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Joey Alexander

Born on the island of Bali in the city of Denpasar on June 25th, 2003, Joey Alexander first encountered a piano at the age of six, and was immediately able to pick out the melody of Thelonious Monk’s “Well, You Needn’t” and other jazz standards from his father’s record collection by ear. His father, an amateur musician, nurtured Joey’s gift for swing and improvisation by introducing him to classic jazz recordings and taking him to jam sessions with seasoned musicians in Bali and Jakarta. From there, his musical intuition flourished, as did his love of playing jazz.

Learning by listening, Joey’s early influences include Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans and John Coltrane, and he has a special affinity for trumpet players including Clifford Brown, Lee Morgan, Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis. Despite his lack of formal jazz training, Joey developed an authoritative technique, and with his depth of musicality he quickly rose in the Indonesian jazz scene and beyond. At age 8, UNESCO invited Joey to play solo piano in front of jazz icon Herbie Hancock during his visit to Indonesia. Joey drew significant inspiration from Herbie’s enthusiastic response to his playing. At age 10, Joey was featured at jazz festivals in both Jakarta and Copenhagen, and he won the international improvisation contest in Odessa, Ukraine – besting over 200 jazz professionals from 17 countries. In 2014, Joey performed at star-studded galas in New York City for Jazz at Lincoln Center in Rose Hall, the Jazz Foundation of America at the Apollo and the Arthur Ashe Learning Center at Gotham Hall.

On May 12, 2015, Joey Alexander released his highly anticipated debut album ‘My Favorite Things’ on the Grammy-winning Harlem-based label Motema Music. On his debut recording, Alexander performs classic tunes from Coltrane to Rodgers & Hammerstein with a deft touch, adventurous spirit and improvisatory verve. ‘My Favorite Things’ was produced by Grammy-winning producer Jason Olaine. Accompanying Joey on the album are bassist Larry Grenadier and 2-time Grammy-winning drummer Ulysses Owens, as well as three talented young players from the New York scene, Russell Hall (bass), Sammy Miller (drums) and Alphonso Horne (trumpet). Alexander’s imagination, sophisticated arrangements and dazzling playing make ‘My Favorite Things’ a soulful and joyful musical adventure. It is also a statement of intent, a compelling introduction to a budding young leader, performer and composer, who plays with power and elation. From his impressionistic introduction to “Giant Steps” to the spirited interplay with his band mates on “It Might As Well Be Spring,” to his remarkable rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” Joey proves himself a true and distinctive jazz professional.

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8
Live Review

Joey Alexander Trio at Chris’ Jazz Café

Read "Joey Alexander Trio at Chris’ Jazz Café" reviewed by Victor L. Schermer


Joey Alexander Trio Chris' Jazz Café Philadelphia, PA March 8, 2024 All musical genres, and specifically jazz, have produced any number of musicians who blossomed in childhood and already in their teens were performing and competitive with the masters. The greatest historical example of course was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and a latter-day example was Leonard Bernstein. In jazz, Philadelphia's own Pat Martino moved to Harlem at age 14, was mentored by the ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Joey Alexander: I Just Happened To Start Early

Read "Joey Alexander: I Just Happened To Start Early" reviewed by Leo Sidran


When Joey Alexander made his first appearance in the States nearly a decade ago, it seemed to send a kind of shockwave through the jazz world. He was 10 years old when Wynton Marsalis invited him to travel from his native Indonesia (he was born in Bali but moved to Jakarta to pursue his music) to New York to perform at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala. He played a solo arrangement of “Round Midnight." It was incredible.

15
Album Review

Joey Alexander: Continuance

Read "Continuance" reviewed by Neil Duggan


At some point, even a child prodigy grows up. Now 20 years old, Balinese pianist, Joey Alexander has come long way from the six- year-old exposed to Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans, the eight-year-old playing in front of Herbie Hancock and the ten-year-old winning improvisation competitions. It may be hard to believe but Continuance is his seventh release. Given his age, ability and meteoric rise, expectations are always high, perhaps unfairly so. In his expected progress ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

Chris Botti, Joey Alexander & Lennie Moore

Read "Chris Botti, Joey Alexander & Lennie Moore" reviewed by Joe Dimino


We kick off the 825th Episode of Neon Jazz with prolific composer Lennie Moore and music from his 2023 album Mentors. From there, we hear from a legend whp had a profound influence on his cognition of jazz in Chick Corea. We also hear new material from Joey Alexander, Klas Lindquist, Bobby Zankel and Chris Botti. and profile the talented new trio, Nite Bjuti. We wrap up the show with previously unreleased music from Oscar Peterson's Live in Lugano. Dig ...

