12-year-old piano prodigy Joey Alexander on jazz bill at Ravinia
Ravinia's Father's Day Jazz Special features some old familiar faces - and one very young one.
That's because 12-year-old piano prodigy Joey Alexander will perform alongside Glenview native bassist Dan Chmielinski and drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. on the same bill as Ramsey Lewis and other stage veterans. Alexander has already earned international acclaim and even received a standing ovation after his performance at the Grammy Awards, where his debut album "My Family Things" was nominated for best instrumental jazz album and best improvised solo.
Alexander says he loves all kinds of music, but jazz is special.
"The first thing that got me into jazz is that feeling of freedom," Alexander said. "Freedom to express ourselves and the feeling of swing, blues, improvisation, being in the moment."
He's in that moment with fellow musicians Owens and Chmielinski.
Owens, 33, describes Alexander as a version of Superman and Clark Kent.
"His Clark Kent is that he's a 12-year-old, a quirky little kid. He's really cool and funny," Owens said. "But his Superman powers enable him to play at such a high level and at a level of musicality that most people don't really reach until they are well into their 40s and 50s."
Bassist Chmielinski, 22, now at Julliard pursuing a master's degree in jazz performance, first started playing with Alexander about a year ago.
"Something that I got over very quickly was thinking about his age," Chmielinski said. "Initially, I was trying to play with him like he was a kid, trying to test the waters."
"But now, if you take it easy on him, he kind of looks at you like 'Yo, what you doing?'" chimed in Owens.
Joey Alexander was born Josiah Alexander Sila in Bali where his parents ran an adventure tourism business. They first exposed their son to jazz.
"My dad knows piano, guitar, and he knows the music, so that's how I got interested," Alexander said.
Alexander's love for jazz grew when he listened to his dad's record collection, which included Thelonious Monk's "Well, You Needn't." After his father brought home a miniature electric keyboard for then 6-year-old Alexander, he was able to play the song by ear.
One might wonder where this talent came from.
"I think I got my talent from God," Alexander said.
Alexander's family moved to Jakarta where he played with experienced musicians. When he was 8, he played in front of award-winning musician Herbie Hancock, who told Alexander that he believed in him.
From that moment on, Alexander decided to dedicate his childhood to jazz. He now lives in New York.
Jazz music is different from playing classical because there are many ways a song can be played. The melody might be the same, but the tempo, chords and style can change depending on the musicians so teamwork and chemistry are crucial.
"We all get along very well," said Chmielinski. "Jazz is very synonymous with humanity in the sense that our personalities are coming through in the way we play and so the fact that we get along so well as a band is really translated into our music."
Father's Day Jazz Special
Featuring: Ramsey Lewis, John Pizzarelli, Monty Alexander, Allan Harris and the Joey Alexander Trio featuring Dan Chmielinski and Ulysses Owens, Jr.
Where: Ravinia Festival, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park, (847)266-5100 or
When: 6 p.m. Sunday, June 19; gates open at 4 p.m.
Tickets: Lawn tickets are free for students and children under 15, $20 for adults. Reserved seats $45-$85.