Editing Don Alias

{{Short description|American drummer (1939–2006)}}{{Copy edit|date=December 2024}}{{Refimprove|date=August 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Don Alias
| image             = 
| caption           = Charles "Don" Alias Playing alongside Miles Davis, Keith Jarret, Michael Henderson, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, Gary Bartz, and, James Forman.
| image_size        = 
| birth_name        = Charles Alias
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1939|12|25|}}
| birth_place       = [[New York City]], New York, U.S.
| death_date        = {{death date and age|2006|03|28|1939|12|25}}
| death_place       = New York, New York, U.S.
| instrument        = Percussion
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Jazz]]|[[jazz fusion]]|[[Latin jazz]]}}
| occupation        = Musician
| years_active      = 1960s–2006
| website           = [http://donalias.com Official website]
}}

'''Charles''' "'''Don'''" '''Alias'''{{efn|surname pronounced ah-LIE-ahs}} (December 25, 1939 – March 28, 2006)<ref name=":0"/> was an American jazz percussionist.

Alias was best known for playing [[congas]] and other [[hand drum]]s. He was also a capable [[drum kit]] performer. He played drums on the song "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down" from trumpeter [[Miles Davis]]'s album ''[[Bitches Brew]]'' (1969) when neither [[Lenny White]] nor [[Jack DeJohnette]] was able to play the [[marching band]]-inspired rhythm requested by Davis.{{efn|see the notes for ''The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions'' (1998)}} He also played drums and percussion on the [[Joni Mitchell]] live album ''[[Shadows and Light (Joni Mitchell album)|Shadows and Light]]''.

Alias performed on hundreds of recordings and was best known for his associations with [[Miles Davis]] and saxophonist [[David Sanborn]]. He also performed and recorded with artists such as [[Weather Report]], [[Joni Mitchell]], [[Herbie Hancock]], [[the Brecker Brothers]], [[Jaco Pastorius]], [[Pat Metheny]], [[Nina Simone]], and many others.

== Early life ==
Alias was born in [[New York City]] on December 25, 1939. <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Chinen |first=Nate |date=April 5, 2006 |title=Don Alias, 66, Percussionist and Sideman, Is Dead |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/arts/music/don-alias-66-percussionist-and-sideman-is-dead.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304040642/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/arts/music/don-alias-66-percussionist-and-sideman-is-dead.html |archive-date=March 4, 2017 |access-date=December 10, 2024 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

He studied the [[piano]] and [[guitar]] as a boy but turned to percussion, using the rhythms he learned on New York's streets and the one-on-one lessons with the percussionist [[Mongo Santamaría|Mongo Santamaria]] as a foundation.<ref name=":0" /> At 16 years old, he was enrolled as a conga player for the Eartha Kitt Dance Foundation when he landed his first professional gig playing with [[Dizzy Gillespie]] at the [[Newport Jazz Festival]].<ref name=":0" />

He had a degree in biology, studying at [[Gannon University|Gannon College]] and the Carnegie Institute for Biochemistry in [[Boston]].<ref name=":0" /> During his time in Boston, he played in jazz night clubs, where he met students from the [[Berklee College of Music]], which aided him in entering the music industry.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

== Career ==
=== Touring with Stone Alliance ===
While at school in Boston, Alias met bassist [[Gene Perla]], with whom he formed the jazz trio, Stone Alliance in 1964.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stone Alliance ~ History |url=https://www.stonealliance.com/History.shtml |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=www.stonealliance.com}}</ref> The group, which included saxophonist [[Steve Grossman (saxophonist)|Steve Grossman]], centered on jazz, Afro-Cuban, rock, and pop music.

In 1976, the trio began a 15-day tour in [[Chile]], through the US State Department [[Jazz ambassadors|Jazz Diplomacy]] program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jazz Diplomacy: Then and Now |url=https://www.state.gov/jazz-diplomacy-then-and-now/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=United States Department of State |language=en}}</ref> The initial leg with 10 locations in Chile extended into a 6-month tour with stops in [[Uruguay]], [[Brazil]], [[Paraguay]], and [[Argentina]]. 

The group totaled 2 South American tours, 4 European tours, and 2 in [[Canada]]. The band recorded four studio albums between 1976 and 1980, with live albums from [[Amsterdam]], [[Buenos Aires]], [[Berlin]], and [[Bremen]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stone Alliance Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & M... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/stone-alliance-mn0000937395#discograph |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> After a 13-year hiatus, the group returned as a power trio with guitarist Mitch Stein playing 2 notable shows in [[New York City]].

=== Work with Miles Davis and others ===
[[File:Miles Davis-140916-0018-105WPa.jpg|thumb|Charles "Don" Alias playing alongside Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Michael Henderson, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, Gary Bartz, and James Forman.]]
His work with Nina Simone caught the eye of Miles Davis, who recruited him to play trap-set drums on ''Bitches Brew''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Running The Voodoo Down - Bitches Brew At Fifty |url=https://bigtakeover.com/essays/RunningTheVoodooDownBitchesBrewAtFifty+ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=The Big Takeover |language=en}}</ref> Alias played alongside [[Jack DeJohnette]] and utilized a "lean and loose" syncopation, which drew from New Orleans parade tunes.

