Results for "Ralph Alessi"

Ralph Alessi

Born: March 5, 1963

Ralph Alessi is an ECM recording artist and acclaimed American jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator known for his distinctive and innovative approach to jazz improvisation and composition. Born in San Rafael, California, in 1963, he was raised in a musical family. His father, Joseph Alessi, was a classical trumpeter and his mother, Maria Leone, an opera singer. In addition, his brother Joe Alessi is a world renowned classical trombonist. His upbringing in this environment laid the foundation for his deep connection to music.

He studied at the California Institute of the Arts, where he pursued both classical and jazz music, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (and master’s degree in jazz bass). Alessi’s versatility in different musical traditions has contributed to his unique sound, blending classical precision with avant-garde jazz.

A Sun That Never Sets

By Ralph Alessi

Label: ECM Records
Released: 2026
Track listing: A Sun That Never Sets; Nothing is Dead; Relaxed Misery; Sweet Spot; Ether; Twichild; Transitional Imagery; Slow Dancing Bear; Of Trees (Variations on a Theme by TB; Duck Face; Behind Clouds.

Zeit Zirkel

By Christian Finger

Label: Self Produced
Released: 2026
Track listing: Alta Anima; Hope And Hope; Fifteen PM; Dawn Dream; Stimmung M; Frei Geist; Wellen Klang; Five Secrets I; Gentle Garden; Zeit Zirkel; Time Flows For You; Five Secrets II; Time Flows For Us.

Classical Roots, Open Horizons

by David Bixler
October 25, 2026

A Sun That Never Sets is Ralph Alessi's new recording on ECM and features Matt Mitchell on piano, bassist John Hébert double bass and Ches Smith on drums and vibes. This quartet is augmented by the appearance of Ralph's brother Joseph Alessi, who is the principal trombonist of the New York Philharmonic. In this episode on ...

Francesca Han: Sisyphus

by Sue Yang
October 18, 2026

Camus thought the interesting part of the myth was the walk back down. The climb is all effort. It is on the descent, with the rock at the bottom and the hill still to do again, that Sisyphus sees his situation whole, and Camus calls this the hour of consciousness. Francesca Han has named an album ...

Confusion Project, SongAh Chae Trio, Bignami Veltri Jazz Ensemble & More

by Marek J. Śmietański
September 30, 2026

The 130th episode surveys July 2026 releases and two summer catch-ups--as usual--arranged into six sets. The programme opens with personal tributes and hard bop rooted in mentorship, moves through a Polish bloc spanning contemporary folk-inflected jazz, archived jazz-rock and international improvisation, then pushes into veteran free jazz and cosmic funk. Furthermore, there is a nu-jazz set ...

Skinny Hightower, Ralph Alessi, Neves E Silva, Buster Williams, Jon Madof, Rob Dixon

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 18, 2026

Lineage and traditions as springboards for new ideas, in this playlist of recent releases. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Neves E Silva “Das Neves" Ladeiras De Santa Teresa (Far Out) 0:16 Host talks 3:28 Skinny Hightower “Chain Reaction" Feels Like Destiny ...

Snarky Puppy's Bob Reynolds Channels Eddie Harris + Tunes from South Africa's Linda Sikhahkhane, Leigh Pilzer, Ralph Alessi, and Early John Coltrane Remastered

by Hobart Taylor
August 26, 2026

We're a little saxy this week, this one also features Muriel Grossmann and Greg Abate. Playlist Host Speaks 00:00 Linda Sikhakhane “Uzalo" from Linda (Blue Note) 00:24 Stella Cole “Polka Dots and Moonbeams" from Imagination (Decca) 04:58 Leigh Pilzer “Just Another Pretty Song" fromKeep Holding On(Strange Woman) 09:39 Host Speaks 15:00 Ralph Alessi “A ...

Sweet Spot

August 23, 2026

Album: A Sun That Never Sets
By Ralph Alessi
Label: ECM Records
Released: 2026
Duration: 03:11

Ambrose Akinmusire and Mary Halvorson, Miki Yamanaka and Nicole Glover, Melissa Aldana and Linda May Han Oh, Christian Finger with Ralph Alessi and Ben Monder

by Hobart Taylor
August 19, 2026

Candice Hoyes, Miguel Zenon with Luis Perdomo, Nicole Mccabe with Savannah Harris and a dope Nina Simone remix. Playlist Ambrose Akinmusire / Mary Halvorson “Soundcheck" from Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings (Nonesuch) 00:00 Ambrose Akinmusire / Mary Halvorson “Tangled Pretty" from Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings (Nonesuch) 03:27 Host Speaks 07:51 Miguel Zenon / Luis Perdomo ...