Joey Alexander Trio + Young Monk (feat. Skylar Tang)

Curated in partnership with New York’s iconic Jazz at Lincoln Center, this special opening night double bill features two remarkable performances: Joey Alexander Trio, showcasing music from the pianist’s acclaimed latest album Celestial Keeper, and a hand-picked international ensemble celebrating the music of Thelonious Monk in Young Monk.

Joey Alexander burst onto the international stage at a young age and has since become one of the most acclaimed pianists of his generation. The multi-GRAMMY-nominated artist has graced the stage of Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater and every major jazz festival around the world, as well as special performances at the GRAMMY Awards and for President Barack Obama at the White House. His longstanding connection with Jazz at Lincoln Center began when Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis, struck by the young pianist’s extraordinary musical maturity, invited him to New York to perform at the organisation’s annual gala, turning Alexander into an overnight sensation. With profiles on 60 Minutes and The New York Times, Alexander has solidified his reputation as a prodigious talent and a leading figure in modern jazz.

Opening the evening is Young Monk, an international edition of the acclaimed Jazz at Lincoln Center project celebrating the timeless music of Thelonious Monk through the voices of the next generation. Led by Joey Alexander as Musical Director and pianist, the ensemble also features New York trumpeter Skylar Tang, a rising star who has recently recorded and shared stages with Joshua Redman, Wynton Marsalis, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Joining Alexander and Tang are some of Australia’s most exciting young jazz artists: Toby Barrett (saxophone), Lily Appelt (bass) and Ebs Daramola (drums).