Jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader, Alexander Hawkins has been busy. Born in Oxford, England grew up hearing music being played at home. His father is also a pianist and clarinetist. Jazz was his dad's favorite music and introduced him to Duke Ellington's music from a young age.
He started playing classical music but on the organ. Later he switched to the piano as he continued practicing the instrument. Unlike most musicians, he went to study law and criminology at college. He felt studying music at any college would be too restrictive and he wanted to play his own style and not be influenced by others. This attitude and going with his instincts have paid off.
He says his influences growing up were jazz artists that had their own styles like Art Tatum, Thelonius Monk, and Bud Powell. Other influences were those in the avant-garde genre such as Arthur Blythe, LeRoy Jenkins, and Wadada Leo Smith, and says he loved how they showed the interesting ways with structure.
If you listen to Alexander Hawkins his playing will remind you of those masters in Avant-garde and free jazz. He made his album debut in 2014 with Song Singular and also released simultaneously, Step Wide, Step Deep his album with his ensemble. Listen to the track, Space of Time Danced Thru, which has a certain groove you just can't stop listening to. He has released over six albums and has just released his latest, Mirror Canon- Break A Vase which also features jazz saxophonist, Shabaka Hutchings. We hope he tours for the album and look forward to more from this talented jazz pianist. Support independent music and musicians worldwide. Happy listening!
Stamped Down, or Shovelled
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