Eric Alexander

Eric Alexander – A New Beginning – Alto Saxophone with Strings (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 48:28 minutes | 570 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © HighNote Records

As difficult times often beget new beginnings, the COVID-19 quagmire gave birth to alto saxophonist Eric Alexander.

To some, a tenor-to-alto switch may not seem to be a newsworthy matter, but for the initiated it’s the stuff of headlines. An inveterate tenor at the apex of the scene for more than three decades, Eric put the alto away in his teen years and never looked back. “But with the dearth of opportunities to play during the pandemic, I started to work on it,” he confesses.

After successfully pitching the idea of using his second saxophone-with-strings project as a debut on alto, the present recording is quite simply astounding. Working with his regular rhythm section and adding ace string arrangements, this altoist delivers one revelatory performance after another.

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Eric Alexander – Song of No Regrets (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 55:07 minutes | 628 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © HighNote Records

Hearing tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander is one of the great treats in jazz. There are few artists on stage today who combine chops, imagination and technique with a fluidity of ideas as he does. This imposing improviser is reunited here with pianist David Hazeltine and they’re joined by another jazz great , the always daring trumpeter Jon Faddis on a couple of the tracks. Add in the swing engendered by bassist John Webber and drummer Joe Farnsworth and you have a formula for excellence, if ever there was one. Alexander produced the session and there is a strong latin feel throughout thanks to the contributions of vibrant percussionist Alex Diaz spurring the band on with a whole trunk load of Latin percussion instruments. In addition to the Sergio Mendes & Brazil ’66 title tune, the set-list features a satisfying mix of originals and covers all given the patented Alexander treatment.

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Eric Alexander – Second Impression (2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 54:49 minutes | 1,11 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © HighNote Records

It can be argued with some validity that one’s overall movement through life is reflected in his creative endeavor, and Eric Alexander’s strength and versatility on the saxophone can be viewed from this perspective. At this point in his career, Eric has certainly covered a lot of territory, both literally and figuratively. He himself has lost count of how many albums feature his playing; our guess is 100 or more. While he has garnered critical acclaim from every corner, what has mattered most has been to establish his own voice within the illustrious bop-based jazz tradition which is exactly what he does on his latest HighNote release. The close-knit ensemble of a band of regular buddies, coupled with the bass-clef contributions of the extraordinary Bob Cranshaw, make for a listening experience not soon forgotten.

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Eric Alexander – Eric Alexander with Strings (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 36:29 minutes | 678 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © HighNote Records

Eric Alexander’s prowess on the tenor saxophone, his unimpeachable virtuosity and technical skill, is obvious to anyone who has paid attention to his fluent and stirring work over the past three decades.

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