Biography
Don Alias, a percussionist of exceptional skill, earned enduring recognition for advancing the fusion genre through his explorations of jazz-rock interplay on groundbreaking recordings fronted by Miles Davis and Joni Mitchell. Charles Donald Alias came into the world in New York City on December 25, 1939, as the offspring of Caribbean immigrants; he spent his formative years in Harlem, internalizing techniques from local Cuban and Puerto Rican hand drummers. During high school he performed on conga with the Eartha Kitt Dance Foundation and joined the vocalist for her 1957 Newport Jazz Festival appearance. He set music aside to focus on biology, enrolling first at Cannon College in Erie, Pennsylvania, then continuing at Boston’s Carnegie Institute for Biochemistry. While based in Boston, Alias regularly sat in at area clubs alongside Berklee School of Music students such as conguero Bill Fitch and bassist Gene Perla; he also played bass in a short-lived trio that featured Chick Corea on guitar and Tony Williams on drums. When Perla obtained a position with Nina Simone, he urged the singer to engage Alias as drummer. By the close of his three-year tenure Alias had risen to musical director, an achievement that drew the notice of trumpeter Miles Davis, who often shared festival stages with Simone.
Davis recruited Alias as supplementary percussionist for the 1969 sessions that produced the fusion landmark Bitches Brew; there Alias originated the relaxed, syncopated pulse propelling “Miles Runs the Voodoo Down,” one of the album’s signature tracks. After the record’s completion Alias toured with Davis for a year, then rejoined Tony Williams for the 1971 LP Ego. Over the ensuing period he worked as a freelance musician on projects that included Weather Report’s Black Market and Jaco Pastorius’ 1976 solo debut. Eventually resettling in New York City, Alias reunited with Gene Perla to launch the Afro-Cuban fusion ensemble Stone Alliance alongside saxophonist Steve Grossman. The group undertook a U.S. State Department-supported tour of South America and released several albums, among them Marcio Montarroyos and Con Amigos. In 1977 Alias began a long association with Joni Mitchell on Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter, the first of several jazz-inflected projects that also encompassed the 1979 album Mingus and the live set Shadows and Light. He further served as percussionist for artists ranging from vocalist Roberta Flack to saxophonist David Sanborn, the latter a frequent collaborator across nearly two decades.
Alias and Perla revived Stone Alliance in 1980 with pianist Kenny Kirkland and tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer, issuing the well-received Heads Up. During the same span Alias joined Jaco Pastorius’ Word of Mouth band, contributing to its self-titled 1982 Warner Bros. debut and multiple subsequent live recordings. From 1985 to 1987 he resided in Montreal, where he led Kebekwa, a ten-piece fusion outfit equipped with a five-man percussion section. Upon returning to New York he maintained an active session career, appearing on recordings by Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Michael Brecker. In 1996 Alias and Perla assembled another version of Stone Alliance that included guitarist Mitch Stein. This lineup endured longest and gained additional visibility through live recordings that highlighted the original members. Alias and Perla were also at work on a joint memoir when the percussionist died suddenly at his Manhattan residence on March 28, 2006, at the age of 66.
Davis recruited Alias as supplementary percussionist for the 1969 sessions that produced the fusion landmark Bitches Brew; there Alias originated the relaxed, syncopated pulse propelling “Miles Runs the Voodoo Down,” one of the album’s signature tracks. After the record’s completion Alias toured with Davis for a year, then rejoined Tony Williams for the 1971 LP Ego. Over the ensuing period he worked as a freelance musician on projects that included Weather Report’s Black Market and Jaco Pastorius’ 1976 solo debut. Eventually resettling in New York City, Alias reunited with Gene Perla to launch the Afro-Cuban fusion ensemble Stone Alliance alongside saxophonist Steve Grossman. The group undertook a U.S. State Department-supported tour of South America and released several albums, among them Marcio Montarroyos and Con Amigos. In 1977 Alias began a long association with Joni Mitchell on Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter, the first of several jazz-inflected projects that also encompassed the 1979 album Mingus and the live set Shadows and Light. He further served as percussionist for artists ranging from vocalist Roberta Flack to saxophonist David Sanborn, the latter a frequent collaborator across nearly two decades.
Alias and Perla revived Stone Alliance in 1980 with pianist Kenny Kirkland and tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer, issuing the well-received Heads Up. During the same span Alias joined Jaco Pastorius’ Word of Mouth band, contributing to its self-titled 1982 Warner Bros. debut and multiple subsequent live recordings. From 1985 to 1987 he resided in Montreal, where he led Kebekwa, a ten-piece fusion outfit equipped with a five-man percussion section. Upon returning to New York he maintained an active session career, appearing on recordings by Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Michael Brecker. In 1996 Alias and Perla assembled another version of Stone Alliance that included guitarist Mitch Stein. This lineup endured longest and gained additional visibility through live recordings that highlighted the original members. Alias and Perla were also at work on a joint memoir when the percussionist died suddenly at his Manhattan residence on March 28, 2006, at the age of 66.
Albums
Live