Ala Jaza
Ala Jaza, born Emmanuel Jiménez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 1987,
is a multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and vocalist renowned for his innovative
approach to merengue and bachata. Growing up in Villas Agrícolas before moving
to New York at the age of 10, he was introduced to music by his father, Rafael
Cabrera, a singer who taught him to play tambora and encouraged him to study
various instruments. By age 13, Ala Jaza had become a sought-after bassist in
New York’s bachata and merengue scenes. After gaining early experience with the
group Óptimo, he launched a solo ca...
