Joey Alexander: Eclipse
Author: Robert Shore
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Musicians: |
Joshua Joshua Redman (ts) |
Label: |
Motéma |
Magazine Review Date: |
July/2018 |
RecordDate: |
21-23 August 2017 |
Even Mozart, the quintessential musical child prodigy, couldn't lay claim to two Grammy-nominated albums by the age of 14. Bali-born teen pianist Joey Alexander certainly has the edge on old Wolfgang in that regard. Having played in front of Herbie Hancock in Jakarta in 2012, he moved to New York, performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center, released his debut album, My Favorite Things, produced by Jason Olaine (a Grammy winner), etc. He's kept working at a fair clip since: following hot-on-the-heels of his 2017 concert album, Joey.Monk.Live (so named, not because Alexander has taken vows and gone to live in an ascetic religious community, but to mark Thelonious Monk's birth centennial), Eclipse is the young pianist's fourth release, and very accomplished it is. This time around, more of the tracks are Alexander originals, though with a take on ‘Moment's Notice’ he finds space again to turn his attention to Trane (his 2016 version of Coltrane's ‘Countdown’ garnered him a Grammy nomination for Best Improvised Jazz Solo). Nice contributions from his collaborators too, featured saxophonist Joshua Redman, on the classic ballad ‘The Very Thought of You’.

Jazzwise Full Club
- Latest print and digital issues
- Digital archive since 1997
- Download tracks from bonus compilation albums throughout the year
- Reviews Database access
From £9.08 / month
Subscribe
Jazzwise Digital Club
- Latest digital issues
- Digital archive since 1997
- Download tracks from bonus compilation albums during the year
- Reviews Database access