Eric Alexander (jazz saxophonist)

Last updated

Eric Alexander
Eric Alexander.jpg
Background information
Born (1968-08-04) August 4, 1968 (age 56)
Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, educator
InstrumentSaxophone
Years active1991-present
Labels Delmark, Milestone, HighNote
Website ericalexanderjazz.com
Eric Alexander 2008 Eric Alexander 2008.jpg
Eric Alexander 2008
Eric Alexander (2012 in Denmark) Eric-alexander DSC01061.jpg
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]

Contents

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

Year recordedTitleLabelNotes
1992 Straight Up DelmarkQuintet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet), Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), George Fludas (drums)
1992New York Calling Criss Cross Quintet, with John Swana (trumpet/fluegelhorn), Richard Wyands (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)
1993 Up, Over & Out DelmarkQuartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Ore (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
1994Full RangeCriss CrossSextet, with John Swana (trumpet), Kenny Barron (piano), Peter Bernstein (guitar), Peter Washington (bass), Carl Allen (drums)
1995Eric Alexander in EuropeCriss CrossQuartet, with Melvin Rhyne (organ), Bobby Broom (guitar), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
1995StablematesDelmarkQuintet, with Lin Halliday (tenor sax), Jodie Christian (piano), Dan Shapera (bass), Wilbur Campbell (drums)
1996Two of a KindCriss CrossQuintet, with Cecil Payne (baritone sax), David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
1997Man with a Horn Milestone Most tracks quartet, with Cedar Walton (piano), Dwayne Burno (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); some tracks sextet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet), Steve Davis (trombone) added
1997 Alexander the Great HighNote Quintet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet), Charles Earland (organ), Peter Bernstein (guitar), Joe Farnsworth (drums) [rel. 2000]
1997Heavy Hitters Pony Canyon Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
1997 Mode for Mabes DelmarkSextet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet), Steve Davis (trombone), Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), George Fludas (drums)
1998Extra InningsAlfa JazzQuartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
1998 Solid! MilestoneMost tracks quartet, with John Hicks (piano), George Mraz (bass), Idris Muhammad (drums); some tracks quintet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet) added; one track quintet, with Joe Locke (vibes) replacing Alexander; one track solo piano by Hicks
1998A Love Story 32 Jazz Quartet, with Cyrus Chestnut (piano), George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums); AKA 'The Keystone Quartet'
1999 Live at the Keynote Video ArtsQuartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
1999 The First Milestone MilestoneQuintet, with Pat Martino (guitar), Harold Mabern (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2000 The Second Milestone MilestoneMost tracks quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); three tracks quintet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet) added
2001 Summit Meeting MilestoneMost tracks quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); four tracks quintet, with Nicholas Payton (trumpet, fluegelhorn) added
2002 Nightlife in Tokyo MilestoneQuartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Ron Carter (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2004Gentle Ballads Venus Quartet, with Mike LeDonne (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) [note: includes 2 versions of "Harlem Nocturne"]
2004 Dead Center HighNoteQuartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2005 Sunday in New York VenusQuartet, with John Hicks (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2005 It's All in the Game HighNoteQuartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2006Gentle Ballads IIVenusQuartet, with Mike LeDonne (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2007 Temple of Olympic Zeus HighNoteMost tracks quartet, with David Hazeltine (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); some tracks quintet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet) added
2007My Favorite ThingsVenusQuartet, with David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2007In Concert: Prime TimeHighNoteQuartet, with David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2007Gentle Ballads IIIVenusQuartet, with Mike LeDonne (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2008Lazy Afternoon: Gentle Ballads IVVenusQuartet, with Mike LeDonne (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2009 Revival of the Fittest HighNoteMost tracks quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); one track duo, with Mike LeDonne (piano)
2009 Chim Chim Cheree VenusQuartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2010 Don't Follow the Crowd HighNoteQuartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2011Gentle Ballads VVenusQuartet, with George Cables (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2012 Touching HighNoteQuartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2013Blues at MidnightVenusQuartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2013Recado Bossa NovaVenusQuartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2013 Chicago Fire HighNoteMost tracks quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); some tracks quintet, with Jeremy Pelt (trumpet) added
2015 The Real Thing HighNoteMost tracks quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); some tracks quintet, with Pat Martino (guitar) added
2016 Second Impression HighNoteQuartet, with Harold Mabern (piano, Fender Rhodes), Bob Cranshaw (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums)
2016Just One of Those ThingsVenusTrio, with Dezron Douglas (bass), Neal Smith (drums)
2017Song of No RegretsHighNoteMost tracks quintet, with David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums), Alex Diaz (percussion); some tracks sextet, with Jon Faddis (trumpet) added
2019Leap of FaithGiant Step ArtsTrio, with Doug Weiss (bass), Johnathan Blake (drums) [8]
2019With StringsHighNoteQuartet, with David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums), plus string orchestra (conducted by Dave Rivello) [9]
2023A New Beginning: Alto Saxophone With StringsHighNoteQuartet, with David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums), plus string orchestra (conducted by Bill Dobbins)
2024Timing Is EverythingCellar Music GroupQuartet, with Rick Germanson (piano), Alexander Claffy (bass), Jason Tiemann (drums), plus

guests: Jed Paradies- flute (on "Serenade To A Cuckoo"), Rale Micic- guitar (on "Serenade To A Cuckoo"), Alma Micic- voice (on "Evergreen"), Stan Wetering- tenor sax (on "Big G’s Monk")

2024TogetherCellar Music GroupDuo, with Mike LeDonne (piano)

As sideman

With Steve Davis

With Charles Earland

With Joe Farnsworth

With David Hazeltine

With Vincent Herring

With Randy Johnston

With Mike LeDonne

With Harold Mabern

With Jimmy McGriff

With New York All-Stars

With One for All (co-leader with Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, David Hazeltine, Joe Farnsworth)

With Cecil Payne

With Reeds and Deeds (co-leader with Grant Stewart)

With Irene Reid

With Jim Rotondi

With Larry Willis

With others

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References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ Cook, Richard (2005). Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia. London: Penguin Books. p. 7. ISBN   0-141-00646-3.
  3. ↑ "Eric Alexander | jazzleadsheets.com by Second Floor Music". jazzleadsheets.com. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  4. ↑ Massarik, Jack (April 2008). "Tenor of the Times". Jazzwise . Jazzwise Publication Ltd. p. 10.
  5. ↑ "Hancock Institute of Jazz". Hancock Institute of Jazz. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Eric Alexander | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  7. ↑ Collar, Matt (2010). "AllMusic". One for All. Rovi Corporation.
  8. ↑ Eric Alexander "Leap of Faith" release
  9. ↑ Eric Alexander, With Strings. Review by Alex Henderson, NYCJR, January 2020, Issue 213, page 14 - retrieved 9 January 2020.

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