This page contains a brief overview on the album ALEX HAN: Fourteen. Learn more about the artist and explore the track lists and website. If you find any information that needs to be corrected, please let us know.

 
At age 14, Alex Han has amassed quite a resume, performing with many giants of jazz, at top venues around the world. But how did it all begin?

At age 8, Alex began to take private saxophone lessons. By age 11, he recorded his first "demo" CD. In the Summer of 1999, Alex's father sent the demo CD to Grammy Award Winning Producer, Jack Kreisberg, of Half-Note Records in New York City. Jack played that CD for Multi-Grammy Award Winning Artist, Paquito D'Rivera. When asked who he thought he was listening to, Paquito replied that it "sounded like Benny Carter". Jack shot back that it was a saxophonist about 70 years younger! On the eve of his live recording session at The Blue Note Jazz club, an intrigued Paquito agreed to meet young Alex. A wonderful friendship between the two ensued, with Paquito giving Alex a CD of Benny Carter - Alas, Alex did not know who Benny Carter was. In fact, Alex was not familiar with many jazz greats as he had not listened to much jazz at all. But that was about to change in the years to follow.

Over the past few years, Alex has performed alongside a number of incredible jazz artists including, Paquito D'Rivera, Joe Lovano, Joey DeFrancesco, George Benson, Lewis Nash, James Moody, Slide Hampton, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Barron, Jon Faddis, Nicholas Payton, John Lee, Dave Valentin, Claudio Roditi, Rufus Reid, Akira Tana, Ken Peplowski, Geri Allen and Walt Weiskopf.

Alex has also performed at The John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center, Lincoln Center(as a guest artist), NJ Performing Arts Center, Gracie Mansion for former NYC Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, The Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, The North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, El Tambo Sosiego International Jazz Festival in Uruguay, The Telluride Jazz Festival, The Art Tatum Jazz Heritage Festival in Toledo, The Monterey Jazz Festival (Sept. 2005), The Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada(July 2005), Dizzy Gillespie's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center (July 2005), Sweet Rhythms in NYC (July 2005), The Hawaii International Jazz Festival, The J & R Music World Jazz Festival in NYC, The Texas Jazz Festival and various local television news programs, including Good Morning Arizona, FOX 10 Arizona Morning, Sonoran Living and News 12 New Jersey.

Alex has been featured in The Sunday New York Times, JAZZIZ Magazine, Down Beat Magazine, Yamaha's BackStage Pass Magazine, The Arizona Republic, Phoenix New Times, Honolulu Advertiser, Corpus Christi Caller-Times and various Italian and Latin American newspapers and magazines.

In October 2002: Five National Public Radio(NPR)Jazz Stations across the U.S.(IL, NC, TX, AZ & FL), one independent radio station(CT) and Switzerland's Radio-Jazz International, are "spinning" Alex's debut CD over the airwaves. We expect that number to increase as many more NPR and independent Jazz Stations receive their copies of Alex's CD.

New York Times writer, Jillian Hornbeck Ambroz, wrote about 12 year old Alex, "Utterly focused, fingers flying over the black-lacquered Yamaha horn, his youthful features belie his soulful, passionate jazz interpretations."

Legendary bassist, Rufus Reid, wrote about 12 year old Alex, " Huge, wonderful sound! Very expressive with all the nuances. Truly wonderful to hear you develop your solo."

Veteran tenor saxophonist, Johnny Griffin(who started on clarinet at 13), said after listening to Alex play, "I wish Dizzy was still around to hear you."

Multi-Grammy Award Winning alto saxophonist and composer, Paquito D'Rivera says of Alex, "He's a natural. That's where his playing, expressiveness, comes from."

Kids are the future of Jazz, so, as educators and parents, let's do all we can to open their minds to this wonderful art form. As Multi-Grammy Award Winning tenor saxophonist, Joe Lovano, said in a letter to Alex, "I look forward to hearing and seeing your development. Keep yourself together and share your gifts with the world around you..." We couldn't agree more.

UPDATES AFTER RELEASE OF "FOURTEEN":

In April 2005, Alex won the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition for saxophone.

In April 2005, Alex was also selected as a member of the 2005 Monterey Jazz Festival Next Generation Orchestra.

In May 2005, Alex received the Down Beat Student Music Awards Jazz Soloist Outstanding Performance.

In December 2005, Alex was selected as a member of the 2006 Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensemble.

In February 2006, Alex won an ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award for his composition, "Steps Away".

Check out the artist's website:
http://www.alexhan.com

Track List:
1. Sugar
2. The Nearness Of You
3. All TheThings You Are
4. Jamboree
5. One for Tom
6. Lover Man

Suggested CDs:

• Larry Nozero
• The Steve Luceno Band

Other Genres:

• JAZZ: Bebop
• JAZZ: Traditional Jazz Combo
• FEATURING SAXOPHONE