Eric Alexander (born August 4, 1968) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

saxophonist.

Early life and education

Alexander was born in

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...

. He began as a classical musician, studying alto saxophone at

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universi ...

with Eugene Rousseau in 1986. He soon switched to jazz and the

tenor saxophone The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (while ...

, however, and transferred to

William Paterson University William Paterson University, officially William Paterson University of New Jersey (WPUNJ), is a public university in Wayne, New Jersey. It is part of New Jersey's public system of higher education. Founded in 1855 and was named after American ju ...

, where he studied with

Harold Mabern Harold Mabern Jr. (March 20, 1936 – September 17, 2019) was an American jazz pianist and composer, principally in the hard bop, post-bop, and soul jazz fields.Feather, Leonard; Gitler, Ira (2007) ''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz''. p. 4 ...

, Rufus Reid,

Joe Lovano Joseph Salvatore Lovano (born December 29, 1952)"Joe Lovano." ''Contemporary Musicians''. Vol. 13. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 1994. Retrieved via ''Biography in Context'' database, May 5, 2017. is an American jazz saxophonist, alto clarin ...

, Gary Smulyan, Norman Simmons, Steve Turre and others.

Career

Alexander finished second at the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. He was soon signed by a record label. Alexander has worked with many jazz musicians, including Chicago pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Idris Muhammad, and guitarist Pat Martino. He is part of

Mike LeDonne Michael Arthur LeDonne (born October 26, 1956) is a jazz pianist and organist known for post-bop and hard bop. He has worked with Benny Golson since 1996 and performs under his own name all over the world. Early life LeDonne was born in Bridgepo ...

's Groover Quartet with Peter Bernstein, and Joe Farnsworth. He has recorded and toured extensively with the sextet, One for All.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With

Steve Davis Steve Davis (born 22 August 1957) is an English retired professional snooker player who is currently a commentator, musician, DJ, and author. He is best known for dominating professional snooker during the 1980s, when he reached eight World S ...

* ''The Jaunt'' (Criss Cross, 1995) * ''Dig Deep'' (Criss Cross, 1996 * ''Crossfire'' (Criss Cross, 1997 * ''Say When'' (Smoke Sessions, 2015) With Charles Earland * ''Unforgettable'' (Muse, 1991) * ''I Ain't Jivin'...I'm Jammin (Muse, 1992) * ''Ready 'n' Able'' (Muse, 1995) * ''Blowing the Blues Away'' (HighNote, 1997) * ''Cookin' with the Mighty Burner'' (HighNote, 1999; recorded 1997) * ''Charles Earland Live'' (Cannonball, 1999; recorded 1997) * ''Stomp!'' (HighNote, 2000; recorded 1999) * Charles Earland Tribute Band: ''Keepers Of The Flame'' (HighNote, 2002) (includes Joey DeFrancesco, Bob DeVos, Pat Martino) With Joe Farnsworth * ''Beautiful Friendship'' (Criss Cross, 1998) * ''It's Prime Time'' (Eighty-Eight's, 2003) * ''Super Prime Time'' (Eighty-Eight's, 2011) * ''My Heroes (Tribute to the Legends)'' (Venus, 2014) With David Hazeltine * ''Blues Quarters, Vol. 1'' (Criss Cross, 1998) * ''The Classic Trio Meets Eric Alexander'' (Sharp Nine, 2001) * ''Manhattan Autumn'' (Sharp Nine, 2001) * ''Blues Quarters, Vol. 2'' (Criss Cross, 2006) * ''The Inspiration Suite'' (Sharp Nine, 2007) * ''Inversions'' (Criss Cross, 2010) With

Vincent Herring Vincent Dwayne Herring (born November 19, 1964) is an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, composer, and educator. Known for his fiery and soulful playing in the bands of Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, and Nat Adderley in the earlier stages of h ...

* ''The Battle (Live at Smoke)'' (HighNote, 2005) * ''Friendly Fire (Live at Smoke)'' (HighNote, 2011) * ''In The Spirit of Coltrane and Cannonball'' (Yanagisawa, 2012) With

Randy Johnston Randy Johnston may refer to: * Randy Johnston (musician) (born 1956), American jazz guitarist * Randy Johnston (model) (1988–2008), American model * Randy Johnston (ice hockey) (born 1958), Canadian ice hockey player See also * Randy Johnson (di ...

* '' Jubilation'' (Muse, 1992

el. 1994 EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...

* ''In A-Chord'' (Muse, 1994 el. 1995 With

* ''Then & Now'' (

Double-Time In popular music, half-time is a type of meter and tempo that alters the rhythmic feel by essentially ''doubling the tempo resolution'' or metric division/level in comparison to common-time. Thus, two measures of approximate a single measure o ...

