Simply born Alex, not Alejandro or Alexander, Navarro jokingly resents the fact that he was not given the longer more exotic or romantic name that he often feels suits his Peruvian-born roots and musical inclination. But what he may lack in his given name, he makes up for in his inviting and personable musical stylings.
After six years on the road and five studio albums with legendary balladeer Englebert Humperdinck, Navarro marks this season of his career and life with a solo piano collection of timeless melodies made famous by Engelbert in the twelve-track album, “This Moment In Time”.
It was during a break at a recording session in Manhattan in February of last year that Navarro felt inspired to revisit the Humperdinck standard, “This Moment In Time”. A mere sixteen measures of the song inspired Navarro to reinterpret a New York Slice of Englebert’s vast catalogue with his own personal musical touch. The title that first came to mind could not have been more fitting as Navarro found himself entering his second year as a resident of New York and fifth year as music director for Humperdinck.
2013 promises to be an exciting year as Navarro continues accompanying Humperdinck on his world tour, digs deeper into the trenches of the New York music scene and completes his Master of Music at New York University. Continue to follow Alex Navarro as he invites you into his life and into his music this moment in time.
Navarro’s first taste of the piano came at the age of seven in Sugarland, TX where his musical foundation developed under the instruction and influence of the pianist at his family’s church. Within four years, Navarro found himself playing regularly at the services, rehearsals and any church event requiring piano accompaniment, despite not yet being able to see over the tall Yamaha upright.
After high school, Navarro attended the University of North Texas where he graduated with a degree in Jazz Studies. After visiting a friend in New York, his dream was to move there, but an opportunity presented itself in Orange County, and so Navarro made the move to the West Coast instead. Navarro spent the first four years paying his dues as a “piano man”, playing in restaurants, bars and private events in Los Angeles and Orange County before landing his first big break.
On a layover in Miami returning from Peru, Navarro discovered a voicemail message from legendary producer Richard Perry. Navarro was asked to stop by the studio and lay down some string tracks on Carly Simon’s upcoming standards album, “Moonlight Serenade”. After months of live string dates and late night overdub sessions, the album was complete. “Moonlight Serenade” went on to be nominated for a Grammy Award and Navarro was asked to join Simon’s band on the road in support of the album. After the “Serenade Tour”, Navarro’s name became synonymous with string arranging in Los Angeles as he went on to be credited on other Perry-produced albums for Rod Stewart's Grammy Nominated "Great American Songbook Vol. V" and Art Garfunkel's "Some Enchanted Evening".
The phone continued to ring… Queen Latifah invited “Al-boogie”, (the name she affectionately gave Navarro), to join her on the road in support of “Travlin’ Light”, her most recent jazz album. The tour included nationally televised appearances on Leno, Ellen, Regis & Kelly and the American Music Awards.
After the tour, Navarro returned to the studio to add his arranging and playing skills to an album for legendary vocalist Engelbert Humpedinck. “The Long and Winding Road”, released in 2007, is a collection of songs composed by British songwriters. Navarro’s arrangements were recorded by some of Los Angeles’ finest studio musicians at the historic Capitol Records Studio. Again, the session led to a tour, but this time as music director. Navarro has since recorded four more albums for Humperdinck, including a two volume set of hits entitled “Legacy of Love” with the Prague Philharmonic.
No stranger to the recording studio, in 2009, Navarro decided to finally undertake the challenge of releasing his own album. “Closer Than You Think” displays the many sides to Navarro, showcasing his composing, arranging and playing skills across the styles of pop, jazz and world music.
Bringing us to the present, “This Moment In Time” departs from the intricate instrumentation of his first album, but again showcases his dedication to melody and sensitive musical perspective as he interprets the songbook of Engelbert Humperdinck. The album also includes original works by Navarro consistent with the subtle and understated approach to composition found in “Closer Than You Think”.