Alias' most prominent work was with saxophonist David Sanborn, for whom he worked as a stage and studio member for nearly 20 years.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=April 9, 2006 |title=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2006/04/09/5333397/remembering-percussionist-don-alias |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=[[NPR]]}}</ref> During these sessions and beyond, he paid careful attention to detail and had a dedication to the improvement of every member of the group. Sanborn remarked that Alias would consistently come to sessions offering specific improvements based on the previous day's work. Sanborn says "[Alias] immersed himself 100 percent in the music, and he gave his all to the music.”<ref name=":1" />

He was the drummer for Joni Mitchell's live album ''[[Shadows and Light (Joni Mitchell album)|Shadows and Light]]'', which features his drum kit on the cover. For Mitchell's second live album, she recruited many well-known jazz artists, such as [[Pat Metheny]], [[Jaco Pastorius]], [[Lyle Mays]], and [[Michael Brecker]]. Alias was the studio percussionist for Mitchell's early jazz-influenced albums. On ''[[Don Juan's Reckless Daughter]]'', he played congas, claves, snare drums, and sandpaper blocks; he also provided some background vocals. Alias played congas on the [[Mingus (Joni Mitchell album)|''Mingus'']] album.

== Style and influence ==
Alias credited his playing style to Cuban and Puerto Rican hand drummers, whose techniques he said he picked up from the streets of New York.<ref name=":0" /> From this background, he often played congas, bongos, and other hand drums, rather than a traditional drum kit. 

Gene Perla was responsible for introducing Alias to singer-songwriter Nina Simone, for whom he switched gears and played a traditional full-set drum kit.<ref name=":0" /> This change did not present a challenge; instead, Alias thrived and eventually became her musical director.

== Death ==
Just before a planned tour with David Sanborn, Alias died at his home on March 28, 2006, at age 66.<ref name=":0" />

