Live Music: Ivan Alamo

Ivan was born in Havana, Cuba. At the age of twelve, he became interested in music and chose the guitar as his instrument. He taught himself to play and later studied classic guitar at the conservatory, Alejandro Garcia Caturla. He then discovered the ʻCuban tresʼ, a traditional string instrument, instrumental in popular Cuban music. From that moment on, he began to work with various groups in Havana, until 2000, when he decided to move to the United States. 

Since living in the US, he has collaborated and performed with numerous musical projects and groups, mostly in Portland, OR.  He has also discovered another life passion – making percussion instruments (Peruvian cajon, Cuban quinto, and marimbulas), and currently conducts workshops on how to both make the instruments and play basic Latin rhythms.