, 1999) (quintet with Jim Rotondi) * '' Smokin' Out Loud'' (Savant, 2004) * ''You'll See! (Live at The Cellar)'' (Cellar Live, 2004) * ''On Fire (Live at Smoke)'' (Savant, 2006) * ''Five Live (Live at Smoke)'' (Savant, 2007) (quintet with Jeremy Pelt) * ''The Groover'' (Savant, 2009) * ''Keep the Faith'' (Savant, 2011) * ''I Love Music'' (Savant, 2013) * ''Awwl Right!'' (Savant, 2015) * ''That Feelin (Savant, 2016) * ''From the Heart'' (Savant, 2018) * ''It's All Your Fault'' (Savant, 2021) With

* ''Kiss of Fire'' (Venus, 2001) * '' Mr. Lucky (A Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr.)'' (HighNote, 2012) * ''

Afro Blue "Afro Blue" is a jazz standard composed by Mongo Santamaría. Santamaria version Mongo Santamaria recorded his composition "Afro Blue" in 1959 when playing with the Cal Tjader Sextet. The first recorded performance was on April 20, 1959, at th ...

'' (Smoke Sessions, 2015) * '' To Love and Be Loved'' (Smoke Sessions, 2017) * '' The Iron Man: Live at Smoke'' (Smoke Sessions, 2018) * '' Mabern Plays Mabern'' (Smoke Sessions, 2018 el. 2020 * ''Mabern Plays Coltrane'' (Smoke Sessions, 2018 el. 2021 With

Jimmy McGriff James Harrell McGriff (April 3, 1936 – May 24, 2008) was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader. Biography Early years and influences Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, United States, McGriff started playing pi ...

*'' McGriff's House Party'' (Milestone, 1999) With New York All-Stars *''Burnin' In London'' (Ubuntu Music, 2017) (quartet with Harold Mabern) *''Live Encounter'' (Ubuntu Music, 2018) (sextet with Seamus Blake, Mike LeDonne) With One for All (co-leader with Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, David Hazeltine, Joe Farnsworth) * ''Too Soon to Tell'' (Sharp Nine, 1997) * ''Optimism'' (Sharp Nine, 1998) * ''Upward and Onward'' (Criss Cross, 1999) * ''The Long Haul'' (Criss Cross, 2000) * ''The End of a Love Affair'' (Venus, 2001) * ''Live at Smoke, Volume 1'' (Criss Cross, 2001) * ''Wide Horizons'' (Criss Cross, 2002) * ''No Problem: Tribute to Art Blakey'' (Venus, 2003) * ''Blueslike'' (Criss Cross, 2003) * ''Killer Joe'' (Venus, 2005) * ''The Lineup'' (Sharp Nine, 2006) * ''What's Going On'' (Venus, 2007) * ''Return of the Lineup'' (Sharp Nine, 2008) * ''Incorrigible'' (Jazz Legacy Productions, 2009) * ''Invades Vancouver! (Live at The Cellar)'' (Cellar Live, 2010) * ''The Third Decade'' ( Smoke Sessions, 2016) With

Cecil Payne Cecil Payne (December 14, 1922 – November 27, 2007) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist born in Brooklyn, New York. Payne also played the alto saxophone and flute. He played with other prominent jazz musicians, in particular Dizzy Gilles ...

*'' Cerupa'' (Delmark, 1993 el. 1995 *''

Scotch and Milk ''Scotch and Milk'' is an album by the American jazz saxophonist/flautist Cecil Payne, recorded in 1996 and released by the Delmark label the following year.

'' (Delmark, 1996) *'' Payne's Window'' (Delmark, 1998) With Reeds and Deeds (co-leader with Grant Stewart) * ''Wailin (Criss Cross, 2004) * ''Cookin' ''(Criss Cross, 2005) * ''Tenor Time'' (Criss Cross, 2010) With Irene Reid * ''Million Dollar Secret'' (Savant, 1997) * ''I Ain't Doing Too Bad'' (Savant, 1999) * ''The Uptown Lowdown'' (Savant, 2000) * ''One Monkey Don't Stop No Show'' (Savant, 2002) With Jim Rotondi * ''Introducing Jim Rotondi'' (Criss Cross, 1996) * ''Jim's Bop'' (Criss Cross, 1997) * ''Excursions'' (Criss Cross, 1998) * ''Blues for Brother Ray'' (Posi-Tone, 2009) * ''Live at Smalls'' ( Smalls Live, 2009) * ''Hard Hittin' at the Bird's Eye'' (Sharp Nine, 2012) With

Larry Willis Lawrence Elliott Willis (December 20, 1942 – September 29, 2019) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He performed in a wide range of styles, including jazz fusion, Afro-Cuban jazz, bebop, and avant-garde. Willis was born in New York Ci ...

