Too often, talented young artists succumb to believing so
much in their own ability that they lose sight of their true potential as significant
contributors to their field. Thankfully, there are others committed to evolving
and lifting the music to new levels of appreciation with enthusiasm,
engagement, and emotional depth. Enter pianist Joey Alexander, who at the age
of 14 has already recorded two GRAMMY-nominated studio albums, 2015's My
Favorite Things and 2016's Countdown, as well as Joey.Monk.Live!, a critically
acclaimed surprise release from late 2017 to honor Thelonious Monk's
centennial. With his third studio effort Eclipse, his most personal statement
to date,Joey takes another giant step forward, demonstrating his aptitude as a
composer, bandleader, and musician, hinting at the many artistic paths open to
him in the decades ahead.
Eclipse, recorded over a three-day period beginning on the
day of the solar eclipse of 2017, features the pianist with a stellar rhythm
section of bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland, and guest
appearances by saxophonist Joshua Redman on three tracks. The programranges
from jazz classics penned by John Coltrane and Bill Evans, to the Beatles' hit
"Blackbird", and a reverent gospel reimagining of the 1875 hymn
"Draw Me Nearer." Most importantly though, Eclipse showcases
Alexander's significant progress as an astute composer, writing six of the
eleven tunes.
Born in 2003 in Bali, Alexander lived in Jakarta from age
eight to ten and then moved to New York City in 2014, where he has experienced
one of the most ascendant careers ever seen in jazz. Jason Olaine, a
GRAMMY-winning producer who serves as Director of Programming for Jazz At
Lincoln Center and has produced all four of Alexander's albums, says he
continues to be impressed by the pianist's fantastic gift. "Joey is such a
huge talent coming out of a young player, however he wants to create and have
fun by playing. It's not about the accolades or the applause." He added,
"Eclipse shows what an amazing journey Joey has been on, and he's playing
with an openness and clarity."
"Joey has an infectious sense of play and a deep
fascination with the kaleidoscopic possibilities of jazz," says Motema
founder Jana Herzen, who signed the artist at age 10. "What an amazing
adventure these four years have been with Joey. Each album his musicality gets
deeper and broader. Last year with Joey.Monk.Live!, his sophisticated and
vibrant approach to the music of one of the most recorded and respected
composers in jazz inspired even the toughest of critics to tip their hats. Now,
with Eclipse he's emerging as a multi-dimensional composer. I can't wait to hear
what happens next."
For Eclipse, Joey, his family, and producer Jason Olaine
decided to change the recording setting from the bustling city to the peaceful
Dreamland Studios in upstate New York. "That was a totally different
vibe," says Alexander. "Everything was green and it felt like home.
It was a relaxing time for all of us. It was a good change. I found inspiration
there."
As a pianist, Alexander is neither flashy nor bombastic. He
approaches the instrument with discipline, as heard on the opening track
"Bali," playing subtly and gently in some stretches with delicate
harmonies, playful and scampering in others as he displaces rhythms. He also
possesses an elemental sense of melody, as heard on the final track, an
original titled "Peace," exhibiting the patience and instinct to get
his melodic statements just right. "I've learned how to be a good
listener," Alexander says.
Alexander is joined by tenor titan Joshua Redman on the
originals "Faithful," about the sacrifices and challenges he and his family
have faced in pursuit of his art, and "Fourteen," written on his
birthday, and a nod to the number's significance in biblical deliverance.
Alexander and Redman also explore a pensive duo take on Ray Nobel's 1934
timeless ballad, "The Very Thought of You."
As on his previous studio dates, Alexander returned to the
well of Coltrane with his upbeat take on the harmonic twists and turns of
"Moment's Notice" from the master's 1957 album Blue Train. "I
love playing Coltrane because he's so spiritual to me," Alexander says.
"That to me is what jazz is. There's an uplifting feel to his songs, and I
try to put my own take on it."
The tour-de-force centerpiece to the album is the 10-minute
"Eclipse," that is a spin through the reflective and the dramatic with
the pianist in drive mode. Just after the band took a studio break to view the
solar eclipse on August 21, 2017, producer Olaine suggested that the trio play
free and see where the music would go. The result ended up as the centerpiece
of the album, the 10-minute tour-de-force, 'Eclipse.'
"It was totally unprepared," Alexander says.
"After we saw the eclipse, we came back to the studio and just started
playing without talking. I'm thankful to God that I had the confidence and
courage to do this. But it's also about how much we trust each other. I knew
they'd be with me even though you don't know where you're going to go on the
journey. It's all about exploring the new."
Olaine notes, "This was an amazing experience for a
young artist to embrace the unknown the way Joey did."
With the release of Eclipse, Joey Alexander has created an
ever more personal and powerful statement of his musical and artistic vision.
His work continues to draw from his inspirations of the past, while putting his
own progressive stamp on the music by constantly exploring, both on stage and
in the studio.
"Eclipse" Track Listing
1. Bali
2. Faithful
3. Draw Me Nearer
4. Moment's Notice
5. Blackbird
6. Eclipse
7. Fourteen
8. The Very Thought of You
9. Space
10. Time Remembered
11. Peace
Tour Dates:
March 23: The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, MD
March 30: Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix, AZ
March 31: Capitol Theatre, Salt Lake City, UT
April 20: Schaeffer Auditorium, Kutztown, PA
April 21: Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center, York, PA
April 22: Exit 0 International Jazz Festival, Cape May, NJ
April 27: Musco Center for the Arts, Orange, CA
April 28: Balboa Theatre, San Diego, CA
April 29: University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) CA
May 5: Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA
May 12 + 13: Yoshi's Jazz Club, Oakland, CA
June 23: Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival, Saratoga
Springs, NY
June 29: Foundation Louis Vuitton, Paris, France
June 30: Ajaccio Jazz Festival, Corsica
July 6: Wadowice Jazz Festival, Wadowice, Poland
July 15: Teatro Morlacchi (Perugia Jazz Festival), Perugia,
Italy
July 17: Jazz Open Festival, Stuttgart, Germany
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