Eric Alexander (jazz saxophonist)

Eric Alexander (born August 4, 1968)^[1] is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator. Having placed second at the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition behind Joshua Redman and ahead of Chris Potter and Tim Warfield, he was soon signed by a record label and has since recorded over 20 albums as a leader and over 300 as a sideman. ^[2]

Alexander was born in Illinois.^[3] He began as a classical musician, studying alto saxophone at Indiana University with Eugene Rousseau in 1986. He soon switched to jazz and the tenor saxophone, however, and transferred to William Paterson University, where he studied with Harold Mabern, Rufus Reid, Joe Lovano, Gary Smulyan, Norman Simmons, Steve Turre and others.^[4]

Alexander finished second at the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition.^[5] Later that year, he made his recording debut with Charles Earland and released his debut album on Delmark the following year.^[6]

Alexander has worked with many jazz musicians, including Chicago pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Idris Muhammad, and guitarist Pat Martino. He is part of Mike LeDonne's Groover Quartet with Peter Bernstein, and Joe Farnsworth. He has recorded and toured extensively with the sextet, One for All, and The Battle with Vincent Herring.^[7]

Reeds and Deeds
With Grant Stewart

• Wailin' (Criss Cross, 2004)
• Cookin' (Criss Cross, 2005)
• Tenor Time (Criss Cross, 2010)

One for All
With Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, David Hazeltine and Joe Farnsworth

• Too Soon to Tell (Sharp Nine, 1997)
• Optimism (Sharp Nine, 1998)
• Upward and Onward (Criss Cross, 1999)
• The Long Haul (Criss Cross, 2000)
• The End of a Love Affair (Venus, 2001)
• Live at Smoke, Volume 1 (Criss Cross, 2001)
• Wide Horizons (Criss Cross, 2002)
• No Problem: Tribute to Art Blakey (Venus, 2003)
• Blueslike (Criss Cross, 2003)
• Killer Joe (Venus, 2005)
• The Lineup (Sharp Nine, 2006)
• What's Going On (Venus, 2007)
• Return of the Lineup (Sharp Nine, 2008)
• Incorrigible (Jazz Legacy Productions, 2009)
• Invades Vancouver! (Live at The Cellar) (Cellar Live, 2010)
• The Third Decade (Smoke Sessions, 2016)
• Big George (Smoke Sessions, 2024) with guest: George Coleman

Charles Earland Tribute Band
With Joey DeFrancesco, Bob DeVos and Pat Martino

• Keepers of the Flame (A Tribute to Charles Earland) (HighNote, 2002)

New York All-Stars

• Burnin' In London (Ubuntu Music, 2017) – quartet with Harold Mabern
• Live Encounter (Ubuntu Music, 2018) – sextet with Seamus Blake and Mike LeDonne

With Steve Davis

• The Jaunt (Criss Cross, 1995)
• Dig Deep (Criss Cross, 1996)
• Crossfire (Criss Cross, 1997)
• Say When (Smoke Sessions, 2015)

With Bob DeVos

• Shifting Sands (Savant, 2005)
• Playing for Keeps (Savant, 2007)

With Charles Earland

• Unforgettable (Muse, 1991)
• I Ain't Jivin'...I'm Jammin' (Muse, 1992)
• Ready 'n' Able (Muse, 1995)
• Blowing the Blues Away (HighNote, 1997)
• Cookin' with the Mighty Burner (HighNote, 1999) – rec. 1997
• Charles Earland Live (Cannonball, 1999) – rec. 1997
• Stomp! (HighNote, 2000) – rec. 1999

With Joe Farnsworth

• Beautiful Friendship (Criss Cross, 1999) – rec. 1998
• It's Prime Time (Eighty-Eight's, 2003)
• Super Prime Time (Eighty-Eight's, 2011)
• My Heroes (Tribute to the Legends) (Venus, 2014)

