Eric Alexander

Boasting a warm, finely burnished tone and a robust melodic and harmonic imagination, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander has been exploring new musical worlds from the outset. He started out on piano as a six-year-old, took up clarinet at nine, switched to alto sax when he was 12, and converted to tenor when jazz became his obsession during his one year at the University of Indiana, Bloomington (1986-87). At William Paterson College in New Jersey he advanced his studies under the tutelage of Harold Mabern, Joe Lovano, Rufus Reid, and others. "The people I listened to in college are still the cats that are influencing me today," says Alexander. "Monk, Dizzy, Sonny Stitt, Clifford Brown, Sonny Rollins, Jackie McLean, Joe Henderson—the legacy left by Bird and all the bebop pioneers, that language and that feel, that's the bread and butter of everything I do. George Coleman remains a big influence because of his very hip harmonic approach, and I'm still listening all the time to Coltrane because I feel that even in the wildest moments of his mid- to late-Sixties solos I can find these little kernels of melodic information and find ways to employ them in my own playing."

During the 1990s, after placing second behind Joshua Redman in the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition, Alexander threw himself into the whirlwind life of a professional jazz musician. He played with organ trios on the South Side of Chicago, made his recording debut in 1991 with Charles Earland on Muse Records, and cut his first album as leader in 1992 (Straight Up for Delmark). More recordings followed for numerous labels, including Milestone and others, leading to 1997's Man with a Horn; the 1998 collaborative quartet session with George Mraz, John Hicks, and Idris Muhammad, Solid!; and, that same year, the first recording by One For All, Alexander's ongoing band with Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Joe Farnsworth, Peter Washington, and Dave Hazeltine.

Eric has appeared in many capacities on record, including leader, sideman, producer as well as composing a number of the tunes he records. By now, Alexander has lost count of how many albums feature his playing; he guesses 80 or 90. While he has garnered critical acclaim from every corner, what has mattered most has been to establish his own voice within the illustrious bop-based jazz tradition.

In 2004, Eric signed an exclusive contract with the New York-based independent jazz label, HighNote Records where he has amassed a considerable discography of critically-acclaimed recordings. Most recent among them is “Chicago Fire” HCD 7262, “The Real Thing” with Pat Martino HCD 7278 and “Second Impression” HCD 7296. Eric’s most recent HighNote release, “Song of No Regrets,”(HCD 7311) was featured in Downbeat’s “Hot Box”. He is currently working on a new recording project which will see commercial release in mid-2019.

Melvin Rhyne: Classmasters

by C. Andrew Hovan
September 3, 2024

While it's an easy task to designate any number of Hammond B-3 organ players who have quickly fallen under the spell of innovator Jimmy Smith, it's not as simple to inventory the few individuals who've avoided Smith's overpowering influence to develop a sound and manner of their own. Melvin Rhyne is one who managed to carve a niche for himself during the '60s with a much lighter and less bombastic approach, around during the heydays as a member of Wes ...

Album Review

Eric Alexander & Mike LeDonne: Together

by Jack Bowers
September 2, 2024

Eric Alexander and Mike LeDonne have been together many times--on recordings, in clubs, at concerts and elsewhere-- but never quite as intimately so as on this splendid album, even though they are heard Together on only four of the album's nine tracks- -LeDonne maps a solo course on three others, Alexander on two (moving to soprano sax on “Autumn in New York"). Either way, they are delightful to hear and appreciate, and the need for a full ...

Album Review

Eric Alexander & Mike LeDonne: Together

Read "Together" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
July 26, 2024

Eric Alexander and Mike LeDonne's album Together is an acknowledgment of the magic that can emerge when two masterful musicians collaborate in a duo setting. This release, featuring nine tracks, captures the essence of their longstanding musical relationship, offering a rich tapestry of spontaneous interplay, deep grooves and expressive storytelling through sound. And that sound was captured as the session was recorded at the iconic Van Gelder Studio at Englewood Cliffs, NJ, with LeDonne performing on Rudy Van Gelder's nine-foot ...

Radio & Podcasts

Alex Sipiagin, Jared Hall, Eric Alexander, Amber Weekes and more

by Benjamin Boddie
July 18, 2024

Today's Music--Right Now! ... Fantastic music by Alex Sipiagin, Jared Hall, Eric Alexander, Amber Weekes, Eyal Vilner, Jihee Heo, Clarence Penn, Anthony Branker, Antonio Adolfo, Greg Chako, Scott Gilman, Mariah Parker, Yelena Eckmoff, Benn Gillece, Alexander Claffy, Ben Sidran, Conrad Herwig, Lisa Rich, Bobby Broom, Troy Roberts and more. Playlist Alex Sipiagin “Lost" from Horizons (Blue Room Music) 00:00 Jared Hall “Song For Shaw" from Influences (Origin Records) 06:21 Eric Alexander “But Beautiful" from Timing Is Everything (Cellar ...

Album Review

Eric Alexander: Timing Is Everything

Read "Timing Is Everything" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
June 19, 2024

Eric Alexander's album Timing Is Everything is an acknowledgment of his mastery of the tenor saxophone, highlighting a combination of power, precision, and profound musicality. Accompanied by pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Alexander Claffy and drummer Jason Tiemann along with a handful of special guests, Alexander leads this nine-track outing with a confidence and ease that can only come from deep familiarity with the material and an unspoken rapport with his bandmates. The opening track is a ...

Album Review

One for All: Big George

Read "Big George" reviewed by Joshua Weiner

by Joshua Weiner
June 5, 2024

Smoke Sessions Records, based out of NYC's Smoke Jazz Club, has a fascinating recording model: artists play a few nights at the club, take a day off, and then go into a studio such as the famous Sear Sound to record their repertoire for release. They been putting out some excellent material, the latest of which is the first album in seven years from the sextet One for All. The title, Big George, reveals what sets this one apart from ...

