Joey Alexander: Origin

Pianist Joey Alexander was never going to spend his life churning out standards. You could tell from his reimagined version of "Giant Steps," the first track on his 2015 debut album, which begins with a dazzling two-minute solo introduction. The same album also features an original tune, the prowling "Ma Blues." It was clearly only going to be a matter of time before he came up with an all-originals album, and so it is with this, his sixth outing. Meanwhile he has moved to Detroit's Mack Avenue label, whose roster includes other young, like-minded pianists including Christian Sands and Aaron Diehl.

Just turned 19, but way beyond needing to prove himself, Alexander demonstrates a growing emotional maturity that has added depth to his playing and thoughtfulness to his compositions: Cases in point: the meditative "Midnight Waves" or the ballad "Hesitation," with its serene pentatonic melody and Keith Jarrett-like warmth and sweetness.

Musical continuity is present in the shape of long-time collaborators Larry Grenadier on bass and Kendrick Scott on drums. On a few tracks the trio is augmented by Gilad Hekselman on guitar and/or the ubiquitous Chris Potter on tenor or soprano sax. Both appear on "Winter Blues" (part of a mini-suite on a seasonal theme) and "Rise Up." The former is a strutting, syncopated waltz that sees Alexander switch to Fender Rhodes while his guests play the melody in unison; the latter is essentially a funk tune, but so rhythmically complex that it defies attempts at foot-tapping. You can also sometimes hear what he's been listening to: the melody of "Angel Eyes" (a new song, not the standard) hints at "I've Never Been in Love Before."

The best thing about Origin is that for all its accessibility; you never feel you have quite heard everything it has to offer, hence the repeated plays.

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