Taru Alexander Explained

Taru Alexander
Birth Name:Taru Alexander
Birth Date:18 December 1967
Birth Place:Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Instrument:Drums
Genre:Jazz
Occupation:Drummer
Associated Acts:Roland Alexander's quintet, Abbie Lincoln, Roy Hargrove quintet, Carlos Garnett quartet, Rodney Kendrick.

Taru Alexander (born December 18, 1967) is an American jazz drummer, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He is a son of Roland Alexander, an American post-bop jazz tenor saxophone player from Boston, Massachusetts.[1] Alexander started to play drums at the early age of seven years old surrounded by jazz musicians like Freddie Hubbard, Reggie Workman, Gary Bartz and Kiani Zawadi. At the age of nine he was studying drums under the leadership of master drummers Rudy Collins, Andre Strobert and Walter Perkins at the New Muse music school in Brooklyn, New York. By the age of thirteen, Taru started to perform professionally with his father Roland Alexander's quintet (Roland Alexander-tenor saxophone, Kiani Zawadi-trombone, Hilton Ruiz-piano, Paul Brown-bass). At the same time, he started to study drums with Justin DiCioccio at the La Guardia Music & Art High School in New York.[2]

Cooperations

While still studying at the age of sixteen, Taru recorded his first album as a side man accompanying Fred Ho Afro-Asian Ensemble on the Black Saint record label.[3] Soon after, he established himself at the New York jazz scene and became one of the sough after drummers. He also toured US with the Moe Better Blues Band & The Drums of Fire bands. Taru is in 2018 actively performing with Williamsburg Music Allstars and various musicians throughout the New York, USA and Europe. Alexander performed domestically and internationally with: Abbey Lincoln,[4] Betty Carter, Roland Alexander, Roy Hargrove, Rodney Kendrick,[5] [6] Branford Marsalis, Danny Mixon, Gary Bartz, Carlos Garnett,[7] [8] Reggie Workman, Bill Saxton, Kenny Davis, Lonnie Plaxico, Bill Lee, Tommy Turntine, Bill Saxton, Gary Bartz, Eddie Comes, Murgrew Miller, Taurus Mateen, Roland Alexander, Eric Alexander, Reggie Workman, Branford Marsilis, Wynton Marsilis, Gerry Eastman,[9] Ron Burton, Paul Brown, Juni Booth, Kiani Zawadi, Eddie Henderson, Abbie Lincoln,[10] Betty Carter, Sweet Georgia Brown, Fred Ho, Sam Furnace, Hank Jones, Roy Hargrove,[11] Benny Green, Christian McBride, Steven Scott, JD Allen, Peter Bernstein, Monte Croft, Don Sickler, Bobby Watson, Clifton Anderson,[12] Tadataka Unno, Amin Salim, Ronnie Mathews, Dywane Burno, Justin Robinson, Curtis Lundy, Michael Marcus,[13] [14] Sonny Simmons[15] and many more...[16] He has a musical group called The Taru Alexander Quartet.[17]

Clubs

Alexander played and performed in jazz clubs in New York - FAT Tuesdays, Sweet Basil, Bradley's, The original Smalls Paradise in Harlem, Blue Note,[18] [19] Village Vanguard, The Village Gate, The Garage, The St. Nick's Pub, Tavern on the Green, Smalls Jazz Club,[20] 55 bar, Up and Over jazz club, The East, Pumpkins, The Blue Cornet, Paris Blues, Williamsburg Music Center,[21] Sister's Place, Zinc Bar, Lenox Lounge.

Tours and festivals

Discography

During his three decades of professional career, Alexander appeared as a side man on more than fifty albums.

Leader

As a leader, Alexander recorded in 2014 album titled "KoJo Time"[28] released under the Jazz Leadsheet label paying tribute to his father, tenor saxophone player Roland Alexander by playing his original compositions.

Sideman

YearAlbumArtistCredits
2008Brown Skin GalGerry EastmanMain Personnel, Drums
2006Harlem HomecomingSalim WashingtonDrums, Drum
1997Turn Pain into PowerFred HoDrums
1997We Don't Die, We Multiply[29] Rodney KendrickDrums
1996ResurgenceCarlos GarnettDrums
1996Who Used to DanceAbbey LincolnDrums
1995Last Chance for Common Sense[30] Rodney KendrickDrums
1994The Secrets of Rodney KendrickRodney KendrickDrums
1985Tomorrow Is Now!Fred HounDrums
noneHarlem Jazz Machine[31] Melvin VinesPersonnel
[32] [33]

