Joey Alexander

Review:

This is the forty first in a series of special Jazz on the Tube reviews of live stream performances.

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Pianist Joey Alexander has been considered a prodigy ever since he made his recording debut when he was 11.

Born in Indonesia, he taught himself to play jazz when he was six and was playing professionally within three years.

Alexander played with Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2014 when he was ten and has continued to grow and mature through his teenage years, recording six albums.

Here he is on May 16, 2020 at the age of 16 performing five numbers (two standards and three adventurous yet thoughtful originals) in a solo set that combines together his youthful enthusiasm, sophisticated voicings, swinging improvising, and a surprising maturity.

One quickly forgets his age and simply enjoys the brilliant playing of Joey Alexander.

– Scott Yanow