World-renowned jazz trumpeter and composer Gabriel Alegria performs live in the studio with his Afro-Peruvian Sextet on Friday, February 27 at 5 p.m.

One of the most influential figures on the current jazz scene in Perú, Gabriel Alegria was born into an artistic family in Lima in 1970. Alegria’s grandfather Ciro was Peru’s most famous novelist and his father Alonso is Perú’s most acclaimed playwright.

Alegria is currently touring the U.S. in support of his popular new release Nuevo Mundo, on Saponegro Records. During the course of a career that has spanned the globe, Alegria has appeared in concert and/or on recordings with Maria Schneider, Placido Domingo, Kenny Werner, Ingrid Jensen, Tierney Sutton, Natalie Cole, The Peruvian National Symphony, Bill Watrous, John Thomas, Russ Ferrante and Alex Acuña.

Most recently Gabriel completed the groundbreaking “Tour Peru,” a new model in touring that included 40 fans who accompanied the Afro-Peruvian Sextet throughout Peru.

The Afro-Peruvian Sextet includes saxophonist Laurandrea Leguía, acoustic guitarist Yuri Juárez, bassist Ramón De Bruyn, drummer Hugo Alcázar, and master percussionist Freddy “Huevito” Lobatón, who plays the traditional Afro-Peruvian instruments cajón (box drum) and quijada (jaw bone), and adds spectacular passages of zapateo dancing to each performance.