Home » Jazz Musicians » Alex Coke
Alex Coke
Awards
2020 A.D.Mannion Award 2020 Texas State Musician Nominee 2020 Austin Jazz Society Hall of Fame Award 2010 Austin Chronicle Music Awards Hall of Fame Nominee 2007 Silver ADDY Award Winner 1990 Best Saxophonist, Music City Critics Poll/Austin Texas 1990 Best Jazz Bands Music City Critics Poll/Austin Texas (Countenance #1, and Worthy Constituents #3) 1990 Best Unsigned Bands Musician Magazine (Countenance, and Worthy Constituents) 1988-1989 Best Jazz Band, Austin Chronicle Music Awards (Chris Duarte and Justus)
Gear
Eva Kingma Bass and Alto Flutes Yamaha piccolo Muramatsu flute Chris Abell wooden headjoint Selmer Tenor/Soprano
Tags
Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet: Emergence
![Read "Emergence" reviewed by Jack Bowers](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/4969f4fecb7466fdd2891ba11f440da7.jpg)
by Jack Bowers
Emergence, the latest album by the Texas-based Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet, is by and large chamber jazz, veering often into the realms of avant-garde and free improvisation. The standard of musicianship is high, the urge to listen a second time rather less so--an opinion that must be qualified by the admission that it expresses a neophyte's point of view. The question thus becomes, what can be said about such an enterprise, given one's basic unfamiliarity ...
read moreAlex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet: Emergence
![Read "Emergence" reviewed by Jerome Wilson](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/4969f4fecb7466fdd2891ba11f440da7.jpg)
by Jerome Wilson
The Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet expand their sound on this album, the follow-up to their debut, The Emissary, (Play On, 2022). Their unique instrumental blend of reeds, guitar, pedal steel, vibes, harp, and bass retains its ethereal charm while also pushing forward into fresh musical territory. Bagatelle II," by Ukrainian composer, Valentin Silvestrov, sounds like a medieval folk song. Its melody is laid out by Michel's guitar and Coke's flute while Carolyn Trowbridge's vibraphone and the ...
read moreAlex Coke, Jeanne Lee, Steve Slagle and Others
![Read "Alex Coke, Jeanne Lee, Steve Slagle and Others" reviewed by Jerome Wilson](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/3f516efa159fd2b3aed14cc9255f5cdd.jpg)
by Jerome Wilson
This is a largely quieter and more contemplative show featuring a variety of artists such as Alex Coke, Bill Evans, Steve Slagle and Jeanne Lee. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Steve Slagle The Heart Of It" from Ballads: Into The Heart Of It (Panorama) 00:57 Lew Tabackin Trio Minoru" from Soundscapes (Self Produced) 09:29 Host Speaks 15:21 Alex ...
read moreAlex Coke & Carl Michel: The Emissary
![Read "The Emissary" reviewed by Jerome Wilson](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/5d9860b3ce6db4adcf9aedb8d70df15f.jpg)
by Jerome Wilson
With instrumentation that includes harp, pedal steel guitar and vibraphone, this album is clearly not meant to resemble a classic jazz session. Instead, it ambitiously incorporates jazz, medieval composition and exotic folk melodies into a hypnotically beautiful set of diverse rhythms and motifs. The most austere selection is O Pastor Animarum" by 12th century composer, Hildegarde von Bingen. Here Carl Michel's guitar, Elaine Barber's harp, and Bob Hoffnar's pedal steel guitar combine into a thick, iridescent weave of ...
read moreAlex Coke & Carl Michel: The Emissary
![Read "The Emissary" reviewed by Kyle Simpler](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/5d9860b3ce6db4adcf9aedb8d70df15f.jpg)
by Kyle Simpler
While much of the world was in lockdown during 2020, saxophonist Alex Coke and harpist Elaine Barber had an idea that caught on. They decided to bring their instruments out on the driveway of the Austin, Texas home they were sheltering in and play music while waiting for their groceries to be delivered. These impromptu concerts turned out to be popular and soon became weekly events. The Emissary grew out of these concerts. The Coke-Barber combination opened up ...
read moreAlex Coke/Tina Marsh/Steve Feld: It's Possible
![Read "It's Possible" reviewed by Elliott Simon](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/2009/coke-marsh-feld_ah.jpg)
by Elliott Simon
With the passing of Tina Marsh this past June (2009), the Creative Opportunity Orchestra or CO2 for short, lost its earthly voice and artistic visionary. While her CO2 is grand in scope, it most recently spawned this intimate meeting of her extraordinary voice, tenor saxophonist/flutist Alex Coke and Steven Feld who plays ashiwa, an African bass rhythm box. Marsh is in superb form here and her voice thrills, especially in the higher registers, as it dovetails beautifully ...
read moreAlex Coke: New Texas Swing
![Read "New Texas Swing" reviewed by Jack Bowers](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/ntscover.jpg)
by Jack Bowers
When one keeps glancing at the “elapsed time” while listening to the opening track on an album to see how much longer it has to run, that’s not a good sign. Alex Coke’s New Texas Swing, which was actually recorded in the Netherlands, is full of sound and fury, but its significance is lessened by unrelenting waves of clamorous intercourse.
