Latin music, and contemporary marimba music.
Dr. Álamo collaborated with Arthur Lipner creating the Jazz vibes book Milt Jackson: Transcribed Solos of the Master. He is also the author of Four Mallet Music for the Modern Marimba Player, a technique and pedagogical method book for marimba that includes a collection of original etudes for beginners and intermediate-level marimba players. This book has been used as part of the curriculum of several universities in the U.S. as well as in Central and South America. Dr. Álamo is a Yamaha Performing Artist, and an artist and clinician for Meinl Percussion and Encore Mallets, Inc.