Awards

In 1996 Taru was honored with a proclamation for his musical achievements by Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz alongside jazz drummer Max Roach.[34]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Staten Island Jazz Festival . Universal Temple of the Arts, Staten Island, NY . May 5, 2018.
  2. Web site: Taru Alexander Profile . SmallsLIVE . May 5, 2018.
  3. Book: Buckley N. . Roger . Roberts . Tamara . 2013 . Yellow Power, Yellow Soul - The Radical Art of Fred Ho . University of Illinois . 233 . Chapter: Discography . 978-0-252-03750-4.
  4. Web site: Abbey Lincoln with Marcus Melaurine (bass) and Taru Alexander (drums) at the "Jazz Gipfel" concert, Stuttgart, Germany, 1992 . www.mptvimages.com . 2018-05-11.
  5. Web site: Taru Alexander Discography of CDs . CDUniverse.com . May 5, 2018.
  6. Web site: Rodney Kendrick - Last Chance For Common Sense CD Album . www.cduniverse.com . 2018-05-11.
  7. Web site: PROFILE INFORMATION - Taru Alexander's Page . TheJazzNetworkWorldwide.com . May 5, 2018.
  8. News: Jazzing it up with Carlos Garnett . Caribbean Life . 2018-05-11.
  9. Web site: Library Series continues for Second Year 2008-2009 . Fall 2008 . May 11, 2018.
  10. Web site: Abbey Lincoln Golden Lady - Centerblog . www.centerblog.net . fr . 2018-05-11.
  11. Web site: Blue Note VERVE CD RELEASE WEEK - ROY HARGROVE QUINTET - 2006-03-14 . www.bluenote.net . 2018-05-10.
  12. Web site: Clifton Anderson Quartet . Hudson Valley Music . 2018-05-11.
  13. News: Michael Marcus Lotus Symphony Not Two Records. 2011-01-18. M.etropolis. 2018-05-11.
  14. Web site: Michael Marcus - LOTUS SYMPHONY . www.jazzsound.pl . pl . 2018-05-11.
  15. Web site: Hello World ! the Sonny Simmons homepage : news (new records, schedule, gigs) . www.sonnysimmons.org . 2018-05-11.
  16. Web site: Staten Island Jazz Festival . Universal Temple of the Arts, Staten Island, NY . May 5, 2018.
  17. Web site: The Taru Alexander Quartet . SmallsLIVE . 2018-05-11.
  18. Web site: Jazz news: Tonight! Michael Marcus Quartet at the Blue Note (NYC) . Jazz . All About . All About Jazz News . February 2010 . 2018-05-11.
  19. News: Blue Note Jazz Presents February And March Schedule . BWW News Desk . BroadwayWorld.com . 2018-05-11.
  20. Web site: SmallsLIVE by Taru Alexander quintet . LiveList.com . May 5, 2018.
  21. Web site: Taru Alexander at Williamsburg Music Center . Bandsintown Inc. . May 5, 2018.
  22. Web site: Carlos Garnett Quartet . www.inntoene.com . de . 2018-05-11.
  23. Web site: michaelmarcusmusic.com . www.michaelmarcusmusic.com . 2018-05-11.
  24. Web site: Tour Dates Archive . www.companyofheaven.com . 2018-05-11.
  25. Web site: News from 2006 Division of Jazz Studies. jazz.unt.edu. 2018-05-11.
  26. News: Minus Hargrove, quintet performs most admirably . tribunedigital-chicagotribune . 2018-05-11.
  27. Web site: Staten Island Jazz Festival . Universal Temple of the Arts, Staten Island, NY . May 5, 2018.
  28. Web site: Monk's Moments . jazzleadsheets.com . 2018-05-10.
  29. Kalbacher . Gene . November 10, 1997 . Rodney Kendrick - We Don´t Die We Multiply . CMJ New Music Report . 52 . 16 . 0890-0795 .
  30. Book: Baraka . Amiri . Amiri Baraka . Imamu . 2009 . Digging: The Afro-American Soul of American Classical Music . registration . University of California Press . 372 . Chapter: Notes, Reviews, and Observations . 978-0-520-26582-0.
  31. November 2011 . Melvin Vines - Harlem Jazz Machine . Downbeat . 78 . 69 .
  32. Web site: Taru Alexander Credits . AllMusic.com . May 5, 2018.
  33. Web site: Taru Alexander . Discogs . 2018-05-10.
  34. Web site: Taru Alexander Profile . SmallsLIVE . May 5, 2018.

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