Born on the 4th of November 1984 in Frankfurt, Germany, Alex grew up in a musical household – both his parents renowned Opera Singers with Europe-wide venues to their credit, from the Vienna Opera & Cologne, to Munich & Scala di Milano.
Alex's musical journey kicked off at the age of six with piano lessons, followed by an eclectic phase of both genre- and instrument-hopping, providing an ideal platform for the cultivation of his musicianship through a broad spectrum of influences. While both the drums and the guitar made a significant impact on the shaping of Alex's aspirations, it was ultimately the electric bass that wielded the greatest appeal: combining both the percussiveness of the drums with the tonality of the guitar, it was there that Alex finally settled, developing a highly-acclaimed virtuosic technique and distinctive personal style.
After moving to Athens, Greece, in August 1997, Alex engrossed himself in daily practice from the age of twelve until landing his first professional gig at a mere seventeen years of age with Greece’s No1 soul/funk band, “The Blues Bugâ€. Travelling with them throughout the country, averaging 100 gigs a year, the band also participated in the Estonian “Jazzkaar†and the Lithuanian “Kaunas Jazz†international jazz festivals. In April 2006, Alex left the band to concentrate on his career as a bassist / arranger / composer / producer.
Focusing recently on his song-writing collaboration with extraordinary female vocalist, Antigone (www.antigone-t.com), Alex continues to do the rounds of the Athens club scene, making appearances with the much-sought-after “Cabin 54â€, led by singer Tony Domino.
Having recorded bass in August 2006 for several songs by Greece’s top-selling composer/singer Nikos Karvelas, Alex was invited to join Greek pop sensation, Anna Vissi, on her 2006 national, and 2007 international tour.
Looking forward to European, Australian and American concert dates with Anna Vissi, Alex continues to work on new material and to rehearse with his new band, “The Unionâ€, comprising Greece’s top groovers: Michalis Kapilidis (drums), Kostas Mademlis (guitar), Christos Theofilopoulos (keys), and Antigone Tsiplakidis (vocals).
-Written by Matheson J. Bayley
Alex Simon @ soundcheckAlex Simon & Kostas Liolios JAM @ soundcheckCabin54 - For Real