Alexa Weber Morales | Grammy-Winning Singer-Songwriter / Cantautora

English – Spanish – French – Portuguese

I'm an Oakland jazz salsa singer-songwriter, fluent in a few languages thanks to my itinerant childhood. Since 2004 I've done more than a dozen studio recordings for my own & other bands. In 2010, I sang on the Grammy-nominated Bien! Bien! In 2011, I made a fan-funded CD, and in 2012 my singing/songwriting was on Pacific Mambo Orchestra's debut CD. In 2013, we won a Grammy!

Music / Video

Watch Alexa Morales cover Use Me by Bill Withers on Yamaha Genos keyboard

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I recorded this 1972 tune by the great Bill Withers. (whom we lost this year) on an album produced by the Grammy nominated trombonist Wayne Wallace. Tonight I played it for the first time on my #YamahaGenos! I got to see a live interview in person with Bill Withers and...

Video

Thriller | Vocal piano cover live on Yamaha Genos

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Every Halloween I plan to cover this song… finally did it! I get kind of carried away at the end… All vocal harmonies processed on the Genos! Thriller by Rod Temperton It’s close to midnight Something evil’s lurkin’ in the dark Under the moonlight You see a sight that almost...

Gigs

Tonight’s Show at a Calistoga Castle is Sold Out!

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Hot Havana Nights with Los Boleros feat. Alexa Morales – SOLD OUT Tonight at https://castellodiamorosa.com/hot-havana-nights/, guests will enjoy a famously hot evening of great wine paired with Cuban food, music and cigars. Please call for availability at 707.967.6274. Kick off the evening with a barrel tasting of Future 2018 wines...

Events / Music

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, Taste & Listen Musical Pop Up Dinner in Truckee, CA

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, Taste & Listen Musical Pop Up Dinner benefiting the nonprofit of Trails & Vistas Stella is an interactive culinary dining affair. This is dinner as it should be. A repast with soul, heart, music, and nourishment. Stella highlights a focused Latin inspired menu shaped by creative...

Adventure / Music / Nature

Oakland Feather River Camp Music Week Starts… NOW!

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OFRC MUSIC WEEK boasts three professional musician guest artists, July 8-14, 2018 All ages are welcome to explore ensemble playing on a variety of instruments (bring what you have!). Guitars and ukeleles, a piano and some percussion instruments will be available. We will also offer accompaniment for singers. There will be karaoke...

Dance / Events / Music

Don’t miss Tandy Beal’s JOY circus-dance-a cappella show with SoVoSo 11/23-25 and 12/1-3!

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Kick off the holiday season with JOY!, a dazzling extravaganza for the whole family, offering a mix of brilliant visuals, rib-tickling circus comedy, and stunning acrobatics performed by world-class acrobats, dancers, and circus artists. Starring Cirque du Soleil soloists Jeff Raz and Diane Wasnak, this show is full of festive...

Music / Video

With Malice Toward None – Morales, Dyer & Green live at SFJAZZ

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Events / Jazz / Music

Our SFJAZZ 5/18 8 pm show is sold out! Tickets still available for 9:30 pm!

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A tribute to Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross’s landmark 1960 Columbia album, The Hottest New Group in Jazz, is performed by singers Alexa Weber Morales, Juliet Green, and Bryan Dyer. The show at SFJAZZ on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 8 pm is sold out, but you can still get tickets for...

Fan funding / Music

Pacific Mambo Orchestra fan-funds their new album, Live from Stern Grove!

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Bringing The Mambo Back, Big Band-Style! The Grammy Award-winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra releases its 2nd full-length album (and it looks and sounds amazing)! https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bringing-the-mambo-back-big-band-style#/ PMO was founded in 2010 and is celebrating the Latin Big Band revival with its 2nd full-length recording, entitled ‘Live from Stern Grove’ feat. Sheila E.,...

Video

Impressions of NAMM 2017 – Day one

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Piano / Songs / Video

My arrangement of Over the Rainbow

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Here’s how I play the Harold Arlen/E.Y. Harburg standard, Over the Rainbow. I first arranged this 16 years ago — I remember that because I was pregnant with my son at the time! I added some new touches recently. Oh, and I always modulated up — even before hearing the...

Music / News / Songs

“SAKURA” – PMO FEATURING NORA SUZUKI (ORQUESTA DE LA LUZ) 2017 ALBUM PREVIEW

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ALBUM PREVIEW 2017 The Grammy Award Winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra announces the upcoming release of their second full album. It is due in Spring of 2017 and will be named “Live from Stern Grove”. It will feature world-renowned names such as Sheila E and Marlow Rosado. The 11 track album will open with “Sakura” – PMO’s brand...

