Alex Beltran

Alex Beltran began his musical life in his early teens, getting exposed to the music of John Coltrane and Miles Davis from his mother and father. From that moment, he quickly developed a passion for music and jazz in particular. He devoted himself to the study of music and the saxophone. He attended Indiana University, where he continued to develop his musical abilities. After Indiana, he moved up to the fertile musical scene in Chicago, where in addition to pursuing a performing career, he attended DePaul University and continued to study harmony, composition, and improvisation.

Since then, he has been very active in the music scene, playing in various styles and with many different groups. Alex has performed in many venues across the country, with people such as Jeff Hamilton, Phil Woods, Tim Ries, Ira Sullivan, the cast of Jersey Boys, JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, and many others. In addition to his busy performing schedule, he maintains an active teaching schedule, helping a younger generation discover the beauty of music. 

Alex’s quintet, Merge, has released two albums of original modern jazz that have received praise from musicians and critics alike. Dan Healy of Chicago Jazz Magazine says Delays is “both challenging and accessible, this is one of the best new releases of the year."