Joey Alexander ARTIST BIO
Born in the city of Denpasar on the island of Bali in Indonesia in June of 2003, Joey Alexander
encountered a keyboard at the age of six and immediately began picking out the melody
of Thelonious Monk’s “Well, You Needn’t” by ear. His father, an amatuer musician with a
huge passion for jazz, was astonished. He soon discovered his boy not only could pick up
virtually any jazz composition by ear, he also had an impeccable sense of swing, and a gift for
improvising that was near par to the records that he was learning from, and truly uncanny for a
boy of his slight years. As there was no jazz education available in Denpasar, Joey’s first jazz
training’ came from sitting in on an informal jam sessions with local and visiting professionals in
Bali. “He did study classical music,” explains his father “but what he really loved was to swing.”
Joey’s musical intuition further flourished and eventually, his parents moved to Jakarta so he
would have a chance to expand his horizons by studying and playing with professionals.
By 2011, Joey had been featured at the Jakarta International Jazz Festival, and was included
in a UNESCO jazz event organized by Herbie Hancock, who gave the budding musician an
enthusiastic thumbs up. In 2013, he entered and won the Master Jam Fest improvisation
contest of Jazz in Odessa Festival in Ukraine, triumphing over 43 adult jazz professionals from
17 countries. By this time it was clear to his parents that Joey was destined for a career in jazz.
In 2014 Wynton Marsalis ‘discovered’ Joey performing in Jakarta, and flew him in to New York
City to participate in his all-star Jazz At Lincoln Center Gala, MC’d by Billy Crystal. Joey wowed
the jazz stars and audience alike with his soulful and sophisticated arrangement of Round
Midnight. He got a huge ovation and was later written up in Downbeat as ‘a genius,.’ Joey also
performed for President Clinton and other luminaries at the Arthur Ashe Foundation Gala
It was Grammy Award winning producer Jason Olaine who took Joey under his wing, introduced
him to Motema Music and jazz patron Daniel Pincus and spearheaded the collaboration to apply
for an O1 Visa (for individuals of Extraordinary Ability) for Joey. As further proof of the validity of
Joey’s quest, the visa was granted in record time… and just in time to make it possible for Joey
to play at The Apollo theater in honor of Herbie Hancock at the star-studded Jazz Foundation
of America Gala in October of 2014 where he got yet another enthusiastic ovation, more press
accolades and a priceless show of support from Hancock who was stunned by Joey’s musical
sophistication. Just two days later, buoyed by this momentous set of events, Joey and Olaine
entered the studio with jazz veterans Larry Grenadier and Ulysses Owens to record the first
session for his debut album. Although he’d never been in a recording studio before, Joey was
session for his debut album. Although he’d never been in a recording studio before, Joey was
unintimidated. Take after take he delivered fresh performances that flowed with ease and joy.
As Engineer Katherine Miller explained, it was a typical jazz recording session - some great
takes a few punch ins, but none of them by the pianist. Label head Jana Herzen stood by in
awe.
The excellence of My Favorite Things next led to Joey being signed by Wynton Marsalis’ long
time manager Ed Arrendell and to the prestigious IMN Agency. Another vote of confidence
in Joey’s artistry has come from impresario George Wein who has selected Joey’s trio for
presentation the 2015 edition of the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival. Many other key dates
are lining up in support of the release of My Favorite Things, which comes out on Motema on
May 12, 2015.
Joey now resides in New York City where he plans to go to school and continue honing his
chops in the jazz capital of the world. He cites his major influences as Thelonious Monk, Herbie
Hancock, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis.