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Joe Alterman
Atlanta native Joe Alterman expresses a certain upbeat naivete, with a broad smile and bright eyes that make you feel welcome. One would not guess that this is a man hailed by greats; Ramsey Lewis describes his piano playing as ‘a joy to behold’, Les McCann states ‘As a man and musician he is already a giant’. Journalist Nat Hentoff championed three of Alterman’s albums, as well as his writing (Joe wrote liner notes to three Wynton Marsalis/JALC albums, calling one of Joe’s columns “one of the very best pieces on the essence of jazz, the spirit of jazz, that I’ve ever read, and I’m not exaggerating.” Joe Alterman began at NYU with a BA and Masters in Jazz Piano, followed by performances with Houston Person, Les McCann, Dick Gregory, and Ramsey Lewis. Downbeat describes his sound as ‘ rooted in the blues, and with a touch reminiscent of the great pianists of the 1950s—Red Garland, Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans. It is clear Joe hits all of the necessary points for Jazz critics and fans alike. But there is more to the story, of course. The twenty-first century has thus far seen yet another transition for this thing called Jazz. In one moment we see the push and pull between tradition and progression, and in another we see Pop and Hip-Hop musicians emulating and sampling. In Joe Alterman we find none of this struggle; the music just sounds good. Our conscious faculties are instantly disabled as we tap our feet, feeling the intent and joy of his playing. An old classic is new when you feel good in the moment. This fresh and joyful intent is captured on Joe Alterman’s new release The Upside Of Down. Taken from two live shows at Birdland in November 2019 and February 2020, the album reminds us of a not-too-distant time when we gathered and danced. Joined by Nathaniel Schroeder on bass and Marlon Patton on drums, Alterman cruises gently and delightedly through timeless selections from Les McCann, Oscar Peterson, Henry Mancini and more, with some of his compositions in the mix.
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Joe Alterman: Swinging Success
by R.J. DeLuke
It was 2012 when pianist Joe Alterman was preparing to play at the famed Blue Note jazz club in lower Manhattan, not far from where he went to college, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in music. Alterman was checking the sound. The club was basically empty. An older man came in, wheelchair-bound, heading toward the stage. Alterman knew who he was. Hell, he was the opening act for the older gentleman. But Alterman “knew" Les McCann ...
Continue ReadingJoe Alterman: Seeking wisdom from the masters
by Leo Sidran
In this episode, pianist Joe Alterman talks about his new record The Upside of Down, southern charm, “finding in jazz and black music what [he] had tried to find in Synagogue," tipping the doorman, being born 50 years too late, playing for regular people, using adversity as an opportunity, what he learned from his friendships with Ramsey Lewis, Les McCann, Nat Hentoff, and Ahmad Jamal.Joe is a southern guy with a sunny disposition. He came from Atlanta, and ...
Continue ReadingJoe Alterman Trio with John Sandfort at The Jazz Corner
by Martin McFie
The Joe Alterman Trio with John Sandfort The Jazz Corner Hilton Head Island October 12-13, 2018 The Joe Alterman Trio played back-to-back nights at The Jazz Corner on Hilton Head Island, with special guest John Sandfort joining on tenor saxophone. The quartet played two openers together before Sandfort left the stage to Alterman on piano, Justin Chesarek on drums and Stan Piper on upright bass. Driving the strong opening bass ...
Continue ReadingJoe Alterman: Give Me The Simple Life
by C. Michael Bailey
Bruce Lindsey, in his review of Joe Alterman's Give Me The Simple Life, notes that the young pianist has..."the feel of a musician who's been immersed in his chosen music for decades." Citing Errol Garner, Oscar Peterson and Red Garland as influences, Altman betrays influences that further give bona fides to his experience beyond youth. Chief among these influences is Garland, who held the piano chair in Miles Davis' first great quintet with John Coltrane, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe ...
Continue ReadingJoe Alterman: Give Me The Simple Life
by Bruce Lindsay
There's a tension for many young jazz musicians, between the desire to start recording and the rather contrary need to develop technically and aesthetically before going public. Sometimes there is no tension: Joe Alterman is a case in point. The pianist may be a mere stripling in his early 20s, but he has the technique, the understanding and, most importantly, the feel of a musician who's been immersed in his chosen music for decades. Give Me The Simple Life, his ...
Continue ReadingJoe Alterman: Piano Tracks, Volume 1
by Dan McClenaghan
The late Miles Davis had a hand in pushing the standard-playing piano trio out of fashion. The iconic trumpeter's Bitches Brew (Columbia Records, 1970) moved jazz in new and bold directions, and it didn't take long for the piano/bass/drums format to slip into the quaint and old fashioned--and very un-hip--category.Then along came Keith Jarrett--a Davis modern music alum--and his Standards, Vol. 1 (ECM, 1983) and Vol. 2 (ECM, 1985), shining a light on a concept that had slipped ...
Continue ReadingJoe Alterman: The Upside of Down
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Yesterday I spent the day writing and riding out Hurricane Henri while listening to Joe Alterman's new album, The Upside of Down (Ropeadope). Joe not only is a gifted jazz pianist but also is a rarity in jazz—someone who sifts through the history of the jazz piano like an archeologist. He also is immensely likeable. His upbeat disposition serves him well, since he has befriended many of his jazz heroes and learned quite a bit from them. It shows in ...
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Joe Alterman: Comin' Home
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
If you're like me, you probably grow frustrated when you run out of early recordings by pianists such as Red Garland, Ahmad Jamal, Ramsey Lewis, Gene Harris and Les McCann. You know, pianists who listened to themselves as they played and loved more than anything to swing and move souls. These pianists had a healthy respect for space, they loved single-note improvised lines, they didn't rush songs and they avoided jamming in as many notes as possible. Block chords were ...
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Joe Alterman: 'Simple Life'
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Over the past 95 years, jazz has repeatedly had to drag fans kicking and screaming into the future. Most fans like what they like and don't care much for new jazz styles, especially those that are radically different from the music they favor. While jazz certainly must evolve if it is to survive beyond the museum, most young musicians today seem to go out of their way to ignore yesterday while trying to create a new tomorrow. Not so with ...
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Joe Alterman: Piano Tracks
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
It's easy to carp about the death of jazz and young jazz artists' ignorance of the music's history. Both are soft targets, especially since so many young jazz players seem almost proud that they know little or nothing about jazz's past. Somewhere along the line, “old" in our music schools became “useless," as if the shock of the new alone makes one's performances significant. One 21-year-old pianist who is changing these perceptions is Joe Alterman. His new album, Piano Tracks, ...
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"Although much younger than I, Joe Alterman is an inspiration to me! His piano playing, his will to explore and his ability to swing is a joy to behold.” - Ramsey Lewis
“Joe is tiny, but only in stature. As a man and a musician he is already a giant.” - Les McCann
"Joe Alterman combines outstanding musical technique with infectious enthusiasm for his work. I've seen him fill a room with joy as his skill at the keyboard combines seamlessly with his delightful and appealing onstage personality. Young Alterman is one fine, first-class entertainer.” - Dick Cavett
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From: Joe Alterman Plays Les McCann:...By Joe Alterman
