Pianist Joey Alexander was never going to spend his life churning out standards. You could tell from his reimagined version of "Giant Steps," the first track on his 2015 debut album, which begins with a dazzling two-minute solo introduction. The same album also features an original tune, the prowling "Ma Blues." It was clearly only going to be a matter of time before he came up with an all-originals album, and so it is with this, his sixth outing. Meanwhile he has moved to Detroit's Mack Avenue label, whose roster includes other young, like-minded pianists including Christian Sands and Aaron Diehl.
Just turned 19, but way beyond needing to prove himself, Alexander demonstrates a growing emotional maturity that has added depth to his playing and thoughtfulness to his compositions: Cases in point: the meditative "Midnight Waves" or the ballad "Hesitation," with its serene pentatonic melody and Keith Jarrett-like warmth and sweetness.
Musical continuity is present in the shape of long-time collaborators Larry Grenadier on bass and Kendrick Scott on drums. On a few tracks the trio is augmented by Gilad Hekselman on guitar and/or the ubiquitous Chris Potter on tenor or soprano sax. Both appear on "Winter Blues" (part of a mini-suite on a seasonal theme) and "Rise Up." The former is a strutting, syncopated waltz that sees Alexander switch to Fender Rhodes while his guests play the melody in unison; the latter is essentially a funk tune, but so rhythmically complex that it defies attempts at foot-tapping. You can also sometimes hear what he's been listening to: the melody of "Angel Eyes" (a new song, not the standard) hints at "I've Never Been in Love Before."
The best thing about Origin is that for all its accessibility; you never feel you have quite heard everything it has to offer, hence the repeated plays.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/origin-joey-alexander-mack-avenue-records
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El pianista Joey Alexander nunca se iba a pasar la vida produciendo estándares. Se nota en su versión reimaginada de "Giant Steps", el primer tema de su álbum de debut de 2015, que comienza con una deslumbrante introducción en solitario de dos minutos. Ese mismo álbum también incluye un tema original, el merodeador "Ma Blues". Estaba claro que solo iba a ser cuestión de tiempo que sacara un álbum totalmente original, y así es con este, su sexto trabajo. Mientras tanto, se ha trasladado al sello Mack Avenue de Detroit, cuya lista incluye a otros jóvenes pianistas de ideas afines como Christian Sands y Aaron Diehl.
Con 19 años recién cumplidos, pero más allá de la necesidad de probarse a sí mismo, Alexander demuestra una creciente madurez emocional que ha añadido profundidad a su forma de tocar y reflexión a sus composiciones: Casos como el meditativo "Midnight Waves" o la balada "Hesitation", con su serena melodía pentatónica y la calidez y dulzura de Keith Jarrett.
La continuidad musical está presente en forma de colaboradores de larga duración, Larry Grenadier al bajo y Kendrick Scott a la batería. En algunos temas, el trío se ve reforzado por Gilad Hekselman a la guitarra y/o el omnipresente Chris Potter al saxo tenor o soprano. Ambos aparecen en "Winter Blues" (parte de una minisuite sobre un tema estacional) y "Rise Up". El primero es un vals sincopado que hace que Alexander cambie al Fender Rhodes mientras sus invitados tocan la melodía al unísono; el segundo es esencialmente una melodía funk, pero tan compleja rítmicamente que desafía los intentos de zapateo. También se puede oír a veces lo que ha estado escuchando: la melodía de "Angel Eyes" (una canción nueva, no el estándar) insinúa "I've Never Been in Love Before".
Lo mejor de Origin es que, a pesar de su accesibilidad, nunca tienes la sensación de haber escuchado todo lo que ofrece, de ahí que se repita.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/origin-joey-alexander-mack-avenue-records
Remembering; On the Horizon; Dear Autumn; Winter Blues; Promise of Spring; Summer Rising; Midnight Waves; Angel Eyes; Rise Up; Hesitation.
Personnel
Joey Alexander: piano; Larry Grenadier: bass, acoustic; Kendrick Scott: drums; Gilad Hekselman: guitar; Chris Potter: saxophone.
Album information
Released: 2022 | Record Label: Mack Avenue Records
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/origin-joey-alexander-mack-avenue-records
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