==Discography==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
===As sideman===
'''With [[Philip Bailey]]'''
* ''[[Soul on Jazz]]'' (Heads Up International, 2002)
'''With [[Cheryl Bentyne]]'''
* ''Talk of The Town'' (Paddle Wheel, 2002)
* ''The Lights Still Burn'' (Paddle Wheel, 2003)
* ''Moonlight Serenade'' (King, 2003)
* ''The Book of Love'' (Telarc, 2006)
'''With [[Carla Bley]]'''
* ''[[Sextet (Carla Bley album)|Sextet]]'' (Watt, 1987)
* ''[[Fleur Carnivore]]'' (Watt, 1988)
* ''[[The Very Big Carla Bley Band]]'' (Watt, 1990)
* ''[[Looking for America (album)|Looking for America]]'' (Watt, 2002)
'''With [[Blood, Sweat & Tears]]'''
* ''[[More Than Ever (Blood, Sweat & Tears album)|More Than Ever]]'' (Columbia, 1976)
'''With [[Jonathan Butler]]'''
* ''Heal Our Hand'' (Jive, 1990)
* ''Head to Head'' (Mercury, 1993)
'''With [[Uri Caine]]'''
* ''[[Toys (Uri Caine album)|Toys]]'' (JMT, 1996)
'''With [[David Clayton-Thomas]]'''
* ''Bloodlines'' (DCT, 1999)
'''With [[Marc Cohn]]'''
* ''[[Marc Cohn (album)|Marc Cohn]]'' (Atlantic, 1991)
'''With [[Miles Davis]]'''
* ''[[Bitches Brew]]'' (Columbia, 1970)
* ''[[On the Corner]]'' (Columbia, 1972)
* ''[[Amandla (album)|Amandla]]'' (Warner Bros., 1989)
* ''[[Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4]]'' (Columbia Legacy, 2015)
'''With [[Jack DeJohnette]]'''
* ''[[Oneness (Jack DeJohnette album)|Oneness]]'' (ECM, 1997)
'''With [[Klaus Doldinger]]'''
* ''Doldinger in New York – Street of Dreams'' (WEA, 1994)
'''With [[Eliane Elias]]'''
* ''[[So Far So Close]]'' (Blue Note, 1989)
'''With [[Joe Farrell]]'''
* ''[[Penny Arcade (album)|Penny Arcade]]'' (CTI, 1973)
'''With [[Roberta Flack]]'''
* ''[[Oasis (Roberta Flack album)|Oasis]]'' (Atlantic, 1988)
* ''[[The Christmas Album (Roberta Flack album)|The Christmas Album]]'' (Capitol, 1997)
'''With [[Dan Fogelberg]]'''
* ''[[The Innocent Age]]'' (Full Moon, 1981)
'''With [[Michael Franks (musician)|Michael Franks]]'''
* ''[[Abandoned Garden]]'' (Warner Bros., 1995)
'''With [[Bill Frisell]]'''
* ''[[Unspeakable (album)|Unspeakable]]'' (Elektra Nonesuch, 2004)
'''With [[Hal Galper]]'''
* ''[[The Guerilla Band]]'' (Mainstream, 1971)
'''With [[Kenny Garrett]]'''
* ''[[Black Hope]]'' (Warner Bros, 1992)
'''With Don Grolnick Group'''
* ''Medianoche'' (Warner Bros., 1995)
* ''[[The Complete London Concert (Don Grolnick Group album)|The Complete London Concert]]'' (Fuzzy Music, 2000)
'''With [[Herbie Hancock]]'''
* ''[[The New Standard (Herbie Hancock album)|The New Standard]]'' (Verve, 1996)
'''With [[Ian Hunter (singer)|Ian Hunter]]'''
* ''[[All American Alien Boy]]'' (Columbia, 1976)
'''With [[Elvin Jones]]'''
* ''[[Merry-Go-Round (Elvin Jones album)|Merry-Go-Round]]'' (Blue Note, 1971)
'''With [[Dave Liebman]]'''
* ''[[Sweet Hands]]'' (Horizon, 1975)
'''With [[Joe Lovano]]'''
* ''[[Tenor Legacy (Joe Lovano album)|Tenor Legacy]]'' (Blue Note, 1993)
'''With [[Pat Metheny Group]]'''
* ''[[Imaginary Day]]'' (Warner, 1997)
'''With [[Bob Mintzer]]'''
* ''One Music'' (DMP, 1991)
'''With [[Joni Mitchell]]'''
* ''[[Don Juan's Reckless Daughter]]'' (Asylum, 1977)
* ''[[Mingus (Joni Mitchell album)|Mingus]]'' (Asylum, 1979)
* ''[[Shadows and Light (Joni Mitchell album)|Shadows and Light]]'' (Asylum, 1980)
'''With [[Jane Monheit]]'''
* ''In the Sun'' (N-Coded, 2002)
'''With [[Pages (band)|Pages]]'''
* ''Future Street'' (Epic, 1979)
'''With [[Jaco Pastorius]]'''
* ''[[Jaco Pastorius (album)|Jaco Pastorius]]'' (Epic, 1976)
* ''[[Word of Mouth (Jaco Pastorius album)|Word of Mouth]]'' (Warner Bros., 1981)
'''With [[Weather Report]]'''
* ''[[Weather Report (1971 album)|Weather Report]]'' (Columbia, 1971) – uncredited
* ''[[Black Market (Weather Report album)|Black Market]]'' (Columbia, 1976)
'''With [[Lou Reed]]'''
* ''[[Ecstasy (Lou Reed album)|Ecstasy]]'' (Sire, 2000)
'''With [[Sanne Salomonsen]]'''
* ''In a New York Minute'' (Virgin, 1998)
'''With [[Carlos Santana]] and [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]]'''
* ''[[Love Devotion Surrender]]'' (Columbia, 1973)
'''With [[Lalo Schifrin]]'''
* ''[[Black Widow (Lalo Schifrin album)|Black Widow]]'' (CTI, 1976) 
'''With [[Marlena Shaw]]'''
* ''Love is in Flight'' (Verve, 1988)
'''With [[Nina Simone]]'''
* ''[[To Love Somebody (Nina Simone album)|To Love Somebody]]'' (RCA, 1969)
'''With [[Jeremy Steig]]'''
* ''[[Legwork (album)|Legwork]]'' (Solid State, 1970) 
* ''[[Wayfaring Stranger (Jeremy Steig album)|Wayfaring Stranger]]'' (Blue Note, 1971)
* ''[[Energy (Jeremy Steig album)|Energy]]'' (Capitol, 1971)
* ''[[Fusion (Jeremy Steig album)|Fusion]]'' (Groove Merchant, 1972)
'''With [[Ira Sullivan]]'''
* ''[[Ira Sullivan (1976 album)|Ira Sullivan]]'' (Horizon, 1976)
'''With [[Steve Swallow]]'''
* ''[[Carla (album)|Carla]]'' (Xtra Watt, 1987)
* ''[[Swallow (Steve Swallow album)|Swallow]]'' (Xtra Watt, 1991)
'''With [[James Taylor]]'''
* ''[[New Moon Shine]]'' (Columbia, 1991)
'''With [[The Tony Williams Lifetime]]'''
* ''[[Ego (Tony Williams Lifetime album)|Ego]]'' (Polydor, 1971)
{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://donalias.com Official Website Don Alias]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061105015928/http://www.digitalinterviews.com/digitalinterviews/views/alias.shtml Don Alias's Interview]
*[http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Don_Alias.html Article in Drummerworld ]

{{Weather Report}}
{{Blood, Sweat & Tears}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alias, Don}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:Drummers from New York City]]
[[Category:American jazz percussionists]]
[[Category:American jazz drummers]]
[[Category:Miles Davis]]
[[Category:African-American drummers]]
[[Category:Weather Report members]]
[[Category:Conga players]]
[[Category:Bongo players]]
[[Category:American tambourine players]]
[[Category:Batá drummers]]
[[Category:American marimbists]]
[[Category:Timbaleros]]
[[Category:American session musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American drummers]]
[[Category:American male drummers]]
[[Category:The Tony Williams Lifetime members]]
[[Category:Blood, Sweat & Tears members]]
[[Category:Jazz musicians from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American male jazz musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:The Sunday Night Band members]]