Pianist
Joey Alexander has been a virtuoso improviser since before he was a teenager. At age 19, he's still a wunderkind, with a sound that deftly straddles the influence of veteran icons like
Herbie Hancock and
Mulgrew Miller, but with a modern sophistication that's quickly becoming recognizable as his own. It's a sound he puts on full display on his ebullient and sophisticated sixth album, 2022's
Origin. The album follows his equally impressive 2020 effort
Warna and again finds him leading his trio with bassist
Larry Grenadier and drummer
Kendrick Scott. While this version of the
Alexander trio already sounded like they had a deep musical familiarity on
Warna, here they feel even more connected -- sounding less like experienced veterans backing a young star, and more like a group of artistic equals. Also coming on board this time are two other jazz luminaries in saxophonist
Chris Potter and guitarist Gilad Hekselman, both of whom bring their own highly distinctive improvisational voices to the proceedings. While in the past
Alexander has explored jazz standards alongside his original compositions, on
Origin he showcases his writing skills to their fullest, writing and arranging every song. And it's not just his writing that has grown --
Alexander has matured into a balanced musical guide, commanding attention when necessary, but softly receding elsewhere to let his bandmates shine. This warm give and take happens throughout
Origin. It's especially evident on the four mid-album compositions in which
Alexander invokes the changing of the seasons, a song cycle that starts with his dancerly trio piece "Dear Autumn." Next,
Potter and Hekselman share the spotlight on "Winter Blues," trading knotty tenor and guitar lines over
Alexander's luminous Fender Rhodes chords; all of which brings to mind the crunchy, organic post-bop of players like
John Scofield and
Michael Brecker. From there,
Alexander eases into the sparkling trio piece "Promise of Spring," before Hekeselman returns for the dewy kineticism of "Summer Rising." Other generous moments pop up throughout as
Potter takes the lead on "On the Horizon," his majestic and throaty soprano lines floating ship-like over
Alexander's blue piano waves.
Origin is a soulful, endlessly intoxicating album that builds upon
Alexander's early promise as he points the way toward his future. ~ Matt Collar