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Eric Alexander
Boasting a warm, finely burnished tone and a robust melodic and harmonic imagination, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander has been exploring new musical worlds from the outset. He started out on piano as a six-year-old, took up clarinet at nine, switched to alto sax when he was 12, and converted to tenor when jazz became his obsession during his one year at the University of Indiana, Bloomington (1986-87). At William Paterson College in New Jersey he advanced his studies under the tutelage of Harold Mabern, Joe Lovano, Rufus Reid, and others. "The people I listened to in college are still the cats that are influencing me today," says Alexander. "Monk, Dizzy, Sonny Stitt, Clifford Brown, Sonny Rollins, Jackie McLean, Joe Henderson—the legacy left by Bird and all the bebop pioneers, that language and that feel, that's the bread and butter of everything I do. George Coleman remains a big influence because of his very hip harmonic approach, and I'm still listening all the time to Coltrane because I feel that even in the wildest moments of his mid- to late-Sixties solos I can find these little kernels of melodic information and find ways to employ them in my own playing."
During the 1990s, after placing second behind Joshua Redman in the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition, Alexander threw himself into the whirlwind life of a professional jazz musician. He played with organ trios on the South Side of Chicago, made his recording debut in 1991 with Charles Earland on Muse Records, and cut his first album as leader in 1992 (Straight Up for Delmark). More recordings followed for numerous labels, including Milestone and others, leading to 1997's Man with a Horn; the 1998 collaborative quartet session with George Mraz, John Hicks, and Idris Muhammad, Solid!; and, that same year, the first recording by One For All, Alexander's ongoing band with Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Joe Farnsworth, Peter Washington, and Dave Hazeltine.
Eric has appeared in many capacities on record, including leader, sideman, producer as well as composing a number of the tunes he records. By now, Alexander has lost count of how many albums feature his playing; he guesses 80 or 90. While he has garnered critical acclaim from every corner, what has mattered most has been to establish his own voice within the illustrious bop-based jazz tradition.
In 2004, Eric signed an exclusive contract with the New York-based independent jazz label, HighNote Records where he has amassed a considerable discography of critically-acclaimed recordings. Most recent among them is “Chicago Fire” HCD 7262, “The Real Thing” with Pat Martino HCD 7278 and “Second Impression” HCD 7296. Eric’s most recent HighNote release, “Song of No Regrets,”(HCD 7311) was featured in Downbeat’s “Hot Box”. He is currently working on a new recording project which will see commercial release in mid-2019.
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Mike LeDonne: Wonderful!
by Jack Bowers
Organist Mike LeDonne's latest recording, Wonderful!, is a labor of love on several levels. Of course, there is love of the music and love of accomplishing something that had not been done before--teaming a gospel choir with jazz quartet. Above all else, there is love for LeDonne's wife, Margaret, and daughter Mary who is disabled but, as LeDonne says, is nonetheless “truly wonderful." LeDonne wrote the album's title song for Mary, wherein he compares her to “a ...
read moreMike LeDonne: Wonderful!
by Pierre Giroux
In jazz's rich tapestry, where tradition meets innovations, there emerged a convergence exemplified by the present release Wonderful! with the virtuosic Mike LeDonne's Groover Quartet + Gospel Choir, who embark on a transcendent journey into the heart of gospel- infused jazz. The project is informed by LeDonne's desire to offer a heartfelt tribute to his wife Margaret and daughter Mary to showcase the spirited and varied nature of the disability community. Participating in this harmonious affair are the long-time members ...
read moreJudy Niemack: What's Love?
by Angelo Leonardi
Potrebbe non essere gentile iniziare questa recensione ricordando l'età della signora Niemack ma per un'artista ancora così attrattiva ed efficace, l'imminenza dei settant'anni non rappresenta un problema. La cantante californiana mantiene la sua cifra espressiva, aggiungendo nuove ombreggiature vocali e un incedere più intimo e colloquiale, come evidenzia in questo disco. Come altri recenti progetti il lavoro ha subito un arresto per le restrizioni sociali della pandemia che ha fatto saltare la presentazione al Village Vanguard tre ...
read moreReeds and Deeds: Cookin'
by C. Andrew Hovan
Chances are that if you're reading these notes right now you're more than a bit familiar with the talents of tenor saxophonists Eric Alexander and Grant Stewart and might even have picked up Wailin' (Criss 1258), their first effort together leading a quintet billed as Reeds and Deeds. As such, it would probably be redundant to go into detailed biographical sketches of each of these men. Suffice it to say that Alexander just might be one of the most recorded ...
read moreOne For All: Blueslike
by C. Andrew Hovan
As the timeworn adage goes, sometimes the best things come from situations where one is asked to function in less than ideal circumstances. When you have little time to analyze things and go with pure instincts, there's an air of veracity and spontaneity to the results that is seldom arrived at by any other means. Although the hard bop collective One For Allhas forged a shared identity through regular gigs and a growing catalog of recordings for several labels, including ...
read moreOne For All: Live at Smoke Vol.1
by C. Andrew Hovan
Aside from the musical fireworks that make the enclosed sides noteworthy, there are additional factors that mark Live at Smoke as a major event. For one thing, this “on location" recording is one of the rare live dates to grace the Criss Cross catalog. Furthermore, it serves as a perfect summation up to this point of One For All's musical fortunes as heard in the same venue that fostered the ensemble's very formation. Back in the mid-'80s, drummer Joe Farnsworth, ...
