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World’s youngest @theGRAMMYs nominee @_JoeyAlexander performs songs from new album in @KimmelCenter debut 3/18-19
Press Contact:
Amanda Conte
215-790-5847
aconte@kimmelcenter.org
WORLD’S YOUNGEST GRAMMY NOMINEE JOEY ALEXANDER TO PERFORM SONGS FROM NEW ALBUM COUNTDOWN AT THE KIMMEL CENTER, MARCH 18–19, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, January 24, 2017) – An extraordinary and uniquely gifted pianist from Bali, 13-year-old Joey Alexander makes his Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts debut at the Perelman Theater March 18–19, 2017, to perform music from his recording debut My Favorite Things and his highly-anticipated sophomore album Countdown. Fresh off performances at The GRAMMY Awards and ABC’s CMA Country Christmas special, Alexander will appear with his Trio for these performances, a group that has performed at well-known venues and major festivals across the United States and around the globe, including Tel Aviv, Montréal, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Prague, Vienna, and his native Indonesia.
“13-year-old Joey Alexander has sky-rocketed into the jazz world at an unbelievable pace and possesses an understanding and confidence that simply cannot be taught,” said Anne Ewers, President and CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “As an organization that emphasizes the value of introducing children to the arts early, it is such a pleasure to welcome this young and talented artist to our campus to inspire the next generation of musicians and music lovers.”
Wynton Marsalis, internationally-acclaimed musician, composer, and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center has said of Alexander, “There has never been anyone that you can think of who could play like that at his age. I love everything about his playing – his rhythm, his confidence, his understanding of the music.”
A self-taught musician, Alexander learned about jazz after listening to his father’s extensive collection of classic albums. An amateur musician himself, Alexander’s father quickly recognized his son’s gift for jazz, as his technique and ability to grasp complicated musical concepts was beyond someone much his senior. At age eight, UNESCO invited him to play solo piano for Herbie Hancock during his visit to Indonesia. At nine, Alexander won the grand prize at the first Master-Jam Fest, an all-ages competition in Ukraine including 200 competitors from 17 countries.
His 2015 debut album, My Favorite Things, garnered two Grammy Award nominations for “Best Jazz Instrumental Album” and “Best Improvised Solo” for his performance of John Coltrane’s Giant Steps. These nominations made him the youngest jazz artist ever nominated for a Grammy. This past September, he released his second studio album titled Countdown, a reflection of growth and maturity of Alexander as an artist, charting his artistic direction for the future.
Other upcoming performances on the Kimmel Center Campus include Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (February 3 – 4, 2017, Merriam Theater), iLuminate (February 10 – 11, 2017, Merriam Theater), Balé Folclórico da Bahía (February 17, 2017, Merriam Theater), DRUMLine Live (March 9 – 10, 2017, Merriam Theater), and PHILADANCO (April 13 - 15, 2017, Perelman Theater).
JOEY ALEXANDER TRIO
Perelman Theater
March 18, 2017, 8:00 p.m.
March 19, 2017, 2:00 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale now and start at $39.50 Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (215) 790-5883. More information at kimmelcenter.org.
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, The Kimmel Center’s mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience through diverse programming, arts education, and community outreach. The Kimmel Center campus is comprised of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, SEI Innovation Studio, and the Merck Arts Education Center), the Academy of Music (owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association), and the Merriam Theater. The Kimmel Center is also home to eight Resident Companies: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Philly Pops, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Curtis Institute of Music. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is the season sponsor of the Kimmel Center’s 2016-2017 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.
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