Don Alias

Charles "Don" Alias (ah-LIE-ahs; December 25, 1939 – March 28, 2006) He studied piano and guitar as a boy but turned to percussion, learning from the rhythms he learned on New York's streets and the one-on-one lessons with the percussionist Mongo Santamaria. The group also included saxophonist Steve Grossman and mainly centered on jazz, Afro-Cuban, rock, and pop music. In 1976, the trio began a 15-day tour in Chile, launched through the US State Department Jazz Diplomacy program. The initial leg, with 10 locations in Chile, extended into a 6-month tour with stops in Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.

The group totaled two South American tours, four European tours, and two Canada tours. The band recorded four studio albums between 1976 and 1980, with live albums from Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Berlin, and Bremen. After a 13-year hiatus, the group returned as a power trio with guitarist Mitch Stein playing two notable shows in New York City.

Work with Miles Davis, David Sanborn and others Charles "Don" Alias playing alongside Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Michael Henderson, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, Gary Bartz, and James Forman. His work with Nina Simone caught the eye of Miles Davis, who recruited him to play trap-set drums on Bitches Brew. Alias played alongside Jack DeJohnette utilizing a "lean and loose" syncopation that channels inspiration from New Orleans parade tunes.

Alias's most prominent work was with saxophonist David Sanborn, for whom he worked as a stage and studio player for nearly 20 years. During these sessions and beyond, Alias paid careful attention to detail and had a dedication to the improvement of every member of the group. Sanborn remarked that Alias would consistently come to sessions offering specific improvements based on the previous day's work. Sanborn said: "[Alias] immersed himself 100 percent in the music, and he gave his all to the music."

Death Just before a planned tour with David Sanborn, Alias died at his home on March 28, 2006, at age 66.

Discography

As sideman With Philip Bailey Soul on Jazz (Heads Up International, 2002) With Cheryl Bentyne Talk of The Town (Paddle Wheel, 2002) The Lights Still Burn (Paddle Wheel, 2003) Moonlight Serenade (King, 2003) The Book of Love (Telarc, 2006) With Carla Bley Sextet (Watt, 1987) Fleur Carnivore (Watt, 1988) The Very Big Carla Bley Band (Watt, 1990) Looking for America (Watt, 2002) With Blood, Sweat & Tears More Than Ever (Columbia, 1976) With Jonathan Butler Heal Our Hand (Jive, 1990) Head to Head (Mercury, 1993) With Uri Caine Toys (JMT, 1996) With David Clayton-Thomas Bloodlines (DCT, 1999) With Marc Cohn Marc Cohn (Atlantic, 1991) With Miles Davis Bitches Brew (Columbia, 1970) On the Corner (Columbia, 1972) Amandla (Warner Bros., 1989) Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 (Columbia Legacy, 2015) With Jack DeJohnette Oneness (ECM, 1997) With Klaus Doldinger Doldinger in New York – Street of Dreams (WEA, 1994) With Eliane Elias So Far So Close (Blue Note, 1989) With Joe Farrell Penny Arcade (CTI, 1973) With Roberta Flack Oasis (Atlantic, 1988) The Christmas Album (Capitol, 1997) With Dan Fogelberg The Innocent Age (Full Moon, 1981) With Michael Franks Abandoned Garden (Warner Bros., 1995) With Bill Frisell Unspeakable (Elektra Nonesuch, 2004) With Hal Galper The Guerilla Band (Mainstream, 1971) With Kenny Garrett Black Hope (Warner Bros, 1992) With Don Grolnick Group Medianoche (Warner Bros., 1995) The Complete London Concert (Fuzzy Music, 2000) With Herbie Hancock The New Standard (Verve, 1996) With Ian Hunter All American Alien Boy (Columbia, 1976) With Elvin Jones Merry-Go-Round (Blue Note, 1971) With Dave Liebman Sweet Hands (Horizon, 1975) With Joe Lovano Tenor Legacy (Blue Note, 1993) With Pat Metheny Group Imaginary Day (Warner, 1997) With Bob Mintzer One Music (DMP, 1991) With Joni Mitchell Don Juan's Reckless Daughter (Asylum, 1977) Mingus (Asylum, 1979) Shadows and Light (Asylum, 1980) With Jane Monheit In the Sun (N-Coded, 2002) With Pages Future Street (Epic, 1979) With Jaco Pastorius Jaco Pastorius (Epic, 1976) Word of Mouth (Warner Bros., 1981) With Weather Report Weather Report (Columbia, 1971) – uncredited Black Market (Columbia, 1976) With Lou Reed Ecstasy (Sire, 2000) With Sanne Salomonsen In a New York Minute (Virgin, 1998) With Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin Love Devotion Surrender (Columbia, 1973) With Lalo Schifrin Black Widow (CTI, 1976) With Marlena Shaw Love Is in Flight (Verve, 1988) With Nina Simone To Love Somebody (RCA, 1969) With Jeremy Steig Legwork (Solid State, 1970) Wayfaring Stranger (Blue Note, 1971) Energy (Capitol, 1971) Fusion (Groove Merchant, 1972) With Ira Sullivan Ira Sullivan (Horizon, 1976) With Steve Swallow Carla (Xtra Watt, 1987) Swallow (Xtra Watt, 1991) With James Taylor New Moon Shine (Columbia, 1991) With The Tony Williams Lifetime Ego (Polydor, 1971)