Events / Music

Boca Mundial plays Dreamforce! Accenture stage, Tuesday 10/4, 2-3 pm!

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My band Boca Mundial plays the Dreamforce Accenture stage this coming Tuesday, October 4 from 2-3 pm! This marks the first time I’ll both attend the conference as press while also playing the massive event, which brings half a million people or more to San Francisco every fall, as a musician! Looking forward to...

Gigs

My songwriting, singing, writing and gigging clients are keeping me busy in 2016! Let’s keep the momentum going!

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Recent clients 2016: Cantabile Youth Singers (corporate gig at gorgeous remodeled Angelicas, thanks for the lead, Mike Rinta!) Nissan (writing & recording two radio spots), Torani (performing with Pacific Mambo Orchestra), Cigital (corporate gig), Steffen Kuehn Music (composing/singing on his new record at Fantasy Recording Studios), The Music & Sound Retailer (new client I met covering The NAMM Show)! If you want to put my unique skills...

Halloween / Video

Mars Attacks Halloween makeup tutorial

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This Mars Attacks Halloween makeup tutorial is part two of the brain hat tutorial. Together with some Dollar Store eyeballs, this makes a rocking good martian! For the whole costume, you need either an all green outfit or a red cape. It would be awesome to have the giant glass...

Gigs

BOCA MUNDIAL starring ALEXA MORALES with special guest JET MURCIELAGO Friday 9/18 @ Armando’s!

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Adventure / Music / Nature

Three great musician/teachers in 2015! COME TO Oakland Feather River Camp MUSIC WEEK!

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COME TO OFRC MUSIC WEEK! July 5-12, 2015 All ages are welcome to explore ensemble playing on a variety of instruments (bring what you have!). A few guitars and ukeleles, a piano and some percussion instruments will be available. We will also offer accompaniment for singers. There will be karaoke for...

Music / News / Writing

Covering #ASCAPEXPO in Hollywood! Gonna meet Bill Withers!

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This is where being a musician AND a writer comes in handy! Got my press pass to cover #ASCAPEXPO! Stay tuned, and read on for more information about the upcoming conference! Highlights: Aloe Blacc to Interview Legendary Bill Withers! Chart-topping Songwriters and Composers Added to 3-Day Lineup Include Grizzy Bear’s Chris...

Music / News

‘Pacific Mambo Dance’: New Single and Video drop March 3! Pre-order now!

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Why do we want you to pre-order? Well, if enough people do, it will get us on the front page of the iTunes store… so why not go for it? Do it! PREORDER NOW PRETTY PLEASE “The new song from PMO is an infectious, get-off-your-feet dance anthem that aims...

Music / Video

Minimalist Holiday? Try “From Me To Yule” original Christmas tune by Alexa Weber Morales

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The song is available as a single or part of the expanding EP From Me To Yule. From Me To Yule by Alexa Weber Morales This was inspired by all the great stuff I see out on the street, but know that people would be offended to get...

Gigs / Music

We are the CHAMPIONS! Pacific Mambo Orchestra wins the GRAMMY!!!!

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I’m finally getting around to writing this: Pacific Mambo Orchestra has won the Grammy for Tropical Latin Album, beating out Marc Anthony, Carlos Vives, Los Angeles Azules and Sergio George. Steffen Kuehn and Christian Tumalan, our bandleaders, were at the Grammy pre-telecast to accept the award, while most of the...

Books

My new book, Practice Secrets of the Pros, is now available on Amazon!

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Now available on Amazon! Practice Secrets of the Pros: Motivation, Method and Memory for Musicians… and Other Athletes by Alexa Weber Morales Kindle edition In 2010, Grammy-nominated latin jazz singer-songwriter Alexa Weber Morales began a quest for pragmatic, inspiring advice about musical mastery. She interviewed experts, researched the techniques of...

Advice / Music / News

We did it! So how the heck did PMO go from zero to Grammy-nominated in 3 years?!

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I was taking a break from a private jazz gig at the De Young Museum in San Francisco when the text messages began flowing. I couldn’t help whooping with pleasure, even though I was standing in an art gallery being watched by a guard. Pacific Mambo Orchestra had done it:...

Video

Subscribe to Alexa’s YouTube Channel for Songs, Books, Sports, Kids, Halloween and Humor

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Gigs / Music

PMO comes to SFJAZZ June 15, 2013 8 pm

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“Alexa Weber Morales brings sensually soaring vocals to the mix.” ~SFJAZZ With special guests Ray Obiedo and Tommy Igoe of the Tommy Igoe Big Band and NYC Birdland fame! June 15, 2013, shows at 8 and 10 pm, Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Tickets: 8 pm $35/seated $25/GA dance floor 10 pm...