*'' The Offering'' (HighNote, 2008)

With others

* The Tenor Triangle: ''Tell It Like It Is'' (Criss Cross, 1993) (sextet with Ralph Lalama, Tad Shull, and the Melvin Rhyne Trio) * Joe Magnarelli: ''Why Not'' (Criss Cross, 1994) * The Tenor Triangle: ''Aztec Blues'' (Criss Cross, 1994) (sextet with Ralph Lalama, Tad Shull, and the Melvin Rhyne Trio) * Robert Mazurek: ''Badlands'' (Hep, 1995) * Melvin Rhyne: ''Stick to the Kick'' (Criss Cross, 1995) (quintet includes Ryan Kisor, Peter Bernstein) * John Swana: ''In the Moment'' (Criss Cross, 1995) (sextet includes Steve Davis, Kenny Barron) * Atro "Wade" Mikkola Quartet: ''On The Way'' (AMK

inland Inland may refer to: Places Sweden * Inland Fräkne Hundred, a hundred of Bohuslän in Sweden * Inland Northern Hundred, a hundred of Bohuslän in Sweden * Inland Southern Hundred, a hundred of Bohuslän in Sweden * Inland Torpe Hundred, a hundred ...

1995) * Peter Bernstein: ''Brain Dance'' (Criss Cross, 1996) (quintet includes Steve Davis,

Larry Goldings Lawrence Sam “Larry” Goldings (born August 28, 1968) is an American jazz keyboardist and composer. His music has explored elements of funk, blues, and fusion. Goldings has a comedic alter ego known as Hans Groiner. Life and career Golding ...

) * Robert Mazurek: ''Green & Blue'' (Hep, 1996) * Mark Elf: ''A Minor Scramble'' (Jen Bay, 1996) * Michael Weiss: ''Power Station'' (DIW, 1997) * Dave Specter & Lenny Lynn: ''Blues Spoken Here'' (Delmark, 1998) * Pat Martino: '' Stone Blue'' (Blue Note, 1998) * John Swana & Joe Magnarelli: ''Philly-New York Junction'' (Criss Cross, 1998) * Paul Bollenback: ''Soul Grooves'' (Challenge, 1998) * Yoron Israel Connection: ''Live at the Blue Note'' (

Half Note ''Half Note'' is a live album by saxophonist Clifford Jordan which was recorded in 1974 and first released on the SteepleChase label in 1985.

, 1998) * Melvin Rhyne: ''Classmasters'' (Criss Cross, 1999) (quartet includes Peter Bernstein) * Norman Simmons: ''The Art of Norman Simmons'' (Savant, 2000) (quintet includes Henry Johnson) * Mads Baerentzen Trio Featuring Eric Alexander: ''785 Madison Ave.'' (Music Mecca, 2000) * Dmitri Kolesnik: ''Blues for Dad'' (Boheme, 2001) *

Jimmy Scott James Victor Scott (July 17, 1925 – June 12, 2014), known professionally as Little Jimmy Scott or Jimmy Scott, was an American jazz vocalist known for his high natural contralto voice and his sensitivity on ballads and love songs. After ...

: ''But Beautiful'' (Milestone, 2001) * Jimmy Scott: ''Moon Glow'' (Milestone, 2001) * Ryan Kisor: ''The Dream'' (Criss Cross, 2001) * Norman Simmons: ''Synthesis'' (Savant, 2002) (quintet includes Henry Johnson) *

Junior Mance Julian Clifford Mance, Jr. (October 10, 1928 – January 17, 2021), known as Junior Mance, was an American jazz pianist and composer. Biography Early life (1928–1947) Mance was born in Evanston, Illinois. When he was five years old, Mance st ...

Trio & Eric Alexander: ''Groovin' Blues'' (M & I, 2002) * Joe Magnarelli & John Swana: ''New York-Philly Junction'' (Criss Cross, 2003) *

Jimmy Cobb Wilbur James "Jimmy" Cobb (January 20, 1929May 24, 2020) was an American jazz drummer. He was part of Miles Davis's First Great Sextet. At the time of his death, he had been the band's last surviving member for nearly thirty years. He was a ...

's Mob: ''Cobb's Groove'' (Milestone, 2003) (quintet with

Richard Wyands Richard Francis Wyands (July 2, 1928 – September 25, 2019) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, best known for his work as a side-man. Early life Wyands was born in Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the ...

