You’ve heard about this phenom of the keyboard from Indonesia. You’ve read the lavish praise served up by the pundits of the jazz community and media. And now you see this 13-year-old prodigy saunter onto the stage, clasp his hands and bow politely to the audience. He seats himself at the piano, and the magic begins. His virtuosity and musical sophistication are almost mind-boggling.
In just three years, Joey Alexander has become the hottest ticket on the jazz circuit. Wynton Marsalis, artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, refers to Joey as “my hero,” saying, “Joey Alexander is not someone or something you can even explain. We’ve never had anyone like him in this music, not with that harmonic maturity. I wasn’t anywhere near his sophistication at his age, nor has anyone I know ever been. I love everything about his playing—his rhythm, his confidence, his understanding of the music."
Marsalis learned about Alexander after a friend suggested he watch a YouTube video clip of the then-10-year-old playing compositions by Coltrane, Monk, and Chick Corea. He quickly invited him to appear at a JLC gala, marking Joey’s United States debut. Positive and enthusiastic reviews followed his performance, particularly for his solo version of Thelonious Monk’s “Round Midnight.
