Ari Alexander

Holding a Scandinavian sensitivity to an American tradition, Danish-American Ari Alexander is as equally a jazz musician as she is a singer-songwriter. She was inspired to pursue jazz after learning of her vibrant musical family, including her grandmother and great-aunt, jazz vocalist Teddi King. She has led ensembles in settings like the Copenhagen Jazz Festival and the more intimate settings of the Django in NYC.

In 2022 she produced and released her album "Muse" with her band Visen. She completed her bachelor at Berklee College of Music, her Master's degree at New England Conservatory, and she has been an assistant professor at Wheaton College. In 2023, she released her album "Duos" with guitarist Cecil Alexander, and in 2024 she released a series of singles from a live quartet session.

Currently, Ari is on tour with her new post-bop driven record, "Kaleidoscope" (2026), another eclectic collaboration with Cecil Alexander.

Ari & Cecil Alexander: Kaleidoscope

Read "Kaleidoscope" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright

by Katchie Cartwright
July 29, 2026

A breezy virtuosity pervades Kaleidoscope from the opening title cut. “I run for the train with you on my mind," vocalist-pianist Ari Alexander sings, “watching the town kaleidoscope by..." She and guitarist Cecil Alexander call their style “rhythmic post-bop," citing Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson and Betty Carter as influences, but you can also hear a bit of Bob Dorough, Dave Frishberg and Blossom Dearie in their original compositions, pieces like Dorough and Frishberg's “I'm Hip," which Dearie premiered in 1966 ...

Karin Grand, journalist with the Aarhus Jazz Festival described her 2025 performance as following: "Ari treats every note with great imagination, and especially her mastery and playful use of scat singing sets her apart from other jazz vocalists. You can sense how the couple has influenced each other's musicality. In any case, it feels as if Ari’s voice, like a guitar, has not just one but several strings she can play on. Her ability to surprise in rises and falls made an impression—especially in the high, bright notes."