Equis Alfonso (X-Alfonso), Cuban pianist, bassist, singer, arranger, composer and producer; was born on September 13, 1972, in Havana. Descendant of a family of musicians, his parents Ele Valdés and Carlos Alfonso, he began his musical studies at the age of 7, at the Manuel Saumell Elementary Music School (Calle F No. 660, Vedado, Havana City), specializing in Piano. He completed his training in 1990, at the Higher School of Art (ENA) (Calle 120 between 9th and 13th, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana).

He began his professional career after graduating in 1990 with the musical group Síntesis, which is directed by his parents. He worked as a composer, arranger, and keyboardist. His first arrangements are featured on several tracks on the album El hombre extraño, by Síntesis with Silvio Rodríguez.

Together with Carlos Alfonso, his father, he wrote the music for the Cuban film María Antonia, by Cuban director Sergio Giral, and they won the Coral Award for Best Soundtrack for a Latin American Film at the 17th International Latin American Film Festival, held in Havana. During this time, he also worked on various recordings and live concerts, with various solo singers, including Santiago Feliú and Carlos Varela.

He joined the jazz group Estado de Ánimo, with Roberto Carcassés and others, with whom he participated in various Jazz Plaza Festivals in Havana. In 1992, he founded the rock group Havana, alongside Iván Latour and Osamu Menéndez, where he worked as a bassist, vocalist, arranger, and composer. He remained with the group for three years and also participated in its recordings.

Beginning in 1993, he began performing solo concerts with his own project, appearing in Havana’s prestigious theaters. There, he offered large multimedia concerts with dancers, rappers, painters, and others.

In 1997, he was selected for a documentary about young Cubans made in Havana by American filmmakers from the Sundance Channel. In 2000, together with Carlos Alfonso and Esteban Puebla, he wrote the soundtrack for the film “Miel para Oshún” by Humberto Solás.

His debut album, Mundo Real (2000), was pre-nominated for that year’s Latin Grammy Awards in the categories of Best Album of the Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Album, Best New Artist, and Best Song of the Year. Mundo Real, released by Velas Records, is an album with a Cuban sound base, but clearly influenced by international pop with a variety of touches.

His second album, recorded on the same label as his first, was titled X Moré (2001). It featured collaborations with the group Síntesis and rappers Free Hole Negros. It is a tribute to Benny Moré through the unique musical aesthetic of Equis Alfonso, characterized by the fusion of hip hop with jazz chords and excerpts from Benny’s songs. He was nominated for the 2002 Latin Grammy in three categories.

Civilización (2004) marked a milestone in the history of new-generation Cuban music. It features songs crafted with the author’s signature rhythm and collaborations with numerous figures. Its songs are based on Havana, love, religion, and eternally Cuban themes. With this album, he won the 2004 Cubadisco Award, honoring the best Cuban music album of the year.

In 2005, he won five awards at Cubadisco and a Lucas Award for best music video. He also toured Europe. In 2006, he was honored with the Latin Revelation Award from the Spanish Academy of Music for his contribution to bringing traditional Cuban rhythms into the 21st century.

X Alfonso premiered the documentary “Untitled” at the Multicine Infanta in Havana. It features legendary names such as Omara Portuondo, Juan Formell, Chucho Valdés, and Roberto Carcassés, as well as young artists who bring tradition into the contemporary. It was funded by MoviGroup, a consortium of Italian partner companies working in the world of entertainment and communications.

He has composed music for dance works for companies such as Danza Abierta, directed by Marianela Boán; Transit, a Catalan dance company directed by Maria Rovira; and Pepe Hevia’s Modern Dance Company.

Along with the group Síntesis, he has toured internationally, participating in important festivals such as: International Jazz Festival, Caracas, Venezuela; Nice Jazz Festival, France; Jazz a Nice, France; North Sea Jazz Festival, Holland; Pori Jazz Festival, Finland; Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland; ‘Pirineos Sur’ Festival, Huesca, Spain; La Mar de Músicas Cartagena, Spain; Pop Komm Festival, Cologne, Germany.

He has taken his music to numerous countries including: Mexico, Venezuela, USA, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Denmark.

His greatest production of works are found in the different albums recorded with the group Síntesis: The Strange Man (1990); Ancestros II (1993); In the Limits of the Neighborhood (1995); Orishas (1997); Havana at the Skin’s Edge (2000).

He composed the soundtrack for the Cuban-Spanish film Havana Blues, a work that further propelled him to international fame. He won a Goya Award in Spain for Best Original Music at the 20th edition of these awards.

He has emerged as a talented audiovisual producer; his music videos, sometimes directed by himself, have garnered top honors at the Lucas Awards, as well as other international accolades.

X Alfonso’s work as a composer is closely linked to the most avant-garde trends in contemporary music in Cuba.

Discography: Real World (2000), X Moré (2001), Delirium Tremens (2002), Civilization (2005), Revoluxion (2007).