10
Album Review

Joey Alexander: Origin

Read "Origin" reviewed by Peter Jones


Pianist Joey Alexander was never going to spend his life churning out standards. You could tell from his reimagined version of “Giant Steps," the first track on his 2015 debut album, which begins with a dazzling two-minute solo introduction. The same album also features an original tune, the prowling “Ma Blues." It was clearly only going to be a matter of time before he came up with an all-originals album, and so it is with this, his sixth outing. Meanwhile ...

14
Album Review

Dewa Budjana: Naurora

Read "Naurora" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Balinese guitarist Dewa Budjana's seventh album on Moonjune Records, Naurora, reveals--for those who have not heard him--a musician of seemingly unlimited talent and an artist in possession of an expansive vision. He has been called a “progressive fusion maestro" and, if he has to be labeled, that description feels right. Leading off with this disc's eleven-minute title tune, Budjana--who composed, arranged and produced the music here--lays down huge, rich soundscapes in the company of a bunch of forward-looking allstars, including ...

Radio & Podcasts

Joey Alexander, Kenny Barron and Ellis Marsalis

Read "Joey Alexander, Kenny Barron and Ellis Marsalis" reviewed by Joe Dimino


Neon Jazz is here for during the COVID-19 pandemic. This week we start the show with the young and very talented Joey Alexander and wrap it up with the late, great Ellis Marsalis. Support the jazz and enjoy the music. Playlist Joey Alexander “Warna" Warna (Verve) 00:00 Host talks 7:03 Wallace Roney “Children's Games'" Rememberance (TCB) 9:52 Moses Boyd “Stranger Than Fiction" Dark Matter (Exodus Records) 16:17 Host talks 21:09 Fred Wackenhut Quartet “This I Dig of You ...

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7

Recording

Two Time Grammy Nominee And Downbeat Critics Poll “Rising Star” Winner Joey Alexander Releases His Second Album "Countdown" On Motéma Music

Two Time Grammy Nominee And Downbeat Critics Poll “Rising Star” Winner Joey Alexander Releases His Second Album "Countdown" On Motéma Music

Source: Michael Ricci

After A Summer of U.S. and International Tour Dates, 13-Year-Old Jazz Pianist and Composer Will Headline His Record Release Engagement September 29-October 2 at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in NYC “A thoughtful musician as well as a natural one, with a sophisticated harmonic palette and a dynamic sensitivity.”—The New York Times “One of the jazz world’s youngest prodigies is maturing at a breakneck pace.” —Wall Street Journal Quickly transcending “prodigy” status and establishing himself as a gifted musician full of promise, ...

5

Festival

Four Headliners Announced For Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival's 15th Edition -- Chick Corea Plus Joey Alexander, Chris Botti, Grace Potter And Erykah Badu

Four Headliners Announced For Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival's 15th Edition --  Chick Corea Plus Joey Alexander, Chris Botti, Grace Potter And Erykah Badu

Source: Dalmath Associates Inc.

Producers John Nugent and Marc Iacona announced four headliner shows today for the nine-day 15th edition Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival (XRIJF) June 24 to July 2. Singer songwriter Grace Potter will perform on opening night, Friday, June 24. Grammy winner and “First Lady of Neo Soul" Erykah Badu will perform on Saturday, June 25. Twenty-two-time Grammy-winning jazz legend, pianist and composer Chick Corea “Trilogy" Trio plus special guest Joey Alexander Trio, the 12-year-old pianist who mesmerized XRIJF audiences last ...

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Concerts

May 14 Tue

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Continuance

Mack Avenue Records
2023

buy

Origin

Mack Avenue Records
2022

buy

Naurora

MoonJune Records
2021

buy

Warna

Verve Music Group
2020

buy

Eclipse

Motéma Music
2018

buy

Joey.Monk.Live!

Motéma Music
2017

buy

Videos

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