, Peter Bernstein, John Webber) * Simone opmajer(with Romantic Jazz Trio and Eric Alexander): ''Romance'' (Venus, 2004) * Jim Snidero: ''Close Up'' (Milestone, 2004) *

Freddy Cole Lionel Frederick Cole (October 15, 1931 – June 27, 2020) was an American jazz singer and pianist whose recording career spanned almost 70 years. He was the brother of musicians Nat King Cole, Eddie Cole, and Ike Cole, father of Lionel Cole, a ...

: ''This Love of Mine'' (High Note, 2005) * Bob DeVos: ''Shifting Sands'' (Savant, 2005) * Bob DeVos: ''Playing for Keeps'' (Savant, 2007) * Dmitri Kolesnik: ''Five Corners'' (Challenge, 2007) * John Swana: ''Bright Moments'' (Criss Cross, 2007) * Dave O'Higgins Quintet Featuring Eric Alexander: ''Sketchbook'' (Jazzizit, 2008) * Stewy Von Wattenwyl Generations Trio Featuring Eric Alexander: ''Live at Marians'' (Bemsha Music, 2008) * Meeting Point: ''Quintessence'' (Challenge, 2008) (quintet with Jim Rotondi, Andrei Kondakov, Dmitri Kolesnik, Lenny White) * Neal Smith Quintet: ''Live at Smalls'' ( Smalls Live, 2009) * Pat Martino Quartet: '' Undeniable: Live at Blues Alley'' (HighNote, 2011) *

Alexis Cole Alexis Cole is an American jazz singer. Career Cole was born in Queens, New York. Her father and grandmother were both jazz singers and pianists. She grew up in South Florida, where she studied Musical Theater at the New World School of the Arts ...

(with One for All): ''You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To'' (Venus, 2011) * ''I Carry Your Heart: Alexis Cole Sings

Pepper Adams Park Frederick "Pepper" Adams III (October 8, 1930 – September 10, 1986) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist and composer. He composed 42 pieces, was the leader on eighteen albums spanning 28 years, and participated in 600 sessions as a s ...

'' ( Motéma, 2012) * Dee Daniels: ''State of the Art'' (Criss Cross, 2013) (quartet includes Cyrus Chestnut) *

Dena DeRose Dena DeRose (born February 15, 1966) is an American jazz pianist, singer and educator. Although she began her career just as a pianist, medical problems with her hand forced her to become a vocalist as well. She has released seven solo albums. B ...

: ''We Won't Forget You...An Homage To

Shirley Horn Shirley Valerie Horn (May 1, 1934 – October 20, 2005) was an American jazz singer and pianist. She collaborated with many jazz musicians including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Toots Thielemans, Ron Carter, Carmen McRae, Wynton Marsalis and ot ...

'' (HighNote, 2014) (with

Jeremy Pelt Jeremy Pelt (born November 4, 1976, in California) is an American jazz trumpeter. Career Pelt studied classical trumpet as a child and focused on jazz after playing in a high school jazz ensemble. He studied at Berklee College of Music. Among th ...

, Gary Smulyan) * Federico Bonifazi: ''You'll See'' ( Steeplechase, 2015) * Bernd Reiter Quintet Featuring Eric Alexander: ''Workout at Bird's Eye (A Tribute to Hank Mobley &

Grant Green Grant Green (June 6, 1935 – January 31, 1979) was an American jazz guitarist and composer. Recording prolifically for Blue Note Records as both leader and sideman, Green performed in the hard bop, soul jazz, bebop, and Latin-tinged idioms ...

)'' (Steeplechase, 2015) * ''The Candy Men: Harry Allen's All Star New York Saxophone Band'' ( Arbors, 2015) (with Grant Stewart, Gary Smulyan) * Andrew Dickeson With Eric Alexander: ''Is That So'' (Andrew Dickeson Productions, 2017) * David Kikoski: ''Phoenix Rising'' (HighNote, 2019) * Cory Weeds: ''O Sole Mio! Music From The Motherland'' (Cellar Live, 2019 el. 2021 * Michael Weiss: ''Persistence'' (Cellar Live, 2022) * Caesar Frazier: ''Tenacity / As We Speak'' (Track Merchant, 2022)

References

External links

*
JazzPolice.com review of Eric Alexander's "It's All in the Game"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Eric 1968 births Living people American jazz tenor saxophonists American male saxophonists Musicians from Olympia, Washington Milestone Records artists HighNote Records artists Criss Cross Jazz artists Delmark Records artists William Paterson University alumni 21st-century American saxophonists 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians One for All (band) members Venus Records artists