Puerto Rican Bassist Alex "Apolo" Ayala-Berríos embodies the spirit of the multi-lingual musician. His vast knowledge of both Latin music and Jazz languages makes him one of the few Bi-lingual bassists in the music scene. A native from San Juan,Puerto Rico, he blends his Afro-Caribbean roots with Jazz language, which enables him to pace himself through Swing, Bebop, Blues, Bomba, Plena, Rumba, and explorations of other Latin-American expressions (Samba/Bossa, Tango, Afro-Peruvian, Afro- Colombian, Afro-Venezuelan). With a professional career of over 20 years, his body of work includes performances, tours, and recordings with Latin music giants and world-renowned Jazz musicians. He has played with the likes of Eddie Palmieri, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Roberto Rohena, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Mambo Legends Orchestra, Tito Nieves, Tito Rojas, Orquesta Akokán, Puerto Rican Power, Luis “Perico” Ortíz, Giovanni Hidalgo, Antonio Hart, Papo Vázquez, Nestor Torres, Conrad Herwig, Mike Eckroth, Flavio Silva, Edsel Gomez, Paoli Mejías, Ralph Irrizary & Timbalaye, Jerry Gonzalez, William Cepeda, Mitch Frohman, Los Pleneros de la 21, among many others. He has also recorded for Gilberto Santa Rosa, Paoli Mejias, William Cepeda, Los Pleneros de la 21, Humberto Ramirez, Flavio Silva, Michael Eckroth, Paul Carlon, Edsel Gomez, Dave Schumacher, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Puerto Rican Power, Tito Rojas, Jerry Rivera, Tito Nieves, Tony Vega, José Lugo “Guasábara Big Band”, Our Latin Thing feat. Vicentico (Fabulosos Cadillacs) and Puerto Rican rapper extraordinaire Residente. Based in New York City since 2013, he started in music at age 11. He studied and graduated with honors from "Escuela Libre de música de Hato Rey”, and later on he earned his BA Degree in Jazz and Caribbean Music from Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music), where he studied with legendary bassist Eddie Gomez, and worldwide renowned Saxophonist David Sanchez, among others. Currently, he leads two ensambles: “The Bámbula Project”, an Afro-Puerto Rican Jazz Quartet, and “The Afro-Puerto Rican Jazz Big Band. He has released two albums as a leader, “ONWARDS” (2011 Self-released) and “BÁMBULA” (TRRC 2022), as well as sideman work with the Antonio Hart Quartet and countless others.
Discography:
As a Leader:
"Onwards"- 2012
"Bámbula"- 2022
"Afro Puerto Rican Jazz"- 2025
As a sideman:
Salsa/Latin Music:
-Gilberto Santa Rosa- “Irrepetible”*
-Residente ft. Ricky Martin,Bad Bunny (Single track “Cántalo”)
-Tito Rojas- “Independiente”
-Jerry Rivera Ft.Ken Y- “Princesa”
-Los Pleneros de la 21- “Por Aquello de la Plena”
-Puerto Rican Power- “A Otro Nivel”
-Tito Nieves- “Mis Mejores Recuerdos”
-Tony Vega- “Para Querernos”
-Jeremy Bosch- TBA 2025
-Luis “Perico” Ortíz- “Tiempo de Amar”
-José Lugo Orchestra- “Guasábara”*
-Our Latin Thing feat. Vicentico (Fabulosos Cadillacs)- “Culpable”
-Rey Ruiz- “No se da Cuenta”
-Elisa Torres- “Natural”
-Villariny Salsa Project- “De tu Mano”, “En tu Tiempo”
-Joe Quijano & Augusto Onna- “50 años después”
*Latin Grammy Award winning Album
Jazz/Latin Jazz
-Paoli Mejías- “De Jazzambia a Mi Tambor” (DVD Concert)
-Ralph Irizarry & “Timbalaye”- “20th Anniversary”
-Dave Schumacher- “Cubeye”
-Michael Eckroth*- “Plena”
“ Human Geography”
-Trombeatz- “A Caribbean Thing”
-Flavio Silva- “Break Free”
-Paul Carlon- “Tresillo”
-Humberto Ramírez- “Diciembre”, “27”, “Focus”
-Edsel Gómez- “Road to Udaipur”
-William Cepeda- “La Musica de Puerto Rico: Danza”
-Nestor Torres- “Noveau Latino”*
-Felipe Fournier- Menos es Más
-Sisa Michaledisova- “Colours of Solitude”
*Latin Grammy Award Winning Album
Performances:
Salsa/Latin Music:
-Cheo Feliciano
-Victor Manuelle
-La India
-Luis Enrique
-Richie Ray y Bobby Cruz
-Spanish Harlem Orchestra
-Mambo Legends Orchestra
-Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound
-Cano Estremera
-José Alberto “El Canario”
-Lalo Rodríguez
-Maelo Ruíz
-Jimmy Bosch
-Johnny Rivera
-Andy Montañez
-Luisito Carrión
-Orquesta Akokán
-Domingo Quiñones
-Rey Ruíz
-Michael Stuart
-N’klabe
-NG2
-Ezequiel Colón
-Manolito Rodriguez
-Don Perignon y la Puertorriqueña
-Elías Lopés
Jazz/Latin Jazz
-Eddie Palmieri
-Antonio Hart
-Billy Harper
-Giovanni Hidalgo
-Paoli Mejías
-Jerry Gonzalez
-Zaccai Curtis
-Los Pleneros de la 21
-Ralph Irizarry “Timbalaye”
-Papo Vázquez
-John Santos
-Mike Eckroth
-Doug Beavers
-Jonathan Powell
-Trombeatz
-Flavio Silva
-Paul Carlon
-Mitch Frohman
-Conrad Herwig
-Humberto Ramírez
-Edsel Gómez
-Steve Kroon
-Chembo Corniel
-William Cepeda
-Ricardo Pons
-Nestor Torres
-Felipe Fournier
-Sisa Michaledisova
Current leading and sideman work:
-Alex “Apolo” Ayala & The Bámbula Project
-Alex “Apolo” Ayala & The Afro Puerto Rican Jazz Big Band
-Antonio Hart Quartet
-Edsel Gomez Trio
-Jeremy Bosch
-Sebastian Natal
-Jimmy Bosch
-Jonathan Powell
-Mitch Frohman
-Trombeatz
-Flavio Silva “Break Free” band.
As a Leader:
"Onwards"- 2012
"Bámbula"- 2022
"Afro Puerto Rican Jazz"- 2025
As a sideman:
Salsa/Latin Music:
-Gilberto Santa Rosa- “Irrepetible”*
-Residente ft. Ricky Martin,Bad Bunny (Single track “Cántalo”)
-Tito Rojas- “Independiente”
-Jerry Rivera Ft.Ken Y- “Princesa”
-Los Pleneros de la 21- “Por Aquello de la Plena”
-Puerto Rican Power- “A Otro Nivel”
-Tito Nieves- “Mis Mejores Recuerdos”
-Tony Vega- “Para Querernos”
-Jeremy Bosch- TBA 2025
-Luis “Perico” Ortíz- “Tiempo de Amar”
-José Lugo Orchestra- “Guasábara”*
-Our Latin Thing feat. Vicentico (Fabulosos Cadillacs)- “Culpable”
-Rey Ruiz- “No se da Cuenta”
-Elisa Torres- “Natural”
-Villariny Salsa Project- “De tu Mano”, “En tu Tiempo”
-Joe Quijano & Augusto Onna- “50 años después”
*Latin Grammy Award winning Album
Jazz/Latin Jazz
-Paoli Mejías- “De Jazzambia a Mi Tambor” (DVD Concert)
-Ralph Irizarry & “Timbalaye”- “20th Anniversary”
-Dave Schumacher- “Cubeye”
-Michael Eckroth*- “Plena”
“ Human Geography”
-Trombeatz- “A Caribbean Thing”
-Flavio Silva- “Break Free”
-Paul Carlon- “Tresillo”
-Humberto Ramírez- “Diciembre”, “27”, “Focus”
-Edsel Gómez- “Road to Udaipur”
-William Cepeda- “La Musica de Puerto Rico: Danza”
-Nestor Torres- “Noveau Latino”*
-Felipe Fournier- Menos es Más
-Sisa Michaledisova- “Colours of Solitude”
*Latin Grammy Award Winning Album
Performances:
Salsa/Latin Music:
-Cheo Feliciano
-Victor Manuelle
-La India
-Luis Enrique
-Richie Ray y Bobby Cruz
-Spanish Harlem Orchestra
-Mambo Legends Orchestra
-Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound
-Cano Estremera
-José Alberto “El Canario”
-Lalo Rodríguez
-Maelo Ruíz
-Jimmy Bosch
-Johnny Rivera
-Andy Montañez
-Luisito Carrión
-Orquesta Akokán
-Domingo Quiñones
-Rey Ruíz
-Michael Stuart
-N’klabe
-NG2
-Ezequiel Colón
-Manolito Rodriguez
-Don Perignon y la Puertorriqueña
-Elías Lopés
Jazz/Latin Jazz
-Eddie Palmieri
-Antonio Hart
-Billy Harper
-Giovanni Hidalgo
-Paoli Mejías
-Jerry Gonzalez
-Zaccai Curtis
-Los Pleneros de la 21
-Ralph Irizarry “Timbalaye”
-Papo Vázquez
-John Santos
-Mike Eckroth
-Doug Beavers
-Jonathan Powell
-Trombeatz
-Flavio Silva
-Paul Carlon
-Mitch Frohman
-Conrad Herwig
-Humberto Ramírez
-Edsel Gómez
-Steve Kroon
-Chembo Corniel
-William Cepeda
-Ricardo Pons
-Nestor Torres
-Felipe Fournier
-Sisa Michaledisova
Current leading and sideman work:
-Alex “Apolo” Ayala & The Bámbula Project
-Alex “Apolo” Ayala & The Afro Puerto Rican Jazz Big Band
-Antonio Hart Quartet
-Edsel Gomez Trio
-Jeremy Bosch
-Sebastian Natal
-Jimmy Bosch
-Jonathan Powell
-Mitch Frohman
-Trombeatz
-Flavio Silva “Break Free” band.
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