Following four critically acclaimed albums for Motéma Music, 16-year-old piano prodigy
Joey Alexander makes his major-label debut with 2020's
Warna. A translation of the word "color" from the Indonesian-born
Alexander's native language of Bahasa,
Warna showcases his rich harmonic sophistication and lithe improvisational skills. Joining
Alexander are his trio bandmates veteran bassist
Larry Grenadier and drummer
Kendrick Scott. Together they play with a warmth and sensitivity that feel impressively well-honed. Also adding to the trio's sound are Venezuelan-born percussionist
Luisito Quintero, and flautist
Anne Drummond, who offer yet more vibrant textures. Like many prodigies,
Alexander is something of a virtuoso and his improvisational skills are far beyond his years. And while his spectacular technical abilities do consistently draw focus, there's still a fantastic sense of group interplay on
Warna. Many of the songs here, especially originals like "Mosaic [Of Beauty]" and "Downtime," are deceptively uncomplicated compositions built around repeated motifs and kinetic grooves which
Alexander then subtly expands upon, his sparkling chords dancing against the pulse of
Grenadier and
Scott's rhythm section in a poetic give-and-take.
Alexander toured alongside
Ramsey Lewis in the years leading up to
Warna, so it comes as little surprise that much of the sound on the record feels reminiscent of the piano icon's soulful style. Along with
Alexander's originals, he offers equally compelling readings of
Sting's "Fragile,"
Joe Henderson's "Inner Urge," and an intensely lyrical album-closing take on "My Funny Valentine." One of the most impressive aspects of
Alexander's playing is that, despite being virtuosic, his abilities never overshadow the presentation of the music. It's easy to forget just how young he is while listening to
Warna, and to simply get lost in the beauty of the music. ~ Matt Collar