read moreXaver Hellmeier: X-Man in New York
by Jack Bowers
Drummer Xaver (X-Man) Hellmeier has been little known to date outside his native Germany and other European countries. One way to help redress that oversight is to surround oneself with some of the most well-respected and talented musicians on the New York scene, which is what Hellmeir has done on his superb debut album, X-Man in New York. When it comes to choosing sidemen, it is hard to belie the inclusion of trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, pianist ...
read moreEric Alexander shares many shades of bebop
Source:
Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander fully embraced the rich and vibrant sound of bebop in his formative years as a jazz player- and continues to help it evolve a quarter-century later. That was the takeaway after his Wednesday, April 5 appearance with the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra at Artis-Naples' Daniels Pavilion. Despite the big name, the band is actually a sextet. They explored a wide range of standard material, finding ways to add their own energetic stamp on it. In each ...
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Eric Alexander With The Jimmy Bruno Trio At Chris' Jazz Cafe On December 14 & 15, 2012
Source:
All About Jazz
Chris' Jazz Café presents saxophonist Eric Alexander with the Jimmy Bruno Trio, Friday and Saturday December 14 & 15, 2012. Since placing second in 1991 to Joshua Redman in the Thelonious Monk Institute's saxophone competition, Alexander equally impressive on hard swinging numbers and romantic ballads has played on well over 100 albums featuring some of the biggest names in jazz. Alexander has been a frequent performer and guest artist at Chris', where has performed with Pat Martino, Bootsie Barnes, Larry ...
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Pat Martino Quartet Featuring Eric Alexander @ Chris' Jazz Cafe On April 13 & 14, 2012
Source:
Edward Zucker
Pat Martino & His Organ Quartet featuring saxophonist, Eric Alexander, will perform at Chris' Jazz Cafe on April 13 and 14, 2012. Martino whose recent CD on HighNote, Undeniable, also features Alexanber. One of the most original of the jazz-based guitarists to emerge in the '60s, Philadelphia's own Pat Martino has been recognized as one of the most exciting virtuosos in jazz. Pat is known for his distinctive, fat sound and gut-wrenching performances and fully embodies thoughtful energy & soul. ...
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Nov 3 - Matt Jorgensen East/West Quartet with Eric Alexander and Harold Mabern
Source:
Seattle Jazz Scene
Seattle Jazz Scene Presents: MATT JORGENSEN EAST/WEST QUARTET
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3—EGAN'S BALLARD JAM HOUSE
From New York: Eric Alexander—tenor saxophone Harold Mabern—piano
From Seattle: Chuck Deardorf - bass Matt Jorgensen—drums
Passing through town on their way for a weekend engagement in Vancouver, BC, saxophonist Eric Alexander and pianist Harold Mabern stop in Seattle for an intimate performance at Egan's Ballard Jam House with Seattle bassist Chuck Deardorf and ...
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Saxophonist Eric Alexander performing at Chris' Jazz Cafe in September
Source:
All About Jazz
Saxophonist Eric Alexander will be performing on two separate occasions at Chris' Jazz Cafe in September. September 9, 2011, features the Eric Alexander Organ Trio with special guest, guitarist Jimmy Bruno. On September 20, 2011, Alexander performs with the Chris' Anniversary Show All Star Band, featuring: Eric Alexander— saxophone Bootsie Barnes— saxophone Larry McKenna— saxophone Tom Lawton— piano Lee Smith— bass Mickey Roker—drums Sets @ 8 & 10 PM
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A Dogged Performance by a True Pro
Source:
JazzINK by Andrea Canter
It would have been disappointing if Eric Alexander had canceled his performance at the Artists Quarter last night. Disappointing, but perfectly understandable. In town for his almost annual Memorial Day Weekend 3-night stand, Eric was jogging in Lilydale Park when a lunging rotweiler (on a leash, no less) grabbed his left hand and wouldn't let go. As if the bite wasn't enough, Eric is allergic to dogs, and “swelled up" immediately. But there he was on the band stand Saturday ...
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Eric Alexander "Don't Follow the Crowd"
Source:
Sound Insights by Doug Payne
If jazz today has a brand, then saxophonist Eric Alexander is its standards bearer. He upholds the tradition and champions the cause like no other instrumentalist from the contemporary jazz realm. Two decades and dozens of recordings into his career, Alexander has flourished while the power of many of his peers has faded, disappeared or proved to be nothing more than just imitative exuberance. Think about it. How many others in the current pool of so-called jazz players can claim ...
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Eric Alexander at Chris' Jazz Cafe, on February 11 & 12, 2011
Source:
All About Jazz
Eric Alexander at the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Chris’ Jazz Café, on September 24 & 25, 2010
Source:
All About Jazz
Chris' Jazz Café celebrates its 20th anniversary on September 24 and 25, 2010, with an all-star band featuring Eric Alexnader and Pete Bernstein.
20th Anniversary Band Eric Alexander—saxophone Bootise Barnes—saxophone Larry McKenna—saxophone Peter Bernstein—guitar Dan Kostelnik—organ Rodney Green—drums
September 24 and 25, 2010 Sets starting @ 8:00 PM Admission, Friday $20 per show, Saturday, $25 per show Chris' Jazz Cafe ...
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Eric Alexander
Location: New York City
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
Born: August 4, 1968
