finetune artist: Eric Alexander

b. Eric Wells Alexander, 4 August 1968, Galesburg, Illinois, USA. Born to a pair of musically inclined and encouraging parents, Alexander began taking piano lessons at eight years old and showed a great deal of promise. At 10, when instruments were distributed for the elementary school band, young Alexander chose the clarinet. He did not excel at the instrument, however, and soon found himself demoted to the bass clarinet. Upon finding a teacher at the age of 12, he switched to alto saxophone. Alexander continued in the school band programmes and state competitions, playing what classical saxophone works could be found. His interest in jazz at this age was minimal but he did gravitate towards the more contemporary saxophone artists including David Sanborn, Tom Scott and Michael Brecker. After graduating from high school, with a switch to tenor saxophone, Alexander attended Indiana University with only a partial intent to study music. It was a very influential teacher at this time, David Baker, who began to steer Alexander in the direction of becoming a serious jazz musician. His instruction and advice gave Alexander a firm musical foundation upon which he still relies heavily to this day. After a year with Baker, in 1987 Alexander made the decision to transfer to William Patterson College in New Jersey in an effort to be closer to New York City. It was here, under the guidance of teachers such as Joe Lovano, Harold Mabern and Rufus Reid, that he began to absorb the knowledge and experience that would define his musical future. While playing local bar gigs and college competitions with classmates, Alexander began an intense study of all of the saxophone masters. Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, George Coleman and Joe Henderson, among others, became major influences on him.

Listen to Eric Alexander at Finetune.

Four
Nightlife In Tokyo
I Can Dream, Can't I?
A House Is Not A Home
Straight Street