Eric Alexander - Chicago To New York (2025)

While New York may have eventually emerged as the city in which to both hear, and perform jazz, Chicago continues to be influential, not only for its many fine clubs but for the excellent musicians that the “Windy City” continues to produce. For Eric Alexander, Chicago quite clearly remains a site of inspiration, import, and impact. He found and formed a community early in his career in Chicago, where he lived for two years partly through a fruitful association with the great organist, Charles Earland during which Alexander, had become steeped in the Chicago tenor tradition of such natives as Gene Ammons, Eddie Harris, Johnny Griffin, and Von Freeman. Such attributes as how to dynamically shape a solo, create long ornamented bebop lines, and the cultivation of an improvisatory style that never forgets the importance of the blues were developed early, and continue to be a hallmark of Alexander’s unique style today. Another equally meaningful connection to Chicago for Alexander came in the form of a productive musical and personal relationship that the young saxophonist made with pianist Harold Mabern (with whom Alexander studied at William Patterson).

‘Chicago to New York’ pays tribute to the intersection and interplay that still exists between Chicago and New York. The stellar casting on this new album is split evenly with LeDonne and Alexander representing New York, and the always excellent bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer George Fludas representing Chicago, where this dynamic rhythm section continues to live and work.
credits
released April 4, 2025

TRACKLIST

1. Eric Alexander - Afro Blue
2. Eric Alexander - Wise One
3. Eric Alexander - This Is Always
4. Eric Alexander - Only The Lonely
5. Eric Alexander - Hittin' The Jug
6. Eric Alexander - The Lamp Is Low
7. Eric Alexander - Angel Eyes