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Alex Clarke

As a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards and nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2021 & 2022, Alex is known to be one of the most in-demand and versatile young saxophonists to have emerged on the British jazz scene.


Since the age of 15 - where she saw her first public performance sitting in with the Exall/Roberts Quintet at Pershore Jazz Festival - Alex has been a regular face at jazz clubs and festivals all around the country.


Known for her versatility and open-minded attitude towards jazz, Alex enjoys performing a range of genres from New Orleans to bebop. Praised for her extensive repertoire list and intelligent ear for harmony, she brings a youthful, intuitive approach that always sounds authentic in a variety of musical settings. Alex's musical voice is steeped in the tradition of jazz; her deep respect for the heritage of the music can be heard in her swinging, melodic sound which is reminiscent of Scott Hamilton and Lester Young, also heavily influenced by Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley.


The Alex Quartet features some of the finest names in British Jazz, namely David Newton, Dave Green and Clark Tracey. In Summer 2022, they released their latest album 'Only A Year'.

 

As well as leading her own quartet, Alex works with many bands up and down the country, performing alongside notable names such as Roy Williams, Bruce Adams, Enrico Tomasso, Gilad Atzmon, Greg Abate and Art Themen. Additionally, Alex regularly works with the highly acclaimed jazz, blues and country vocalist/pianist TJ Johnson. As well as small group playing, Alex has worked with a variety of big bands, including the Simon Spillett Big Band. ​Additionally, she is a regular member of the highly popular Jake Leg Jug Band who perform authentic 1920's & 30's prohibition jazz and blues.


In 2018, Alex released her debut album “Mirage” - featuring Tom Kincaid (piano), Ed Harrison (bass) and Eryl Roberts (drums). In October 2019, Alex recorded an album with The TJ Johnson Band, entitled “Songs from the Jazz Country”.


Over the years, Alex has benefitted from tuition from Dean Masser, Andy Scott, Dan Whieldon and Andy Panayi. She is also an alumni of the National Youth Jazz Collective and was pleased to return as a tutor on the 2021 NYJC Summer School Short Course.

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17
Interview

Alex Clarke: She Does It Her Way

Read "Alex Clarke: She Does It  Her Way" reviewed by Chris May


Coming up fast behind the school of British saxophonists who emerged around 2015 is a younger group of players who are just beginning to get noticed. Among them is Alex Clarke, who was a finalist in Britain's public service broadcaster, the BBC's biannual Young Jazz Musician competition in 2020. In the televised final in November, Clarke wowed the judges with a three song set played on alto and tenor. The three judges were class of 2015 tenor star ...

13
Album Review

Alex Clarke Quartet: Mirage

Read "Mirage" reviewed by Chris May


The bi-annual Young Jazz Musician competition was launched by Britain's public service broadcaster, the BBC, in 2014. As with all arts awards, the final selection tends to be a lottery, with the judges tasked with picking a winner from among five close-matched contestants. 2020 was no exception. The final was televised on November 22 and the judges—tenor saxophonist Nubya Garcia, vibraphonist and multi-instrumentalist Orphy Robinson and trumpeter Guy Barker—plumped for the London pianist Deschanel Gordon. But they could just as ...

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"One of the UK's finest young jazz talents" - The Jazz Rag

"strong and full sound... swinging, melodic and refreshingly cliché-free" - Jazz Views

"Her innate musical ability is backed by rare determination and capacity for hard work and - without any trace of arrogance - confidence in her own decisions" - The Jazz Rag

"This lady plays with gutsiness and a respect for melody that’s often overlooked by younger jazz players today" - The Jazz Cave

"bathe in her command of rhythm and her gorgeous sound on alto and tenor" - All About Jazz

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Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Location

Birmingham

Phil Woods
saxophone, alto
Gene Ammons
saxophone, tenor
Grant Stewart
saxophone, tenor
Sonny Stitt
saxophone
Dexter Gordon
saxophone, tenor
Scott Hamilton
saxophone, tenor
Joshua Redman
saxophone
Cory Weeds
saxophone, alto

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Introducing Emily...

Strayhorn Records
2024

buy

Mirage

Self Released
2018

buy

Suddenly Last Tuesday

From: Introducing Emily Masser
By Alex Clarke

Videos

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