Gigs / Music / Photos

Photos from Bake’s Place concert in Seattle

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Vince Mansel and I had an amazing time in Seattle. After I’d spent a day working on writing business and sight-seeing in balmy weather, Vince texted me the morning of the gig to tell me he’d missed his flight, but was sure he’d catch the next one and be at...

Music / Video

Into the Stratosphere OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO starring… my feet!

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Now available on iTunes, Bandcamp, CDBaby and more! http://www.alexajazz.com http://alexawebermorales.bandcamp.com/track/into-the-stratosphere Into the Stratosphere Lyrics and Music by Alexa Weber Morales © 1999 (BMI) from I Wanna Work For You, Crazy Monkey Productions (2011) All vocals: Alexa Weber Morales Arrangement, acoustic bass: Sam Bevan Timbales, drumset: Colin Douglas Congas: Carlos Caro...

Gigs / Music / Photos

San Jose Jazz Fest Concert Photos

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Here are some great pictures from the San Jose Jazz Festival of my gigs with Pacific Mambo Orchestra on Friday and my own band on Saturday. Love these two by Tom Ehrlich! Photo by Francis DeLeon:

Fun / Kids / Music

Back from Oakland Feather River Camp!

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It’s hard to stay inside after a week of living outdoors, swimming in creeks and mountain lakes, making music and dancing, reading, hiking, socializing and, before bed, seeing the Milky Way snaking across the star-spattered sky. That’s my life at Oakland Feather River Camp, where I’ve taught the music program...

Music / News

Alexa Weber Morales: ‘I believe musicians should be allowed to marry,’ addresses rumors of her own musicianship

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Oakland, CA. Alexa Weber Morales has built a career singing quirky songs about economic and romantic instability. Tunes like “I Wanna Work For You,” “But I’m Weak” and “Catastrofe de Amor” have led to rampant speculation about her relationship status and credit worthiness. Today, she’s breaking the silence. “Oh, there’s...

Music / Reviews / Songs / Technology / Video

The Names of the Winds – New Video

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I upgraded to Sibelius First 7 this week and have had a lot of fun learning its features, especially the ability to create video of your sheet music! I exported a video of the sheet music (which took me a few days to transcribe — I only had a lead...

Gigs / Music / Video

Fantastic show footage & interview: I Wanna Work For You at Yoshi’s Oakland

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CD release and Kickstarter victory celebration at Yoshi’s Oakland on December 18, 2011. Thanks to Patrick Hickey for amazing photos included in this video, Yoshi’s Oakland for being such a fantastic venue, and Roberto Daza, Mark Oltmanns and Oakland North for stellar video coverage of this show. Arranger, associate producer:...

Gigs / News / Photos

Pictures from Yoshi’s by Patrick Hickey

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These pictures by Patrick Hickey of our Kickstarter Victory Celebration and CD Release at Yoshi’s are worth more than 1000 words each! Thank you so much, Patrick! None of us have ever seen a photo set that was THIS gorgeous from one concert! More pictures here: http://www.idyll.com/alexa/slideshow

Gigs / Music / News

I WANNA WORK FOR YOU CD Release Party @ Yoshi’s Oakland 12/18

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Announcing the I WANNA WORK FOR YOU album release concert Sunday, December 18 at Oakland Yoshi’s! Sam Bevan, Mara Fox, Vince Mansel, Braulio Barrera, Carlos Caro, Colin Douglas, Steffen Kuehn and Jonathan Alford join Grammy-nominated vocalist Alexa Weber Morales in performing originals from her latest album, which was fan-funded on...

Gigs / Music / Video

Alexa Gets Funky with PMO

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Oh man. I was feeling good on Monday. Here’s a funky chacha brassy big band salsa BAYAREA soul breakdown version of Asi No Papa with Pacific Mambo Orchestra at Cafe Cocomo in San Francisco! See all you papacitos & mamacitas on SATURDAY night!

Fiction / Photos

Film Noir

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It was nearly 4 a.m. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been standing there, teasing the threads of memory… Had she really pulled a gun from the folds of her burgundy satin trench coat, spun on her violet stilettos and fired a stolen taser at the sinewy alien who’d...

Photos

Painting by James Gayle

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James Gayles is a Bay Area fine artist who wrote me early this year: “I will be staging an exhibition of my work in September 2011 titled Latin JazzMasters. I have been given a grant by the City of Oakland to do these paintings which will consist of portraits of...

Music / Pep talks / Photos

Never Give Up

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Action begets action! Look at how much you have done! Laugh at all the times you smacked against walls, fell into holes, made godawful mistakes, wandered aimlessly, said what should never be said, kissed the wrong frog, embarrassed yourself and others, acted a fool. That’s how you get wise, baby....

