Acclaimed Bebop Saxophonist Brings His Eric Alexander Quartet to Flushing Town Hall on November 22

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On Friday, November 22nd at 8 PM, jazz aficionados can enjoy the Eric Alexander Quartet at Flushing Town Hall. With his warm, finely burnished tone and a robust melodic and harmonic imagination, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander has been exploring new musical worlds from the outset of his career, and has been described by NPR as "one of the finest bebop saxophonists in the world."

Eric Alexander will be joined on stage by David Williams (bass), Neal Smith (drums), and Rick Germanson (piano).

"Jazz plays such an important part in the history of Queens, " says Clyde Bullard, Flushing Town Hall's Jazz Producer in Residence. "We at Flushing Town Hall want to continue the legacy of great jazz with outstanding established as well as emerging jazz artists on our stage. We are delighted to welcome the extremely talented Eric Alexander, who has been in the New York jazz scene for more than three decades. You don't want to miss his concert!"

Listen to some of Eric Alexander's beautiful tunes on YouTube.

About Eric Alexander

Eric Alexander started on the piano at the age of six and took up the clarinet three years later. He switched to alto sax when he was 12 and studied classical music. When he was 18 years old, he fell in love with jazz and settled for the tenor saxophone. At William Paterson College in New Jersey, he advanced his studies under the tutelage of Harold Mabern, Joe Lovano, Rufus Reid, and others.

In 1991, Alexander placed second behind jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman, and ahead of Chris Potter, in the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition. He then decided to become a professional jazz musician. In 1992, Alexander released his debut album, Straight Up for Delmark. More recordings followed, including Man with a Horn (1997) and a 1998 quartet with George Mraz, John Hicks, and Idris Muhammad, Solid!. That year also marked Alexander's first recording with "One For All, " his enduring jazz sextet with Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Joe Farnsworth, Peter Washington, and Dave Hazeltine.

Alexander has released more than 40 albums as quartet or sextet leader and more than 100 albums feature his playing. He has collaborated with Harold Mabern, George Coleman, Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Cecil Payne, Cedar Walton, Junior Mance, Melvin Rhyne, Charles Earland, Idris Muhammad, Pat Martino, Rein de Graaff, Mike LeDonne, Grant Stewart, Jim Rotundi and many others.

A contract with the New York-based independent jazz label, HighNote Records in 2004 led to a considerable discography of critically acclaimed recordings. Among them are Chicago Fire (2014), The Real Thing (2015) with Pat Martino, Second Impression (2016), and his recent albums A New Beginning (2023) and Timing Is Everything (2024).

While he has garnered praise from every corner, what matters most to Alexander has been establishing his own voice within the illustrious bop-based jazz tradition. He continues to tour the world and often performs in the Netherlands. He is based in the tri-state area and appears regularly in the City's most prestigious jazz clubs.

For his Friday, November 22nd, 8 PM ET performance at Flushing Town Hall, in-person tickets are $30, $25 for members, seniors, and students w/ ID; table packages for two are $100 and $85 for members.

For more upcoming events at Flushing Town, visit:

https://www.flushingtownhall.org/fth-presents

NEW EVENT STREAMING PLATFORM

For those unable to attend events in person, Flushing Town Hall has launched Culture Stream. Subscriptions start at $5 per month. CultureStream.tv (powered by Flushing Town Hall) is a virtual gateway to the captivating world of global cultural performances at Flushing Town Hall, in the heart of Queens, NY. Culture Stream Subscribers are immersed in an array of diverse artistic expressions from around the city and across the globe, from the comfort of their homes. With over 30 live events per year, our platform brings the stage to screens everywhere, fostering a deep appreciation for cultural heritage and artistic excellence.

COVID Policy:

Flushing Town Hall no longer requires visitors or performers to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19; wearing a mask is optional but recommended. For more details, please visit www.flushingtownhall.org/covid-safety.

Support Global Arts with a Gift Today!

All gifts of $50 or more give you exclusive Flushing Town Hall Circle of Friends membership with benefits including a Smithsonian membership, ticket discounts, and more! Donations in any amount are appreciated to support the artists and the nonprofit cultural organization as they continue to provide programming and entertainment across New York and the world.

https://www.flushingtownhall.org/circle-of-friends

Flushing Town Hall is a not for profit organization and receives major support from the National Endowment for the Arts; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature; New York State Assembly Member Ron Kim; The City of New York, Mayor Eric Adams; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Commissioner Laurie Cumbo; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; The New York City Council, Speaker Adrienne E. Adams and New York City Council Members Sandra Ung, Tiffany Caban, Shekar Krishnan, Linda Lee, Vickie Paladino, Lynn Schulman, and Julie Won; Howard Gilman Foundation, Guru Krupa Foundation, Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Foundation; Lily Auchincloss Foundation; Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation.

To view current donor lists, please visit www.flushingtownhall.org/donor-listings

About Flushing Town Hall

Flushing Town Hall (FTH), a Smithsonian affiliate, presents multi-disciplinary global arts that engage and educate the global communities of Queens and New York City in order to foster mutual appreciation. As advocates of arts equity since 1979, we support local, immigrant, national, and international artists, developing partnerships and collaborations that enhance our efforts. As a member of New York City's Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), we serve to restore, manage and program the historic 1862 landmark on behalf of the City of New York. FTH celebrates the history of Queens as the home of Jazz, by presenting the finest in Jazz performance. We are committed to arts education and hands-on learning, for the arts-curious, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists. We serve one of the most diverse communities in the world and strive to uphold the legacy of inclusiveness that has defined our community since the Flushing Remonstrance of 1657.

Flushing Town Hall is a proud member of the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), a collective of 34 nonprofit museums, performing arts centers, historical societies, zoos, and botanical gardens across all five boroughs with a distinct private-public partnership with the City of New York and a commitment to serving all New Yorkers.

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