Back in June of 2017, I first posted a performance of prodigy pianist Joey Alexander at the tender age of 11 … the same age he performs Giant Steps in the first video, along with Larry Grenadier on bass and Ulysses Owens, Jr. on drums. The bottom video features an original composition entitled Space, from his 2019 Indonesian concert. Now 17, he is even more spectacular and jaw-dropping than ever! Like a fine wine, Joey gets better with age … pretty much on a par with some of his heroes like Chick Corea, Bill Evans and John Coltrane.
In his young life, Alexander has already played with Wynton Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center, played at the Grammy Awards, released no fewer than 5 albums, played at the Montreal and Newport Jazz Festivals and has performed at the White House at the request of two presidents. It has been said that he started playing at 6, and ‘got serious’ at 7. Beyond remarkable!
