American jazz saxophonist (born 1968)
Musical artist
Eric Alexander 2008 Eric Alexander (2012 in Denmark) Eric Alexander (born August 4, 1968)[1] is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator. Having placed second at the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition behind Joshua Redman and ahead of Chris Potter and Tim Warfield , he was soon signed by a record label and has since recorded over 20 albums as a leader and over 300 as a sideman. [2]
Early life and education Alexander was born in Illinois .[3] He began as a classical musician, studying alto saxophone at Indiana University with Eugene Rousseau in 1986. He soon switched to jazz and the tenor saxophone , however, and transferred to William Paterson University , where he studied with Harold Mabern , Rufus Reid , Joe Lovano , Gary Smulyan , Norman Simmons , Steve Turre and others.[4]
Career Alexander finished second at the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition.[5] Later that year, he made his recording debut with Charles Earland and released his debut album on Delmark the following year.[6]
Alexander has worked with many jazz musicians, including Chicago pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Ron Carter , drummer Idris Muhammad , and guitarist Pat Martino . He is part of Mike LeDonne 's Groover Quartet with Peter Bernstein , and Joe Farnsworth . He has recorded and toured extensively with the sextet, One for All , and The Battle with Vincent Herring .[7]
Discography
As leader
As sideman With Steve Davis
The Jaunt (Criss Cross, 1995)Dig Deep (Criss Cross, 1996Crossfire (Criss Cross, 1997Say When (Smoke Sessions, 2015)With Charles Earland
Unforgettable (Muse, 1991)I Ain't Jivin'...I'm Jammin' (Muse, 1992)Ready 'n' Able (Muse, 1995)Blowing the Blues Away (HighNote, 1997)Cookin' with the Mighty Burner (HighNote, 1999; recorded 1997)Charles Earland Live (Cannonball, 1999; recorded 1997)Stomp! (HighNote, 2000; recorded 1999)Charles Earland Tribute Band: Keepers Of The Flame (HighNote, 2002) (includes Joey DeFrancesco, Bob DeVos, Pat Martino) With Joe Farnsworth
Beautiful Friendship (Criss Cross, 1998)It's Prime Time (Eighty-Eight's, 2003)Super Prime Time (Eighty-Eight's, 2011)My Heroes (Tribute to the Legends) (Venus, 2014)With David Hazeltine
Blues Quarters, Vol. 1 (Criss Cross, 1998)The Classic Trio Meets Eric Alexander (Sharp Nine, 2001)Manhattan Autumn (Sharp Nine, 2001)Blues Quarters, Vol. 2 (Criss Cross, 2006)The Inspiration Suite (Sharp Nine, 2007)Inversions (Criss Cross, 2010)With Vincent Herring
With Randy Johnston
Jubilation (Muse, 1992 [rel. 1994])In A-Chord (Muse, 1994 [rel. 1995])With Mike LeDonne
Then & Now (Double-Time , 1999) (quintet with Jim Rotondi)Smokin' Out Loud (Savant, 2004)You'll See! (Live at The Cellar) (Cellar Live, 2004)On Fire (Live at Smoke) (Savant, 2006)Five Live (Live at Smoke) (Savant, 2007) (quintet with Jeremy Pelt)The Groover (Savant, 2009)Keep the Faith (Savant, 2011)I Love Music (Savant, 2013)Awwl Right! (Savant, 2015)That Feelin' (Savant, 2016)From the Heart (Savant, 2018)It's All Your Fault (Savant, 2021)The Heavy Hitters (Cellar Music Group, 2023) (sextet with Jeremy Pelt, Vincent Herring)Wonderful! (Savant, 2024)With Harold Mabern
With Jimmy McGriff