With David Hazeltine

• Blues Quarters, Vol. 1 (Criss Cross, 1998)
• The Classic Trio Meets Eric Alexander (Sharp Nine, 2001)
• Manhattan Autumn (Sharp Nine, 2001)
• Blues Quarters, Vol. 2 (Criss Cross, 2006)
• The Inspiration Suite (Sharp Nine, 2007)
• Inversions (Criss Cross, 2010)

With Vincent Herring

• The Battle: Live at Smoke (HighNote, 2005)
• Friendly Fire: Live at Smoke (HighNote, 2012)
• In The Spirit of Coltrane and Cannonball (Yanagisawa, 2012)
• Split Decision (Smoke Sessions, 2025)

With Randy Johnston

• Jubilation (Muse, 1994) – rec. 1992
• In A-Chord (Muse, 1995) – rec. 1994

With Mike LeDonne

• Then & Now (Double-Time, 1999)
• Smokin' Out Loud (Savant, 2004)
• You'll See! (Live at The Cellar) (Cellar Live, 2004)
• On Fire (Live at Smoke) (Savant, 2006)
• Five Live (Live at Smoke) (Savant, 2007)
• The Groover (Savant, 2009)
• Keep the Faith (Savant, 2011) ('The Groover Quartet')
• I Love Music (Savant, 2013) ('The Groover Quartet')
• Awwl Right! (Savant, 2015) ('The Groover Quartet')
• That Feelin' (Savant, 2016) ('The Groover Quartet')
• From the Heart (Savant, 2018) ('The Groover Quartet')
• It's All Your Fault (Savant, 2021) ('The Groover Quartet')
• The Heavy Hitters (Cellar Music Group, 2023)
• Wonderful! (Cellar Music Group, 2024) ('The Groover Quartet')
• That's What's Up! (Cellar Music Group, 2024) ('The Heavy Hitters' sextet with Jeremy Pelt, Vincent Herring)
• Turn It Up! (Live at the Sidedoor) (Cellar Music Group, 2025) ('The Groover Quartet')

With Harold Mabern

• Kiss of Fire (Venus, 2001)
• Mr. Lucky (A Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr.) (HighNote, 2012)
• Afro Blue (Smoke Sessions, 2015)
• To Love and Be Loved (Smoke Sessions, 2017)
• The Iron Man: Live at Smoke (Smoke Sessions, 2018)
• Mabern Plays Mabern (Smoke Sessions, 2020) – rec. 2018
• Mabern Plays Coltrane (Smoke Sessions, 2021) – rec. 2018

With Cecil Payne

• Cerupa (Delmark, 1995) – rec. 1993
• Scotch and Milk (Delmark, 1996)
• Payne's Window (Delmark, 1998)

With Irene Reid

• Million Dollar Secret (Savant, 1997)
• I Ain't Doing Too Bad (Savant, 1999)
• The Uptown Lowdown (Savant, 2000)
• One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (Savant, 2002)

With Jim Rotondi

• Introducing Jim Rotondi (Criss Cross, 1996)
• Jim's Bop (Criss Cross, 1997)
• Excursions (Criss Cross, 1998)
• Blues for Brother Ray (Posi-Tone, 2009)
• Live at Smalls (Smalls Live, 2009)
• Hard Hittin' at the Bird's Eye (Sharp Nine, 2012)

With Jimmy Scott

• But Beautiful (Milestone, 2001)
• Moon Glow (Milestone, 2001)

With Michael Weiss

• Power Station (DIW, 1997)
• Persistence (Cellar Live, 2022)

