ALBUMS
JUANGRIEGO (2024)
Juangriego is one of my favorite places in Venezuela, I spent long vacations there in my adolescence, and I have the best memories of that bay of dramatic twilights.
I had not been living in Los Angeles, California for long when I wrote this Malagueña -my favorite Venezuelan musical genre- for solo cello, with 3 variations that respect the traditional harmonic turn, and a coda inspired by J.S. Bach Cello Suites.
I have the immense blessing of being good friends with world-class musicians, such as the virtuoso Venezuelan cellist José David Marquez, who was kind enough to learn this piece and work on it with me for months, until it sounded like a fisherman from Juangriego out at sea, at dawn, longing for his beloved.
FREE COLOR OST (2021)
Alvaro composed a Suite in 4 movements for the feature documentary “Free Color” (a lively, touching portrait of famed Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez), using the Venezuelan Cuatro in pulses akin to the rhythm present throughout Maestro Cruz-Diez chromatic kinetic works. 3 of those movements are in this album, where he also produced the 2 tracks written by Gustavo Dudamel and sang by Nella Rojas (2019 Latin Grammy Best New Artist).
PALABRA (2015)
10 original songs, based on traditional Venezuelan rhythms, with his 20-piece band Movida Acústica Urbana and Luis Fernando Borjas’ voice. >>lyrics
ROCK & MAU 2 (2014)
Vol II of the successful project Rock & MAU, 14 of the most iconic pop/rock Venezuelan artists singing their hits in the style of Venezuelan traditional music. Including Desorden Público, Los Amigos Invisibles, Servando Primera, et al.
ROCK & MAU (2013)
For the first time ever, 6 of the biggest rock artists from Venezuela combine with a band of 10 musicians playing folklore music. The album that truly changed the history of Venezuelan music.
LIUBLIANA OST (2012)
Original score for the awarded novel “Liubliana” by Eduardo Sánchez-Rugeles. CD was included in the first two editions of the book. Featuring Alvaro’s own orchestra “Filarmónica Desenredada” and solo guitar performed by the composer.
BRAVEDAD (2011)
Second album of Kapicúa, instrumental Venezuelan music ensemble, with 11 original compositions by Jorge Torres, Edward Ramírez and Alvaro Paiva-Bimbo. Featuring special guests like Anat Cohen, Gabriel Grossi, Linda Briceño, et al.
MOVIDA ACÚSTICA URBANA EN VIVO (2009)
Double live album recorded in Caracas, with groundbreaking instrumental performances by each one of the 6 ensembles that integrated MAU in March’09: Los Sinvergüenzas, Kapicúa, enCayapa, C4 Trío, Nuevas Almas & Kamarata Jazz. Through their own compositions, each group shows its approach to Venezuelan tradition, integrating jazz, world and contemporary music.
PEOPLE AND PLACES (2008)
Crossover trio album with music by American bassist Dr. Keith Miller, along Canadian pianist Marianne Trudel, and Venezuelan guitarist Alvaro Paiva-Bimbo.
SUENA A SALSA CON JAZZ (2007)
Cabijazz is a latin band that combines hardcore salsa with jazz, with a particular formation where the electric guitar plays along the sax. This album includes 9 originals and 3 covers of salsa brava.
MUSIKAPICÚA (2006)
Debut album of Kapicúa, 12 instrumental compositions based on Venezuelan traditional genres like Merengue, Tonada, Malagueña, Gaita de Tambora, et al. Format is Mandolin, Cuatro, and Guitar.