Alex Ruano - The Flamenco Sax

Alejandro (ALEX) Ruano, is one of the founders of the famous CHAVALES DE ESPANA with which he performed for more than ten years, playing the saxophone, clarinet and violin, all of which he is a master. PUCHITO records takes great pleasure in presenting here the solo renditions which RUANO has recorded, selections which become creations of his own.
As a young man, in his native town of Bilbao, Spain, he won the first prize as violinist at the Vizcaino Conservatory of Music. With his prize money he went to Seville to study the folk music of that region and later he adapted and stylized what he had learned for the saxophone. As a result of these arrangements he became known as "The Magician of the Flamenco Saxophone" all over Spain. He has performed all over the world and among the famous places in which he appeared are the Waldorf Astoria and the Plaza of New York; the Palmer House, Chicago; Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles; Desert Inn and Riviera, Las Vegas; Saxony Hotel, Miami Beach; Palladium, London; Arcadia and Cristal, Lisbon; Pasapoga, Madrid; Moulin Rouge and Pleyel, Paris; Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro; and Colon, Buenos Aires and he is now booked in the marvellous and world famous Columbia Restaurant of Tampa, Florida. He performs there under the name of CHAVAL DE ESPAñA FLAMENCO. Undoubtedly RUANO is a magician on his saxophone and on this L P we have a demonstration of this, each number is a creation. For example, at the end of "Los Piconeros" he gives us a "milonga" ; in "Maria de la 0" a half "granadina"; "Maria Magdalena" closes with a "columbiana" and "Ojos Verdes" terminates with a complete "milonga".
For the arrangements of the music presented here we call upon another of the founders of the CHAVALES DE ESPANA, Fernando Porredon who played with them tor fifteen years, functioning as arranger as well as playing the violin and trombone. Mr. Porredon is well known by both the American and European public and has now, also connected himself with the Columbia Restaurant of Cesar Gonzmart. He appears regularly and lends his talents as arranger. We are most happy to have had his co-operation and assistance on this LP.