With New York All-Stars
Burnin' In London (Ubuntu Music, 2017) (quartet with Harold Mabern)Live Encounter (Ubuntu Music, 2018) (sextet with Seamus Blake, Mike LeDonne)With One for All (co-leader with Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, David Hazeltine, Joe Farnsworth)
Too Soon to Tell (Sharp Nine, 1997)Optimism (Sharp Nine, 1998)Upward and Onward (Criss Cross, 1999)The Long Haul (Criss Cross, 2000)The End of a Love Affair (Venus, 2001)Live at Smoke, Volume 1 (Criss Cross, 2001)Wide Horizons (Criss Cross, 2002)No Problem: Tribute to Art Blakey (Venus, 2003)Blueslike (Criss Cross, 2003)Killer Joe (Venus, 2005)The Lineup (Sharp Nine, 2006)What's Going On (Venus, 2007)Return of the Lineup (Sharp Nine, 2008)Incorrigible (Jazz Legacy Productions, 2009)Invades Vancouver! (Live at The Cellar) (Cellar Live, 2010)The Third Decade (Smoke Sessions , 2016)Big George (Smoke Sessions, 2024) with guest: George Coleman With Cecil Payne
With Reeds and Deeds (co-leader with Grant Stewart)
Wailin' (Criss Cross, 2004)Cookin' (Criss Cross, 2005)Tenor Time (Criss Cross, 2010)With Irene Reid
Million Dollar Secret (Savant, 1997)I Ain't Doing Too Bad (Savant, 1999)The Uptown Lowdown (Savant, 2000)One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (Savant, 2002)With Jim Rotondi
Introducing Jim Rotondi (Criss Cross, 1996)Jim's Bop (Criss Cross, 1997)Excursions (Criss Cross, 1998)Blues for Brother Ray (Posi-Tone, 2009)Live at Smalls (Smalls Live , 2009)Hard Hittin' at the Bird's Eye (Sharp Nine, 2012)With Larry Willis
With others The Tenor Triangle: Tell It Like It Is (Criss Cross, 1993) (sextet with Ralph Lalama, Tad Shull, and the Melvin Rhyne Trio) Joe Magnarelli : Why Not (Criss Cross, 1994)The Tenor Triangle: Aztec Blues (Criss Cross, 1994) (sextet with Ralph Lalama, Tad Shull, and the Melvin Rhyne Trio) Rick Stone: Steppin' Back (Jazzand, 1994) (organ quartet with Sam Yahel , Joe Farnsworth) Robert Mazurek: Badlands (Hep, 1995) Melvin Rhyne: Stick to the Kick (Criss Cross, 1995) (quintet includes Ryan Kisor , Peter Bernstein) John Swana: In the Moment (Criss Cross, 1995) (sextet includes Steve Davis, Kenny Barron ) Atro "Wade" Mikkola Quartet: On The Way (AMK [Finland], 1995) Peter Bernstein: Brain Dance (Criss Cross, 1996) (quintet includes Steve Davis, Larry Goldings ) Robert Mazurek: Green & Blue (Hep, 1996) Mark Elf: A Minor Scramble (Jen Bay, 1996) Michael Weiss : Power Station (DIW, 1997)Dave Specter & Lenny Lynn: Blues Spoken Here (Delmark, 1998)Pat Martino: Stone Blue (Blue Note, 1998) John Swana & Joe Magnarelli: Philly-New York Junction (Criss Cross, 1998) Paul Bollenback : Soul Grooves (Challenge, 1998)Yoron Israel Connection: Live at the Blue Note (Half Note , 1998) Melvin Rhyne: Classmasters (Criss Cross, 1999) (quartet includes Peter Bernstein) Norman Simmons: The Art of Norman Simmons (Savant, 2000) (quintet includes Henry Johnson ) Mads Baerentzen Trio Featuring Eric Alexander: 785 Madison Ave. (Music Mecca, 2000) Dmitri Kolesnik: Blues for Dad (Boheme, 2001) Jimmy Scott : But Beautiful (Milestone, 2001)Jimmy Scott: Moon Glow (Milestone, 2001) Ryan Kisor: The Dream (Criss Cross, 2001) Norman Simmons: Synthesis (Savant, 2002) (quintet includes Henry Johnson) Junior Mance Trio & Eric Alexander: Groovin' Blues (M & I, 2002)Joe Magnarelli & John Swana: New York-Philly Junction (Criss Cross, 2003) Jimmy Cobb 's Mob: Cobb's Groove (Milestone, 2003) (quintet with Richard Wyands , Peter Bernstein, John Webber)Simone [Kopmajer] (with Romantic Jazz Trio and Eric Alexander): Romance (Venus, 2004) Jim Snidero: Close Up (Milestone, 2004) Freddy Cole : This Love of Mine (HighNote, 2005)Terry Gibbs : Feelin' Good – Live in Studio (Mack Avenue, 2005) (sextet includes Joey DeFrancesco)Bob DeVos: Shifting Sands (Savant, 2005) Bob DeVos: Playing for Keeps (Savant, 2007) Dmitri Kolesnik: Five Corners (Challenge, 2007) John Swana: Bright Moments (Criss Cross, 2007) Dave O'Higgins Quintet Featuring Eric Alexander: Sketchbook (Jazzizit, 2008) Stewy Von Wattenwyl Generations Trio Featuring Eric Alexander: Live at Marians (Bemsha Music, 2008) Meeting Point: Quintessence (Challenge, 2008) (quintet with Jim Rotondi, Andrei Kondakov, Dmitri Kolesnik, Lenny White ) Neal Smith Quintet: Live at Smalls (Smalls Live , 2009) Pat Martino Quartet: Undeniable: Live at Blues Alley (HighNote, 2011) Alexis Cole (with One for All): You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To (Venus, 2011)I Carry Your Heart: Alexis Cole Sings Pepper Adams (Motéma , 2012)Dee Daniels: State of the Art (Criss Cross, 2013) (quartet includes Cyrus Chestnut) Dena DeRose : We Won't Forget You...An Homage To Shirley Horn (HighNote, 2014) (with Jeremy Pelt , Gary Smulyan )Federico Bonifazi: You'll See (Steeplechase , 2015) Bernd Reiter Quintet Featuring Eric Alexander: Workout at Bird's Eye (A Tribute to Hank Mobley & Grant Green ) (Steeplechase, 2015) The Candy Men: Harry Allen 's All Star New York Saxophone Band (Arbors , 2015) (with Grant Stewart , Gary Smulyan)Andrew Dickeson With Eric Alexander: Is That So (Andrew Dickeson Productions, 2017) David Kikoski: Phoenix Rising (HighNote, 2019) Cory Weeds: O Sole Mio! Music From The Motherland (Cellar Music Group, 2019 [rel. 2021]) Michael Weiss : Persistence (Cellar Music Group, 2022)Caesar Frazier: Tenacity / As We Speak (Track Merchant, 2022) Paul Brusger: A Soul Contract (SteepleChase, 2023) Bernie Senensky: Moment To Moment (Cellar Music Group, 2023 [rec. 2001 and 2020])
References ^ Kennedy, Gary (2002). "Alexander, Eric (Wells)". In Barry Kernfeld (ed.). The new Grove dictionary of jazz, vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries. pp. 26–27. ISBN 1561592846 . ^ Cook, Richard (2005). Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia . London: Penguin Books. p. 7. ISBN 0-141-00646-3 . ^ "Eric Alexander | jazzleadsheets.com by Second Floor Music". jazzleadsheets.com . Retrieved June 21, 2022 . ^ Massarik, Jack (April 2008). "Tenor of the Times". Jazzwise . Jazzwise Publication Ltd. p. 10. ^ "Hancock Institute of Jazz". Hancock Institute of Jazz . Retrieved June 9, 2019 . ^ "Eric Alexander | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved June 9, 2019 . ^ Collar, Matt (2010). "AllMusic". One for All . Rovi Corporation. ^ Eric Alexander "Leap of Faith" release ^ Eric Alexander, With Strings. Review by Alex Henderson, NYCJR , January 2020, Issue 213, page 14 - retrieved 9 January 2020.
Further reading
External links Official website JazzPolice.com review of Eric Alexander's "It's All in the Game"