A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Al (short for Alfredo) has followed the arts since he was three years old and stated to his parents that he was to be a 'dramatic' actor. This, of course, should have come as no surprise to parents who were artists themselves. Al's mother was a classical ballerina and his father an architect and writer. A step beyond, Al can count among his relatives of times past, the late 1800's Argentinean famed writer Migul Can.
While music has always been part of Al's life, acting was his main passion. He began studying theatre in Buenos Aires at age 8 and continued studying with some of Argentina's film actors such as Hector Bidonde and Anibal Morixe. This was not easy, as Al had lived in three different cultures and spoke three different languages by age 14! "To tell you the truth," says Al, "I think it messed me up more than the luxury it may seem. Moving at such a critical age can create much upheaval during one's already painful years." However, from such cultural eclecticism comes Al's music.
As a child, whenever his parents would go visiting friends who had a piano, Al would be immediately glued to the instrument. "I can still hear the host yelling, 'Don't let him touch the piano, he'll set it out of tune!' Then, I'd sit looking at the piano lustfully from afar for the remainder of my visit. Now I know how ridiculous that was, because unless you come charging at the piano with a hammer, the thing will go out of tune whether one is masterfully playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata or a bad case of chopsticks. It is so wonderful now, I do not need to ask anyone's permission and what's more, synths do not go out of tune!"
Al's music features such classical sounds as violins, cellos, oboes, violas, flutes, guitars and more ethnic ones such as the hurdy gurdy (in his upcoming album) and sitar. "I explore anything and everything, and I never know what will happen when a song enters my head. I may start with my guitar and end at the synth." And this is mostly how Al composes. He does not read nor write music. "I do not work that way and never have. I found out in college that I had a learning disability, so the way I perceive the world and learning is much different for me than for a lot of people. I tried to learn to read music once, a long time ago and finally said 'forget it.' It was just not for me. The music I do read is only symbols for me...I know where the finger goes, but don't ask me what note it was I was reading. If you let me watch you a few times I will pick it up on my own. This is basically how I learned to speak English. I was terrible in grammar! Today, most would not know it. If it 'sounds' right, then it usually is. I pick everything up by ear. I think some would say I am so 'right brained' I fall over! Music is constantly playing in my head even when I go to sleep, which can be almost nauseating sometimes. It just does not quit!"
While Al began seriously working on music 17 years ago, it was not until after he had a near death experience a few years ago that he undertook music full time. For the last few years he has divided his time between acting and music. He has worked in many theatre productions such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Andre's Mother, Poor Richard, Lonely Planet, as well as many television commercials and productions such as CBS' As The World Turns. Music, however, has taken center stage and looks like it may continue to do so in the future. "It gets old running down to New York at a moment's notice, though I still do it and it is where my manager is. However, I live in Vermont and I do not think there is a place I would rather be than here. I hate leaving it. I have always had a love for this land. Its energy is amazing. Many may look to places like Sedona as a spiritual vortex, but Vermont has an energy no one hears about. It is powerful and vibrant like its people."
Al has worked for several years with Ohmegasongs Productions in Germany, as a lyric writer, arranger and composer. While Al's music is New Age and instrumental, he has composed works for and with lyrics. Some will be featured on this site in the near future as well as new work from Al. "Again, I never know what will happen. I was having breakfast one morning and bam, there was a song (My Nights Alone) with lyrics and I had to lay it down. Within three hours the song was finished and submitted to Germany. I did not feel I had suffered enough with it you know, but Germany liked it and went with it. It was performed live a week later during one of Stefan's (Klemens) live performances for Ohmegasongs! I was as surprised as anyone else because my stuff is mainly instrumental. Actually, that was my first piece with and for lyrics."
"Shadows" is Al's debut CD. It is comprised of melodies with many different energies, all creating one journey. "Many of the songs on this CD are very meaningful to me, and some come from much pain and growth. It was from seeking deep within my own shadows that I arrived where I am today and it was not easy. I think this CD is a result of that." There are no comments as to what song means what to him, because he rather each listener take from the music what they may. "This is why there are no lyrics. I cannot tell you what to feel. It is up to you." One sentiment seems to be the same for all who listen to his music: the feeling of healing. "It was amazing when I started getting feedback about the music. People would keep saying how healing and peaceful it was. Now, it seemed strange to me because a song like 'Oblivion' is not exactly lullaby material! But, in the synergy it becomes a steppingstone, a rite of passage, if you will."
If asked to name some influences Al can say there are many. "I cannot name just one, because music I have heard and loved since I was a child is still very much within me. But there are certainly artists I admire, such as Loreena McKennit, Yanni and Chris Spheeris, who are not only wonderful artists, but amazing people as well."
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