Alex Rossi is a Brazilian harmonica virtuoso celebrated for his contributions to both the blues and jazz worlds. Born in 1974 in Blumenau, southern Brazil, Rossi developed an early fascination with the harmonica after passing a local harmonica factory on his daily walk to school. He received his first harmonica at the age of 13 and, largely self-taught, refined his technique by drawing on his background in saxophone and percussion.
By the age of 18, Rossi was already performing in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At 21, he moved to Dallas, Texas, where he immersed himself in the American blues scene and quickly established himself as a respected performer.
Over the course of his international career, both in the Americas and across Europe, Rossi has performed and collaborated with a remarkable array of artists, among them Smokin’ Joe Kubek, Hash Brown, Sam Myers, Susan Tedeschi, Joshua Redman, Edmar Castañeda, John Primer, Kid Frost, Grégoire Maret, Phil Guy, and Magic Slim. His appearances alongside blues icons Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, and Carey Bell at renowned festivals such as the Tulsa Blues Festival further cemented his reputation on the international stage.From 2006 to 2008, Rossi lived in Buenos Aires, where he continued to expand his artistic network, performing and collaborating with a wide range of leading Argentine musicians.
In 2008, he began a new chapter in Europe, settling in Antwerp, Belgium, where he lived for five years. During this time, he worked extensively with international artists and became an active presence on the European music scene.
In 2012, Rossi produced and released We Do It Out of Love, a critically acclaimed tribute to the legendary harmonica master Toots Thielemans. The project brought together six of the world’s foremost harmonica players and was praised for its artistry and vision.
After relocating to Amsterdam in 2013, Rossi increasingly focused on jazz, broadening his musical horizons while maintaining his distinctive harmonic voice. This period led to projects such as Alex Rossi Quartet Plays Tom Jobim, featuring special guests Mauricio Einhorn and Ludovic Beier. He also contributed to the soundtrack of the feature film Nono, the Zig Zag Kid, starring Isabella Rossellini.
Today, based in Amsterdam, Alex Rossi continues to perform internationally, blending the expressive traditions of blues and jazz with his unique virtuosity, creativity, and unmistakable sound.
Rossi’s discography includes:
Beyond performing, Rossi is dedicated to education. He founded the Amsterdam Harmonica School, offering lessons in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, catering to students interested in both diatonic and chromatic harmonica across various styles
As a Suzuki-endorsed artist, Rossi utilizes instruments like the G-48, G-48W, Sirius-64, and Manji harmonicas . His international career spans performances in over 15 countries, and he remains active in the music community through his website and social media platforms .