Néstor Álvarez is the Latin-music alias of Neil Anderson, an English versatile multi-instrumentalist who performs up to 80% of the instrumentation on his own recordings. Anderson adopted the name Néstor Álvarez-constructed from his initials-when he began exploring Cuban rhythms, boogaloo, and vintage Latin soul. Believing that few listeners would buy a Latin record credited to 'Neil Anderson,' he chose a name that better reflected the musical lineage he was honoring while giving himself the freedom to inhabit Latin styles authentically. A drummer by training, Anderson's career took an unexpected turn in 2006 when he found himself teaching at a local music school. The lack of professional outlets for his retro-influenced compositions pushed him to create one himself.

In 2017 he launched Original Gravity Records, a label that quickly became a playground for his deep love of classic Latin grooves and the sounds of maestros such as Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, and Mongo Santamaría. Under the Álvarez moniker, he collaborates with a tight network of musicians and vocalists worldwide, crafting tracks that feel simultaneously timeless and fresh.

Between 2020 and 2024 he released a string of Cuban-inspired and boogaloo-driven recordings on Original Gravity that caught the attention of European selectors. El Ladrón en la Noche is a curated selection by El Vidocq-one of Europe's greatest selectors-featuring Álvarez's standout tracks from this period. These recordings already sound like 'classics,' the result of Anderson's distinctive talent combined with the influence of the maestros who inspired him.