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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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Eric Alexander: Chicago To New York
by Jack Bowers
Eric Alexander, widely praised for years as one of the jazz world's foremost tenor saxophonists, greets listeners with an unforeseen yet tantalizing curve ball on his latest album, Chicago to New York, employing his luminous soprano sax to enhance the first two numbers, John Coltrane's “Afro Blue" and “Wise One," before unleashing his trustworthy and perceptive tenor to usher him securely through the last five. While the soprano adds spice to Alexander's musical menu, the tenor remains ...
Continue ReadingEric Alexander: Chicago To New York
by Pierre Giroux
Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander's release, Chicago To New York, is a masterclass in modern hard bop that pays homage to the vibrant musical exchange between two of jazz's most storied cities. This is not just a geographical nod but a conversation across time and space, framed by a quartet whose cohesion and shared sensibilities transcend geographical lines. Alexander, one of the most consistent voices of his generation, joins forces with pianist Mike LeDonne, both standard-bearers of ...
Continue ReadingEric Alexander's latest plus new music from Novalima, Dream Brigade and Candice Hoyes
by Hobart Taylor
Eric Alexander, Igmar Thomas Revive Big Band, Canada's Ostara Project and Candice Hoyes! Playlist Candice Hoyes Ted NashVincent Gardner “Far Away Star" from Far Away Star (Self Produced) 0:00 Sacha Boutros “J'Attendrai (featuring Giovanni Mirabassi)" from Love Trilogy (Hear Me Roar) 4:48 Eric Alexander" The Lamp Is Low" from Chicago To New York (Cellar) 8:42 Host Speaks 19:34 Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol “My Blues" from 7 Shades of Melancholia (Dunya) 21:46 Myra Melford “ Insertion 2" from Hear the ...
Continue ReadingOne For All: Big George
by C. Andrew Hovan
The world has changed dramatically since the end of the 20th century, the time period when the jazz collective One For All began to forge their stamp on the history of hard bop. Using the club Augie's on New York's upper west side as their stomping grounds, the group would make their debut recording at the beginning of 1987. The Broadway club would eventually become home of Smoke, one of the gems of the city's jazz scene and continued purveyor ...
Continue ReadingThe Heavy Hitters: That's What's Up!
by Pierre Giroux
Mike LeDonne and Eric Alexander head up a band called Heavy Hitters, which features a stellar cast of jny: New York's jazz elite, including trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, bassist Alexander Claffy and drummer Kenny Washington. They have released That's What's Up!, a live recording from Frankie's Jazz Club in jny: Vancouver, British Columbia in December 2023 that captures the authenticity, spontaneity, and emotive power of a band firing on all cylinders. The set list is an artful ...
Continue ReadingHeavy Hitters: That's What's Up!
by Jack Bowers
Heavy Hitters is a superb New York-based sextet co-led by pianist Mike LeDonne and tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander. Individually and as a team, the Hitters keep their eyes squarely on the ball, swing for the fences and, more often than not, slam the spheroid solidly out of the park. And on this typically upbeat session they do it in front of an appreciative audience at Frankie's Club in Victoria, British Columbia. A freewheeling groove permeates the concert, ...
Continue ReadingMelvin Rhyne: Classmasters
by C. Andrew Hovan
While it's an easy task to designate any number of Hammond B-3 organ players who have quickly fallen under the spell of innovator Jimmy Smith, it's not as simple to inventory the few individuals who've avoided Smith's overpowering influence to develop a sound and manner of their own. Melvin Rhyne is one who managed to carve a niche for himself during the '60s with a much lighter and less bombastic approach, around during the heydays as a member of Wes ...
Continue ReadingEric 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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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 at Jazz Alley, May 12-13
Source:
Seattle Jazz Scene
The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander for two nights. Band members are Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone), David Hazeltine (piano) and Chuck Deardorf (bass) and Matt Jorgensen (drums). MAY 12 - 13, JAZZ ALLEY 2033 6th Avenue, Seattle Reservations: 206-441-9729 7:30pm, $22.50 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. ...
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Saxophonsts Eric Alexander & Jim Snidero at Chris' Jazz Cafe on September 27, 2008
Source:
All About Jazz
Eric Alexander, aka Alexander the Great," the title of one of his two dozen albums as a leader, will be appearing at Chris' Jazz Cafe on September 28, 2008.
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 some 100 albums featuring some of the biggest names in jazz.
September 27, 2008 Sets @ 8 & 10pm ...
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Born To Be Blue
From: What's Love?By Eric Alexander
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Eric Alexander
Location: New York City
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
Born: August 4, 1968
