My Favorite Things (Motéma Music)
Joey Alexander
Released May 12, 2015
Grammy Nominee for Best Jazz Instrumental Album 2016
YouTube: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m_ir6m51zE-8q-L8t1Zcf3DVtYJuxGYZw
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0Ll77PUk8FUyTY7mordEum?si=fH5eldWuTYOTW2rhVjfyXw
About:
An extraordinary and uniquely gifted pianist from Bali, Joey Alexander marked his recording debut in May 2015 with the release of My Favorite Things, bringing a delicate, profound and soulful touch to his own interpretation of such classics as “My Favorite Things”, “Giant Steps” and “Over the Rainbow”. Joey established himself as one of the brightest young stars in music, appearing on the front page of the New York Times, NBC’s Today Show, CNN, and performing at some of the highest profile festivals in the world – showing the world his talents as an arranger, composer and bandleader.
Track Listing:
1. Giant Steps (John Coltrane) 10:15
(Joey Alexander, Grammy Nominee for Best Improvised Jazz Solo 2016)
2. Lush Life (Billy Strayhorn) 8:13
3. My Favorite Things (Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers) 6:16
4. It Might as Well Be Spring (Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers) 5:28
5. Ma Blues (Joey Alexander) 6:51
6. ‘Round Midnight (Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams) 6:50
7. I Mean You (Coleman Hawkins / Thelonious Monk) 4:15
8. Tour de Force (Dizzy Gillespie) 5:50
9. Over the Rainbow (Harold Arlen / E.Y. “Yip” Harburg) 4:30
Personnel:
Joey Alexander: piano
Larry Grenadier: bass (1, 2, 3, 4)
Russell Hall: bass (5, 7, 8, 10)
Sammy Miller: drums (5, 7, 8, 10)
Ulysses Owens: drums (1, 2, 4)
Alphonso Horne: trumpet (8)
Recorded October 10 – 26, 2014, at Avatar Studios, NYC
Producer: Jason Olaine
Recorded and Mixed by Katherine Miller
Mastered by Alan Silverman
Design and Photography: Rebecca Meek
Illustration: James Gulliver Hancock
Review:
The only difficult part of writing about pianist Joey Alexander is avoiding the use of the phrase “for a kid.” As we do when we approach any prodigy-and jazz has seen many who’ve continued to grow as childhood faded-those of us with a few years on us naturally want to be kind. Who’d want to discourage a child with such promise?
But with this Indonesian lad, 11 years old when Motéma signed him last fall, there’s no need to patronize or overcompensate: Joey Alexander’s not good “for a kid,” he’s just good.
It’d be easy to turn on the skepticism, to ask how a person with such limited life experience could possibly empathize with the standards he includes on this debut: How could he possibly relate to “Lush Life,” “It Might as Well Be Spring” or “‘Round Midnight”? It’s a fair question, but a good listen to that last track obliterates any apprehension: Alexander is not just a gifted technician; he understands this music. To one of Monk’s signature tunes this pianist brings sensitivity, range and coloration. He never feels he has to over-impress; when he steps up the pace it’s handled sensibly and with appropriate restraint; when he expands beyond the root melody, he knows where he’s going and how to get back home. And he knows how to work with a band.
All but one track, an original he calls “Ma Blues,” will be familiar to anyone who’s been around the jazz block more than once: “Over the Rainbow,” Dizzy’s “Tour de Force,” “Giant Steps” (he’s confident enough to open with it) and the title track, of course also Coltrane-associated. Alexander arranged them all too.
Does he break any new ground? Not really. Not yet. But he more than holds his own, and it’s unlikely any listener not informed in advance of the player’s age would come close to guessing it. Now, of course, comes the hard part for Joey Alexander: developing a unique voice as he settles into his craft.
Jeff Tamarkin (JazzTimes)
