PHOTO BY CAROL FRIEDMAN
“I love everything about his playing—his rhythm, his confidence, his understanding of the music.” – Wynton Marsalis
After first encountering the piano at the age of six, Joey Alexander was quickly playing jazz standards from his father’s record collection by ear. Born on the island of Bali, this 14-year-old phenomenon is now wowing audiences all over the world, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Jazz Foundation of America at the Apollo, and the 2016 Grammy Awards, where he received two nominations—one for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for the track “Giant Steps” from his debut album My Favorite Things, and the second for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. His second studio album, Countdown, was released in 2016 and features three original compositions, and he received a nomination at the 2017 Grammy Awards for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for the title track. Achieving a level of critical acclaim entirely unheard of for a jazz artist of his age, media appearances and interviews have included The Today Show, 60 Minutes, CNN, The New York Times, and People Magazine.
