WHO ARE YOU?

Cecil Alexander is a guitarist, composer, and arranger from Muskegon, Michigan. A 2016 graduate of Berklee College of Music with a B.M. in Jazz Composition, he went on to earn his M.M. in Jazz Performance from William Paterson University in 2019.

In addition to his work as a jazz musician, Cecil co-founded the folk-rock group Visen in 2016, which released its debut EP, Shoulder Deep, the following year. His versatility and artistry have earned him top honors, including 1st place at the 2017 Wilson Center Jazz Guitar Competition and the 2018 Lee Ritenour Six String Theory Competition. In 2019, he was named a finalist in the prestigious Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Guitar Competition.

Cecil has performed and recorded with esteemed artists such as Bill Charlap, Antonio Hart, Lee Pearson, Luis Perdomo, Nathan East, and Steve LaSpina. His musical influences span genres, drawing inspiration from Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, Frank Zappa, and the progressive metal band Meshuggah.

In Fall 2021, Cecil joined the faculty at Berklee College of Music as an Assistant Professor of Guitar. He is currently signed to Heartcore Records, the Berlin-based label founded by legendary guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. His debut album on the label, Introducing Cecil Alexander, was released on September 23, 2022.

Cecil recently began touring with Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott) and released Duos, an intimate collection of guitar and voice duets with his wife, vocalist Ari Alexander. His latest project, the EP miles and miles (March 2025), explores his deepening interest in guitar-driven instrumental folk.