Album Review

Mike LeDonne: Wonderful!

Read "Wonderful!" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
March 27, 2024

Organist Mike LeDonne's latest recording, Wonderful!, is a labor of love on several levels. Of course, there is love of the music and love of accomplishing something that had not been done before--teaming a gospel choir with jazz quartet. Above all else, there is love for LeDonne's wife, Margaret, and daughter Mary who is disabled but, as LeDonne says, is nonetheless “truly wonderful." LeDonne wrote the album's title song for Mary, wherein he compares her to “a ...

Performance / Tour

Eric Alexander shares many shades of bebop

Source: Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
April 7, 2017

Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander fully embraced the rich and vibrant sound of bebop in his formative years as a jazz player- and continues to help it evolve a quarter-century later. That was the takeaway after his Wednesday, April 5 appearance with the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra at Artis-Naples' Daniels Pavilion. Despite the big name, the band is actually a sextet. They explored a wide range of standard material, finding ways to add their own energetic stamp on it. In each ...
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Performance / Tour

Eric Alexander With The Jimmy Bruno Trio At Chris' Jazz Cafe On December 14 & 15, 2012

Source: All About Jazz
December 6, 2012

Chris' Jazz Café presents saxophonist Eric Alexander with the Jimmy Bruno Trio, Friday and Saturday December 14 & 15, 2012. Since placing second in 1991 to Joshua Redman in the Thelonious Monk Institute's saxophone competition, Alexander equally impressive on hard swinging numbers and romantic ballads has played on well over 100 albums featuring some of the biggest names in jazz. Alexander has been a frequent performer and guest artist at Chris', where has performed with Pat Martino, Bootsie Barnes, Larry ...
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Performance / Tour

Saxophonist Eric Alexander performing at Chris' Jazz Cafe in September

Source: All About Jazz
August 31, 2011

Saxophonist Eric Alexander will be performing on two separate occasions at Chris' Jazz Cafe in September. September 9, 2011, features the Eric Alexander Organ Trio with special guest, guitarist Jimmy Bruno. On September 20, 2011, Alexander performs with the Chris' Anniversary Show All Star Band, featuring: Eric Alexander— saxophone Bootsie Barnes— saxophone Larry McKenna— saxophone Tom Lawton— piano Lee Smith— bass Mickey Roker—drums Sets @ 8 & 10 PM
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Performance / Tour

A Dogged Performance by a True Pro

Source: JazzINK by Andrea Canter
May 30, 2011

It would have been disappointing if Eric Alexander had canceled his performance at the Artists Quarter last night. Disappointing, but perfectly understandable. In town for his almost annual Memorial Day Weekend 3-night stand, Eric was jogging in Lilydale Park when a lunging rotweiler (on a leash, no less) grabbed his left hand and wouldn't let go. As if the bite wasn't enough, Eric is allergic to dogs, and “swelled up" immediately. But there he was on the band stand Saturday ...
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174

Recording

Eric Alexander "Don't Follow the Crowd"

Source: Sound Insights by Doug Payne
May 12, 2011

If jazz today has a brand, then saxophonist Eric Alexander is its standards bearer. He upholds the tradition and champions the cause like no other instrumentalist from the contemporary jazz realm. Two decades and dozens of recordings into his career, Alexander has flourished while the power of many of his peers has faded, disappeared or proved to be nothing more than just imitative exuberance. Think about it. How many others in the current pool of so-called jazz players can claim ...
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Performance / Tour

Eric Alexander at Chris' Jazz Cafe, on February 11 & 12, 2011

Source: All About Jazz
February 5, 2011

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Performance / Tour

Eric Alexander at the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Chris’ Jazz Café, on September 24 & 25, 2010

Source: All About Jazz
September 19, 2010

Chris' Jazz Café celebrates its 20th anniversary on September 24 and 25, 2010, with an all-star band featuring Eric Alexnader and Pete Bernstein.

20th Anniversary Band Eric Alexander—saxophone Bootise Barnes—saxophone Larry McKenna—saxophone Peter Bernstein—guitar Dan Kostelnik—organ Rodney Green—drums

September 24 and 25, 2010 Sets starting @ 8:00 PM Admission, Friday $20 per show, Saturday, $25 per show Chris' Jazz Cafe ...
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242

Radio

The Jazz Session #129: Eric Alexander

Source: Michael Ricci
December 30, 2009

163

Performance / Tour

Eric Alexander at Jazz Alley, May 12-13

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene
May 8, 2009

The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander for two nights. Band members are Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone), David Hazeltine (piano) and Chuck Deardorf (bass) and Matt Jorgensen (drums). MAY 12 - 13, JAZZ ALLEY 2033 6th Avenue, Seattle Reservations: 206-441-9729 7:30pm, $22.50 Boasting a warm, finely burnished tone and a robust melodic and harmonic imagination, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander has been exploring new musical worlds from the outset. ...
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175

Performance / Tour

Saxophonsts Eric Alexander & Jim Snidero at Chris' Jazz Cafe on September 27, 2008

Source: All About Jazz
September 25, 2008

Eric Alexander, aka Alexander the Great," the title of one of his two dozen albums as a leader, will be appearing at Chris' Jazz Cafe on September 28, 2008.

Since placing second in 1991 to Joshua Redman in the Thelonious Monk Institute's saxophone competition, Alexander -- equally impressive on hard swinging numbers and romantic ballads -- has played on some 100 albums featuring some of the biggest names in jazz.

September 27, 2008 Sets @ 8 & 10pm ...
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