With others

• The Tenor Triangle, Tell It Like It Is (Criss Cross, 1993)
• Joe Magnarelli, Why Not (Criss Cross, 1994)
• The Tenor Triangle, Aztec Blues (Criss Cross, 1994)
• Rick Stone, Steppin' Back (Jazzand, 1994)
• Robert Mazurek, Badlands (Hep, 1995)
• Melvin Rhyne, Stick to the Kick (Criss Cross, 1995)
• John Swana, In the Moment (Criss Cross, 1995)
• Atro "Wade" Mikkola Quartet, On The Way (AMK [Finland], 1995)
• Peter Bernstein, Brain Dance (Criss Cross, 1996)
• Robert Mazurek, Green & Blue (Hep, 1996)
• Mark Elf, A Minor Scramble (Jen Bay, 1996)
• Dave Specter & Lenny Lynn, Blues Spoken Here (Delmark, 1998)
• Pat Martino, Stone Blue (Blue Note, 1998)
• John Swana & Joe Magnarelli, Philly-New York Junction (Criss Cross, 1998)
• Paul Bollenback, Soul Grooves (Challenge, 1998)
• Yoron Israel Connection, Live at the Blue Note (Half Note, 1998)
• Melvin Rhyne, Classmasters (Criss Cross, 1999)
• Jimmy McGriff, McGriff's House Party (Milestone, 1999)
• Norman Simmons, The Art of Norman Simmons (Savant, 2000)
• Mads Baerentzen Trio, 785 Madison Ave. (Music Mecca, 2000)
• Dmitri Kolesnik, Blues for Dad (Boheme, 2001)
• Ryan Kisor, The Dream (Criss Cross, 2001)
• Norman Simmons, Synthesis (Savant, 2002)
• Joe Magnarelli & John Swana, New York-Philly Junction (Criss Cross, 2003)
• Jimmy Cobb's Mob, Cobb's Groove (Milestone, 2003)
• Simone [Kopmajer], Romance (Venus, 2004)
• Jim Snidero, Close Up (Milestone, 2004)
• Freddy Cole, This Love of Mine (HighNote, 2005)
• Terry Gibbs, Feelin' Good – Live in Studio (Mack Avenue, 2005)
• Dmitri Kolesnik, Five Corners (Challenge, 2007)
• John Swana, Bright Moments (Criss Cross, 2007)
• Dave O'Higgins Quintet, Sketchbook (Jazzizit, 2008)
• Stewy Von Wattenwyl Generations Trio, Live at Marians (Bemsha Music, 2008)
• Meeting Point, Quintessence (Challenge, 2008)
• Larry Willis, The Offering (HighNote, 2008)
• Neal Smith Quintet, Live at Smalls (Smalls Live, 2009)
• Pat Martino Quartet, Undeniable: Live at Blues Alley (HighNote, 2011)
• Alexis Cole (with One for All), You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To (Venus, 2011)
• I Carry Your Heart, Alexis Cole Sings Pepper Adams (Motéma, 2012)
• Dee Daniels, State of the Art (Criss Cross, 2013) (quartet includes Cyrus Chestnut)
• Dena DeRose, We Won't Forget You...An Homage To Shirley Horn (HighNote, 2014) (with Jeremy Pelt, Gary Smulyan)
• Federico Bonifazi, You'll See (Steeplechase, 2015)
• Bernd Reiter Quintet, Workout at Bird's Eye (A Tribute to Hank Mobley & Grant Green) (Steeplechase, 2015)
• Harry Allen's All Star New York Saxophone Band, The Candy Men (Arbors, 2015)
• Andrew Dickeson, Is That So (Andrew Dickeson Productions, 2017)
• David Kikoski, Phoenix Rising (HighNote, 2019)
• Cory Weeds, O Sole Mio! Music From The Motherland (Cellar Music Group, 2021)
• Caesar Frazier, Tenacity / As We Speak (Track Merchant, 2022)
• Paul Brusger, A Soul Contract (SteepleChase, 2023)
• Bernie Senensky, Moment To Moment (Cellar Music Group, 2023)
• Thom Rotella, Side Hustle (HighNote, 2024)

• Priestley, Brian (2004). "Eric Alexander". In Carr, Ian; Fairweather, Digby; Priestley, Brian; Alexander, Charles (eds.). The Rough Guide to Jazz. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843532569.

• Official website
• JazzPolice.com review of Eric Alexander's "It's All in the Game"