Joe Alterman Trio

Friday, October 04, 2024

Joe Alterman — piano Aaron Jacobs — bass Jim Leslie — drums Atlanta native Joe Alterman expresses a certain upbeat naivete with a broad smile and bright eyes that make you feel welcome. One would not guess that this is a man hailed by greats; Ramsey Lewis describes his piano playing as a joy to behold’; Les McCann states, ‘As a man and musician he is already a giant.’ Journalist Nat Hentoff championed three of Alterman’s albums, as well as his writing (Joe wrote liner notes to three Wynton Marsalis/JALC albums), calling one of Joe’s columns “one of the very best pieces on the essence of jazz, the spirit of jazz, that I’ve ever read, and I’m not exaggerating.” Joe Alterman began at NYU with a BA and Master in Jazz Piano from NYU and has since performed at many world-renowned venues, including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Birdland, and Blue Note alongside Houston Person, Les McCann, Dick Gregory, Ramsey Lewis, and his trio, among others. Downbeat describes his sound as “rooted in the blues and with a touch reminiscent of the great pianists of the 1950s—Red Garland, Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans.” It is clear Joe hits all of the necessary points for Jazz critics and fans alike. But there is more to the story, of course. The twenty-first century has thus far seen yet another transition for this thing called Jazz. In one moment, we see the push and pull between tradition and progression; in another, we see Pop and Hip-Hop musicians emulating and sampling. In Joe Alterman, we find none of this struggle; the music sounds good. Our conscious faculties are instantly disabled as we tap our feet, feeling the intent and joy of his playing. An old classic is new when you feel good at the moment. Joe Alterman’s new release, The Upside Of Down, captures this fresh and joyful intent. Taken from two live shows at Birdland in November 2019 and February 2020, the album reminds us of a not-too-distant time when we gathered and danced. Joined by Nathaniel Schroeder on bass and Marlon Patton on drums, Alterman cruises gently and delightedly through timeless selections from Les McCann, Oscar Peterson, Henry Mancini, and more, with some of his compositions in the mix. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance.