Puerto Rican Bassist Alex "Apolo" Ayala-Berríos embodies the spirit of the multi-lingual musician. His vast knowledge of both Latin Jazz and Jazz languages makes him one of the most in-demand Bassists and Arrangers in the world. A native from San Juan,Puerto Rico, he blends his Afro-Puerto Rican / Afro-Caribbean roots with Jazz idioms, which enables him to be fluid in Swing, Bebop, Blues, Bomba, Plena, Rumba, and other Latin-American expressions (Samba/Bossa, Tango, Afro-Peruvian, Afro- Colombian, Afro-Venezuelan). With a career spanning 25 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, Antonio Hart, Billy Harper, Jeremy Pelt, Wayne Escoffery, Amina Figarova, Pete Rodriguez, 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, Papo Vázquez, Nestor Torres, Conrad Herwig, Mike Eckroth, Flavio Silva, Edsel Gomez, Paoli Mejías, Ralph Irrizary & Timbalaye, Jerry Gonzalez, William Cepeda, Mitch Frohman, and served as the Music Director for Los Pleneros de la 21 for 10 years. His resume includes recordings 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, and by the age of 15 y/o he was already playing professionally in the Puerto Rican music scene. He studied and graduated with honors from "Escuela Libre de música de Hato Rey”, which alumni includes renowned Jazz artists such as Miguel Zenon, David Sanchez, Edsel Gomez and Giovanni Hidalgo. Ayala earned his B.A. 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 renowned Saxophonist David Sanchez, and a Master of Music Degree in Jazz studies from Rutgers University, where he was mentored by Conrad Herwig, Ralph Bowen, Orrin Evans, Kenny Davis, Abraham Burton and Anthony Branker. Currently, he leads four ensembles: “The Bámbula Project”, an Afro-Puerto Rican Jazz Quartet,The Afro-Puerto Rican Jazz Big Band, The "2nd Language" Quartet (a mainstream Jazz quartet) and The Ayala-Fournier Duo. He has released three albums as a leader, “ONWARDS” (2011 Self-released) “BÁMBULA” (TRRC 2022) and "Afro Puerto Rican Jazz (2025, PMC Records/Miel Music). As a sideman, Ayala works with the Antonio Hart Quartet, Dave Schumacher's "Cubeye", Paul Carlon Trio, Cesar Orozco's Kamerata Jazz, Jimmy Bosch Salsa Masters, Jeremy Bosch Orchestra, Sebastian Natal orchestra, and frequently collaborates with Orrin Evans, Zaccai Curtis, Conrad Herwig, Edsel Gomez, Jonathan Powell, Pete Rodriguez, Samuel Torres, Silvano Monasterios, Mitch Frohman, Mambo Legends Orchestra, Steven Oquendo Latin Jazz Orchestra, and countless others.
Select 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”
-Jeremy Bosch- "The Gospel According to Salsa"
-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”
-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's "Cubeye”- Smoke In the Sky
--Dave Schumacher's "Cubeye”- Agua con Gas
-Michael Eckroth*- “Plena”
“ Human Geography”
-Trombeatz- “A Caribbean Thing”
-Flavio Silva- “Break Free”
-Paul Carlon Trio- “Tresillo”
-Paul Carlon Trio- "Between Us Three"
-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”
-Cristian Valdes- TBR
*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
-Amina Figarova
-Jeremy Pelt
-Wayne Escoffery
-Frank Lacy
-Pete Rodriguez
-Manuel Valera
-Alex Pastrana
-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”
-Jeremy Bosch- "The Gospel According to Salsa"
-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”
-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's "Cubeye”- Smoke In the Sky
--Dave Schumacher's "Cubeye”- Agua con Gas
-Michael Eckroth*- “Plena”
“ Human Geography”
-Trombeatz- “A Caribbean Thing”
-Flavio Silva- “Break Free”
-Paul Carlon Trio- “Tresillo”
-Paul Carlon Trio- "Between Us Three"
-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”
-Cristian Valdes- TBR
*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
-Amina Figarova
-Jeremy Pelt
-Wayne Escoffery
-Frank Lacy
-Pete Rodriguez
-Manuel Valera
-Alex Pastrana
-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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