Joey Alexander – Like Fine Wine

by | Jul 31, 2020 | Trio

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!

 

My Favorite Things – Joey Alexander, Encore!

by | Nov 21, 2018 | Solo/Duo

Do you realize there is no Thanksgiving jazz?  The only Thanksgiving song I could  even think of was “Over The River and Through the Woods” but I couldn’t find a jazz rendition.  The closest I could come was “My Favorite Things” but what a find it was, holiday or not.  None other than Joey Alexander, that kid prodigy from Indonesia, once again dazzles us with his piano prowess.

To have reached this level of technical proficiency and have such a sophisticated harmonic understanding at the tender age of 12 is nothing short of astonishing!  I couldn’t decide which of these performances to share and the contrast between the two is most outstanding when heard side-by-side.  So here are both … and Happy Thanksgiving.  What is going on inside this young man’s head is enough to make many established jazz pianists blush!.

Joey Alexander performs the title track from his debut album “My Favorite Things” in studio, along with the intricate bass work of Larry Grenadier.  

Joey plays jazz piano like old timer, but he’s only 11-years-old for this solo performance.  They say he started playing at six … then “got serious” at seven.  

Evidence – Joey Alexander

by | Nov 1, 2017 | Trio

I told you that piano prodigy Joey Alexander would be back.  Here he performs Thelonious Monk’s “Evidence” live at the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center … from his album ‘Joey.Monk.Live!’.  What Joey may lack in experience at 15, he more than makes up for with instinct.  Got genes?

Countdown – Joey Alexander

by | Jun 12, 2017 | Trio, Video

Joey Alexander must be experienced.  Words don’t do it.  He is a 13 year old from Indonesia, who taught himself to play the piano at age 6 by listening to his dad’s jazz records.  The word ‘prodigy’ isn’t really strong enough … he plays, composes, and can take apart and reassemble a song on the fly, on the spot!  He’s a bit of Bill Evans, a smattering of Chick Corea and a whole lot of Joey.  This is an in-studio performance of the title track from his latest album, together with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr.  Fasten your seatbelt, and plan to see many more postings of this astonishing young jazz musician here on Mark Of Jazz!