Additional Information
Alejandro Motta is a classically trained double bass player with a focus on instrumental contemporary music in the classical lineage, but he is also deeply interested in sound experimentation and improvisation, being the co-founder of the free improvisation ensemble Algo Cruje. He also played for national ensembles and orchestras, including the National Autonomous University of Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra (OFUNAM). He is mainly involved in CEPROMUSIC Ensemble in contemporary music. Among other collaborations at the Suoni Alex Motta will play with DahL, Jairus Sharif, Adrian Avendaño, Adriana Camacho and Eli Piña on June 24 at Casa del Popolo. PAN M 360 reached him in Mexico before he flew to MTL.
PAN M 360 : So you are a bass player in contemporary music and you are in Montreal for a few concerts. So you’re from Mexico City ?
Alejandro Motta : That’s right. Here I live in Mexico City, in Narvarte, a little bit near the center, but not quite there. Yeah, I’m flying to Montreal on June 20th, early in the morning. And I’m returning to Mexico on the 29th. Cool.
PAN M 360 : Is it your first time in MTL?
Alejandro Motta : No, it’s my second. Like other musicians from Mexico City, I was asked to come by Lisa Harris. Yeah, I’m thrilled to be playing there with all these people. And also, you know, frankly, I like to surprise myself with the things that were planned for me to play with, you know? Then it generates a different energy from me, you know?
PAN M 360 : And with whom are you playing in Mexico City, as a playermor more?
Alejandro Motta : My main work in Mexico City is CEPROMUSIC Ensemble. It’s an ensemble only for contemporary music, the only ensemble of this type financed by the government. So we are professional academic musicians. And every two weeks we play new music from composers from here and from every part of the world, from the 1950’s to now. For example, we are actually playing Xenakis music. Yeah, that’s my main work.
PAN M 360 : So you come from a classical background.
Alejandro Motta : Yes indeed, so I usually play with orchestras and other ensembles, musicals for example. I also collaborate with UNAM in Mexico City. But also, I’m quite active in the improvising scene here in Mexico. That changed my life and point of view of the music. I have also played jazz and some gigs there in the United States. I don’t usually play jazz, but I want to take it seriously. That’s my next step.