What's New?

Adventure

Busking across America with the USA Rail Pass: Life can change in an instant

by Alexa Weber Morales on Oct 17, 2023 • 4 Comments

I have a USA Rail Pass and I’m taking my piano and amp around the country! It’s not about making money, though that’s nice. It’s really about freedom. Giving the gift of music to the people. And making music on my terms. No complications, no band to manage, no tickets to sell, no shitty sound...

Events / Music

I’m a guest artist for this CD release this Saturday at the Berkeley Piano Club!

by Alexa Weber Morales on May 15, 2024 • No Comments

On May 18, 2024, cellist Lewis Patzner and pianist Jonathan Alford present an exciting program of music for cello and piano that crosses multiple genres, with a mix of originals and some select covers. They’ll be joined by special guests Keith Lawrence and Alexa Weber Morales. The evening is a celebration of a new album,...

Adventure

Busking by USA Rail Pass: Kicking bass for myself on a bridge in Nashville

by Alexa Weber Morales on Nov 2, 2023 • No Comments

I did it! I busked in Nashville despite many naysayers! It was too cold, however… Here’s a link to the short video… https://youtube.com/shorts/EDyUxlWrkoA?si=Mej8GtXg4kYGlLP6

Adventure

Busking by USA Rail Pass: Randos try to fix my dead amp in NYC

by Alexa Weber Morales on Nov 2, 2023 • No Comments

I am #busking across America by #Amtrak with my USA rail pass. Here’s what happened on my second day in New York City when I got all my gear from Brooklyn to Washington Square, only to find that my Boss Street Cube amp would not take power from the battery pack. Also, my Casio CT-S1...

Adventure

Busking by USA Rail Pass: Dancing Bees Surrounded Me in Manhattan!

by Alexa Weber Morales on Oct 28, 2023 • No Comments

I have peaked in my #busking tour of America by rail! It’s all downhill from here… (Just joking, I’m just getting started). Thanks to NYC resident and friend John Foley for invaluable filming and spontaneous NYC moral and tour support! https://youtu.be/F5zeOTe2yPk?si=3F0sK3N5A3PGqNL- But perhaps you are wondering how these bees came to join my traveling show? It turns out...

Adventure / Music / Pep talks

Busking by USA Rail Pass: How I Handled a Belligerent Wino in Chicago

by Alexa Weber Morales on Oct 24, 2023 • 2 Comments

https://youtu.be/psf7KjiAaWU My train from Chicago to New York City was rescheduled a day later due to mudslides, so I ended up having two days of busking in Chicago. I checked a bag for 24 hours in the Chicago Union Station, and booked a hotel online. I wrangled a slightly early check in and then headed...

Adventure

Busking by USA Rail Pass: Oakland to Los Angeles to Albuquerque

by Alexa Weber Morales on Oct 20, 2023 • No Comments

When a fellow student at Open Studio commented that I could stop by her place in Albuquerque on my way to the Midwest on the Southwest Chief, I phoned 1-800-USA-RAIL and changed my reservation to allow a 24-hour stopover at her place (Amtrak phone agents are extremely helpful and can help if you’re having trouble...

Jazz

Danny Boy

by Alexa Weber Morales on Mar 17, 2023 • 3 Comments

Here’s my arrangement of Danny Boy just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

Jazz

I transcribed Charlie Parker’s solo on Crazeology

by Alexa Weber Morales on Feb 24, 2023 • No Comments

This was my first complete transcription in SoundSlice (here is the link), which takes some practice to use but is a super cool platform. I had wasted a lot of time trying to transcribe with SoundSlice on mobile, which I found to be buggy. Once I went to the desktop it was a million times...

Halloween / Video

My Halloween make up tutorial tradition lives on… Or does it?

by Alexa Weber Morales on Nov 1, 2022 • No Comments

I used my Mehron water-based face paints for this fun look. I wish it was this easy to paint on my daily makeup! Enjoy! Usé mis pinturas a prueba de agua para la cara de la marca Mehron. Lástima que no me puedo pintar así todos los días! Disfrutalo! #Halloween #makeup

Music / Video

Que Reste-t-il de Nos Amours on Yamaha Genos

by Alexa Weber Morales on Jan 8, 2022 • No Comments

Here’s a classic French tune someone requested on my live stream! I added a harmonica solo.

Advice / Pep talks

Are you allowed to be tired?

by Alexa Weber Morales on Mar 9, 2021 • No Comments

Of course you are. But you are also allowed to push yourself. One of my favorite concepts is from Coach John Wooden, something along the lines that some kids need more whip cream, some need more discipline. The same thing applies to yourself. For example, tonight I would like to livestream, but I feel tired...

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