Not to discount anyone's sincerity -- these are four accomplished musicians who undoubtedly believe in what they ...
read moreRich Harney Quintet in Austin on April 1
![Rich Harney Quintet in Austin on April 1](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/3f516efa159fd2b3aed14cc9255f5cdd.jpg)
Source:
Michael Ricci
Austin is looking forward to a rare concert appearance of The Rich Harney Quintet on April 1, 2010 at The Elephant Room. Featuring Rich Harney on piano, and Alex Coke on sax and flutes, this promises to be an unforgettable evening of truly great jazz.
Harney, a prolific composer, has been illuminating Austin jazz as one of its brightest stars for many years. His remarkable talents as pianist, composer, and vocalist have gained him acclaim from musicians as one of ...
read more
Austin Jazz Workshop Releases Mystery Note
![Austin Jazz Workshop Releases Mystery Note](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/3f516efa159fd2b3aed14cc9255f5cdd.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
The Austin Jazz Workshop a nonprofit group of professional musicians dedicated to jazz performance and education in Austin public schools, is proud to release its fifth compact disc recording, Mystery Note: Austin Jazz Workshop plays Rahsaan Roland Kirk.
The disc features Alex Coke and Michael Melinger on flutes and saxophones, Ron Westray on trombone, Floyd Domino on piano, Michael Stevens on bass, and Rob Kazenel on drums.
The sextet plays compositions written or popularized by the great wind player, Rahsaan ...
read more
Austin Music Foundation Presents Graham Reynolds Interview with Alex Coke
![Austin Music Foundation Presents Graham Reynolds Interview with Alex Coke](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/3f516efa159fd2b3aed14cc9255f5cdd.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
Austin Music Foundation presents Graham Reynolds Interview with Alex Coke
Jazz listeners know, a gig where Alex Coke is playing is a great place to be. The audience finds the multi instrumental musician, composer and producer in many places, with a style all his own. This month, Club DeVille hosts The Austin Music Foundation's Small Group Session, Graham Reynolds Interview with Alex Coke.
Join AMF as they host one of Austin's most admired and ...
read more
Alex Coke's "It's Possible" CD Release in New Mexico
![Alex Coke's "It's Possible" CD Release in New Mexico](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/3f516efa159fd2b3aed14cc9255f5cdd.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
Alex Coke and Tina Marsh just returned from a truly great evening at Albuquerque's Outpost for the release of It's Possible. Joined by Steve Feld, Jefferson Voorhees, and New Texas Swing band member Arjen Gorter, the evening was well attended and inspiring. Tom Guralnick of The Outpost was reported to be an excellent and gracious host. It's Possible is a series of short improvised duos and trios with Alex on flutes, tenor saxophone and khaen, Tina's unique and illuminating vocals, ...
read more
Alex Coke on austinjazz.net
![Alex Coke on austinjazz.net](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/3f516efa159fd2b3aed14cc9255f5cdd.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
Alex Coke has a podcast interview on the new Austinjazz.net site where he talked about his personal history as a musician, jazz in Austin and the Live Music Task Force. The interviewer is Everett Christopher, who started the site as a gift to Austin's jazz community and fans. Hear it now. About Alex Coke Alex Coke, born in Dallas, Texas, an original member of the Creative Opportunity Orchestra, has performed with Tina Marsh in various formations for 22 years. For ...
read more
Alex Coke's "Its Possible"
![Alex Coke's "Its Possible"](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/3f516efa159fd2b3aed14cc9255f5cdd.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
It's Possible is a CD of duos and trios featuring Alex Coke on flute, bass flute, piccolo, tenor sax, khaen, and toys, with Tina Marsh, voice, toys and Steve Feld, ashiwa bass box, and toys.
Alex is an original member of Austin's Creative Opportunity Orchestra, and Tina its vocalist and Artistic Director. They have collaborated in the large group setting with CO2 for many years, and have also recorded in smaller groups formats, most recently as New Texas Swing.
Here ...
read more
"There's no denying Coke's talent as a composer and orchestrator"Chris Kelsey, Jazz Times
"...accomplished writing, improvising and ensemble playing ...an album that is impressive for its quality."Doug Ramsey, Rifftides
Primary Instrument
Woodwinds
Willing to teach
Intermediate to advanced
Credentials/Background
By Appt.
Photos
Music
CME
From: EmergenceBy Alex Coke
Sol Y Luna
From: The EmissaryBy Alex Coke