But playing jazz, with its swing feel and improvisation, is also a lot of fun when you’re Joey Alexander. And in between acclaimed performances at venues like Lincoln Center, the White House, the Newport Jazz Festival and Monterey Jazz Festival, Alexander still makes some time for kids’ stuff - swimming, movies and playing with friends, he said. Of course, just having turned 13, fun is important. His second album, “Countdown,” is due out next month and includes his original “City Lights,” which wowed on the Grammy broadcast (and earned a standing ovation from the luminaries in attendance).Īfter jamming with Chick Corea recently, the legendary pianist told him “Keep the fun, always” - a piece of advice he’s held on to tightly. “But at the age of 12, you almost think, you know, I might even believe in reincarnation, perhaps.” The piano prodigy made an immediate impression on Charles, who is an assistant professor of jazz. The Indonesian piano prodigy has already played for presidents and jazz legends. “At any age, his language is pretty special,” Marsalis said of Alexander earlier this year in “60 Minutes” profile of the young pianist. Alexander was 11 when Trinidadian trumpeter Etienne Charles first heard him perform at JALC. He’s a normal 11-year-old who just happens to be a piano prodigy who has impressed such jazz luminaries as. To be clear: Alexander is not a novelty act or just a cute kid behind a piano - his formidable, freewheeling interpretations, original compositions and show-stopping performances would be blowing people’s hair back even if he were a grown man. Joey Alexander’s favorite things include the Avengers, SpongeBob and Thelonious Monk. “Wayne Shorter taught me to be different and free.” “I learned from Wynton Marsalis how to become a good leader, a serious musician and go deeper in my playing,” Alexander said via email this week. Listen 3:45 3-Minute Listen Download Embed Transcript Enlarge this image Once a young prodigy, Joey Alexander emerges as a full-blown jazz star on his new album Warna, writes NPR's Tom. Two years ago, his family moved to New York so Alexander could pursue jazz. Seminar Reflection Oedipus Rex Week 11 Chapter 7: The Roman World from 753 BCE to 500 BCE HIST 151 Weeks 12 to 16. YouTube videos of his performances went viral and caught the attention of the jazz world, making a fan out of Marsalis - who has become a mentor alongside other contemporary jazz greats. Lecture Alexander the Great Week 9 Chapter 6: The Greek World from Bronze Age to Roman Conquest Week 10 Socratic Seminar Oedipus Rex. He was discovered by legendary jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis after the elder musician watched one of his videos on YouTube.Alexander played for Herbie Hancock when the jazz legend was on a good will trip to Jakarta and won an all-ages competition in Europe when he was 9. The album entered the Billboard 200 at number 174, making him the first Indonesian act to crack the U.S. He released his debut album, My Favorite Things, last May. They moved to New York City after he was granted an O-1B Visa, awarded to “individuals with an extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television industry.”ģ. “When I got back from work, I saw him playing a very complex melody,” Joey's father Denny Sila told CBS New York in 2014.Īlexander was born in Bali and later moved to Jakarta with his parents. He taught himself to play piano at the age of six after his father bought him a keyboard. So who is he? Here are five quick facts about the child prodigy.ġ. Joey Alexanders talents are so massive, jazz legends Wynton Marsalis and Herbie Hancock brought him from his Indonesian home to play at New Yorks Lincoln Center. 12-year-old Grammy nominee Joey Alexander stole hearts and won a standing ovation at tonight's ceremony with his precocious piano skills and bashful demeanor.
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