Since joining the CCPA adjunct faculty in 2018 and subsequently securing an appointment as program director of Jazz and Contemporary Music and assistant teaching professor of musicianship in 2023, Alejandro “Alo” Cortes has worked tirelessly to bring a new musical vocabulary to the program. With Latin pop artists dominating the charts and increased interest in musical forms such as corridos and banda around the world, Cortes is aware that young graduates should be well-versed in these styles when entering the industry. And with Roosevelt proudly recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), the reception to Cortes’ expanded curricula has been an immense success.
Born into a musical family, Alejandro was always surrounded by the music of Mexico and Latin America. He first learned to sing and accompany himself on the guitar, and then developed a strong interest in the piano and began private instruction at the age of seven. As a member of the United Community Center’s Latin Jazz band in Milwaukee, he was introduced to the music of Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaría and Sergio Mendez, which set the course for the rest of his musical journey.
During his own studies at Roosevelt, Cortes studied with renowned musicians such as Jim Trompeter, Edwin Sanchez and Ruben Alvarez, solidified his musicianship and strengthened his ability to communicate the marriage of Afro-Cuban rhythms and complex jazz harmony. Since graduating in 2014, Alejandro has freelanced steadily in Chicago’s jazz, Latin jazz and salsa scenes, and he enjoys performing in a wide range of styles that include American pop, jazz and Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and Peruvian folk music.
