| Eric Alexander | |
| Background: | non_vocal_instrumentalist |
| Birth Date: | 4 August 1968 |
| Birth Place: | Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Musician, educator |
| Instrument: | Saxophone |
| Years Active: | 1991-present |
| Label: | Delmark, Milestone, HighNote |
| Associated Acts: | Charles Earland, Mike LeDonne, Vincent Herring, Joe Farnsworth |
Eric Alexander (born August 4, 1968)[1] is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator. Having placed second at the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition behind Joshua Redman and ahead of Chris Potter and Tim Warfield, he was soon signed by a record label and has since recorded over 20 albums as a leader and over 300 as a sideman. [2]
Alexander was born in Illinois.[3] He began as a classical musician, studying alto saxophone at Indiana University with Eugene Rousseau in 1986. He soon switched to jazz and the tenor saxophone, however, and transferred to William Paterson University, where he studied with Harold Mabern, Rufus Reid, Joe Lovano, Gary Smulyan, Norman Simmons, Steve Turre and others.[4]
Alexander finished second at the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition.[5] Later that year, he made his recording debut with Charles Earland and released his debut album on Delmark the following year.[6]
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's Groover Quartet with Peter Bernstein, and Joe Farnsworth. He has recorded and toured extensively with the sextet, One for All, and The Battle with Vincent Herring.[7]
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Straight Up | Delmark | Quintet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet), Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), George Fludas (drums) | |
| 1992 | New York Calling | Criss Cross | Quintet, with John Swana (trumpet/fluegelhorn), Richard Wyands (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums) | |
| 1993 | Up, Over & Out | Delmark | Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Ore (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 1994 | Full Range | Criss Cross | Sextet, with John Swana (trumpet), Kenny Barron (piano), Peter Bernstein (guitar), Peter Washington (bass), Carl Allen (drums) | |
| 1995 | Eric Alexander in Europe | Criss Cross | Quartet, with Melvin Rhyne (organ), Bobby Broom (guitar), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 1995 | Stablemates | Delmark | Quintet, with Lin Halliday (tenor sax), Jodie Christian (piano), Dan Shapera (bass), Wilbur Campbell (drums) | |
| 1996 | Two of a Kind | Criss Cross | Quintet, with Cecil Payne (baritone sax), David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 1997 | Man with a Horn | Milestone | Most tracks quartet, with Cedar Walton (piano), Dwayne Burno (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); some tracks sextet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet), Steve Davis (trombone) added | |
| 1997 | Alexander the Great | HighNote | Quintet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet), Charles Earland (organ), Peter Bernstein (guitar), Joe Farnsworth (drums) [rel. 2000] | |
| 1997 | Heavy Hitters | Pony Canyon | Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 1997 | Mode for Mabes | Delmark | Sextet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet), Steve Davis (trombone), Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), George Fludas (drums) | |
| 1998 | Extra Innings | Alfa Jazz | Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 1998 | Solid! | Milestone | Most tracks quartet, with John Hicks (piano), George Mraz (bass), Idris Muhammad (drums); some tracks quintet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet) added; one track quintet, with Joe Locke (vibes) replacing Alexander; one track solo piano by Hicks | |
| 1998 | A Love Story | 32 Jazz | Quartet, with Cyrus Chestnut (piano), George Mraz (bass), Lewis Nash (drums); AKA 'The Keystone Quartet' | |
| 1999 | Live at the Keynote | Video Arts | Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 1999 | The First Milestone | Milestone | Quintet, with Pat Martino (guitar), Harold Mabern (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2000 | The Second Milestone | Milestone | Most tracks quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); three tracks quintet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet) added | |
| 2001 | Summit Meeting | Milestone | Most tracks quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); four tracks quintet, with Nicholas Payton (trumpet, fluegelhorn) added | |
| 2002 | Nightlife in Tokyo | Milestone | Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Ron Carter (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2004 | Gentle Ballads | Venus | Quartet, with Mike LeDonne (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) [note: includes 2 versions of "[[Harlem Nocturne]]"] | |
| 2004 | Dead Center | HighNote | Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2005 | Sunday in New York | Venus | Quartet, with John Hicks (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2005 | It's All in the Game | HighNote | Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2006 | Gentle Ballads II | Venus | Quartet, with Mike LeDonne (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2007 | Temple of Olympic Zeus | HighNote | Most tracks quartet, with David Hazeltine (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); some tracks quintet, with Jim Rotondi (trumpet) added | |
| 2007 | My Favorite Things | Venus | Quartet, with David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2007 | In Concert: Prime Time | HighNote | Quartet, with David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2007 | Gentle Ballads III | Venus | Quartet, with Mike LeDonne (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2008 | Lazy Afternoon: Gentle Ballads IV | Venus | Quartet, with Mike LeDonne (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2009 | Revival of the Fittest | HighNote | Most tracks quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); one track duo, with Mike LeDonne (piano) | |
| 2009 | Chim Chim Cheree | Venus | Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2010 | Don't Follow the Crowd | HighNote | Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2011 | Gentle Ballads V | Venus | Quartet, with George Cables (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2012 | Touching | HighNote | Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2013 | Blues at Midnight | Venus | Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2013 | Recado Bossa Nova | Venus | Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2013 | Chicago Fire | HighNote | Most tracks quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); some tracks quintet, with Jeremy Pelt (trumpet) added | |
| 2015 | The Real Thing | HighNote | Most tracks quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums); some tracks quintet, with Pat Martino (guitar) added | |
| 2016 | Second Impression | HighNote | Quartet, with Harold Mabern (piano, Fender Rhodes), Bob Cranshaw (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) | |
| 2016 | Just One of Those Things | Venus | Trio, with Dezron Douglas (bass), Neal Smith (drums) | |
| 2017 | Song of No Regrets | HighNote | Most tracks quintet, with David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums), Alex Diaz (percussion); some tracks sextet, with Jon Faddis (trumpet) added | |
| 2019 | Leap of Faith | Giant Step Arts | Trio, with Doug Weiss (bass), Johnathan Blake (drums)[8] | |
| 2019 | With Strings | HighNote | Quartet, with David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums), plus string orchestra (conducted by Dave Rivello)[9] | |
| 2023 | A New Beginning: Alto Saxophone With Strings | HighNote | Quartet, with David Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums), plus string orchestra (conducted by Bill Dobbins) | |
| 2024 | Timing Is Everything | Cellar Music Group | Quartet, with Rick Germanson (piano), Alexander Claffy (bass), Jason Tiemann (drums), plusguests: Jed Paradies- flute (on "Serenade To A Cuckoo"), Rale Micic- guitar (on "Serenade To A Cuckoo"), Alma Micic- voice (on "Evergreen"), Stan Wetering- tenor sax (on "Big G’s Monk") | |
| 2024 | Together | Cellar Music Group | Duo, with Mike LeDonne (piano) |
With Steve Davis
With Charles Earland
With Joe Farnsworth
With David Hazeltine
With Vincent Herring
With Randy Johnston
With Mike LeDonne
With Harold Mabern
With Jimmy McGriff
With New York All-Stars
With One for All (co-leader with Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, David Hazeltine, Joe Farnsworth)
With Cecil Payne
With Reeds and Deeds (co-leader with Grant Stewart)
With Irene Reid
With Jim Rotondi
With Larry Willis