Alejandro Cortes

About Me

Surrounded by the music of Mexico and Latin America, Alejandro (Alo) Cortes first learned to sing and accompany himself on the guitar. He 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 Mendes, which set the course for the rest of his musical journey.

Alo received his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Piano Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and also holds a Master of Arts in Performing Arts Administration. Studying with renowned musicians including Jim Trompeter, Edwin Sanchez, and Ruben Alvarez gave him a unique educational experience that solidified his musicianship and strengthened his ability to communicate the marriage of Afro-Caribbean rhythms and jazz harmony.

As a performer, Alo has worked extensively in Chicago’s jazz, Latin jazz, and salsa scenes. He can be seen performing a wide range of styles, from American pop and jazz to Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Peruvian folk music. Notable performances include concerts with international salsa singers Kayvan Vega, Willito Otero, Nino Segarra, Willie Gonzalez, Yoko “La Japonesa Salsera,” and legendary trumpeter and arranger Luis “Perico” Ortiz. Alejandro is a regular performer at Chicago’s major music festivals, including the Chicago Jazz Festival, Latin Jazz Festival, and the Puerto Rican, Cuban, Colombian, and Peruvian cultural festivals.

Alo has maintained a successful private piano studio in Chicago since 2014. He joined Roosevelt University’s faculty in 2018 and was appointed Program Director of Jazz and Contemporary Music Studies in the fall of 2023. Alo especially enjoys working with students with a wide range of musical backgrounds and experiences, encouraging them to explore different musical styles and traditions while helping them develop their own unique voice as musicians.