Joey Alexander
Born in the city of Denpasar on the island of Bali in Indonesia in June of 2003, Joey Alexander encountered a keyboard at the age of six and
immediately began picking out the melody of Thelonious Monk’s “Well, You Needn’t” by ear. His father, an amateur musician with a huge passion for
jazz, was astonished. He soon discovered his boy not only could pick up virtually any jazz composition by ear, he also had an impeccable sense of
swing, and a gift for improvising that was near par to the records that he was learning from, and truly uncanny for a boy of his slight years. As
there was no jazz education available in Denpasar, Joey’s first jazz training’ came from sitting in on an informal jam sessions with local and
visiting professionals in Bali. “He did study classical music,” explains his father “but what he really loved was to swing.”
Joey’s musical
intuition further flourished and eventually, his parents moved to Jakarta so he would have a chance to expand his horizons by studying and playing
with professionals. By 2011, Joey had been featured at the Jakarta International Jazz Festival, and was included in a UNESCO jazz event organized by
Herbie Hancock, who gave the budding musician an enthusiastic thumbs up. In 2013, he entered and won the Master Jam Fest improvisation contest of
Jazz in Odessa Festival in Ukraine, triumphing over 43 adult jazz professionals from 17 countries. By this time it was clear to his parents that
Joey was destined for a career in jazz In 2014 Wynton Marsalis ‘discovered’ Joey performing in Jakarta, and flew him in to New York City to
participate in his all-star Jazz At Lincoln Center Gala, MC’d by Billy Crystal. Joey wowed the jazz stars and audience alike with his soulful and
sophisticated arrangement of Round Midnight. He got a huge ovation and was later written up in Downbeat as ‘a genius,.’ Joey also performed for
President Clinton and other luminaries at the Arthur Ashe Foundation Gala It was Grammy Award winning producer Jason Olaine who took Joey under his
wing, introduced him to Motema Music and jazz patron Daniel Pincus and spearheaded the collaboration to apply for an O1 Visa (for individuals of
Extraordinary Ability) for Joey. As further proof of the validity of Joey’s quest, the visa was granted in record time… and just in time to make it
possible for Joey to play at The Apollo theater in honor of Herbie Hancock at the star-studded Jazz Foundation of America Gala in October of 2014
where he got yet another enthusiastic ovation, more press accolades and a priceless show of support from Hancock who was stunned by Joey’s musical
sophistication. Just two days later, buoyed by this momentous set of events, Joey and Olaine entered the studio with jazz veterans Larry Grenadier
and Ulysses Owens to record the first session for his debut album. Although he’d never been in a recording studio before, Joey was session for his
debut album. Although he’d never been in a recording studio before, Joey was unintimidated. Take after take he delivered fresh performances that
flowed with ease and joy. As Engineer Katherine Miller explained, it was a typical jazz recording session - some great takes a few punch ins, but
none of them by the pianist. Label head Jana Herzen stood by in awe. The excellence of My Favorite Things next led to Joey being signed by Wynton
Marsalis’ long time manager Ed Arrendell and to the prestigious IMN Agency. Another vote of confidence in Joey’s artistry has come from impresario
George Wein who has selected Joey’s trio for presentation the 2015 edition of the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival. Many other key dates are lining
up in support of the release of My Favorite Things, which comes out on Motema on May 12, 2015. Joey now resides in New York City where he plans to
go to school and continue honing his chops in the jazz capital of the world. He cites his major influences as Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, Bill
Evans, John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis.
