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Joe Alterman is a jazz pianist whose playing is a joyous throwback to the keyboard stylists of the 1950s. His remarkable debut CD, "Piano Tracks (Vol. 1)," was recorded in 2009 and skillfully revives the art of graceful improvisation, which has been lost today on many younger players. On the album's five standards, Alterman mixes the tasteful phrasings of Red Garland, Ahmad Jamal, Billy Taylor and other piano legends with his own distinct approach. The result is that classics such as "I Cover the Waterfront," "I've Got a Crush On You" and "Days of Wine and Roses" sound perfectly fresh and new. By merging the patient touch of past pianists with his own contemporary sound, Alterman manages to revitalize the familiar, rekindling memories of why you started listening to jazz in the first place. Only twenty-two years old, Alterman was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and has been playing piano since the age of five. Ever since getting booted out of classical music school at the age of 12 for performing boogie-woogie music at a recital, Joe has been exploring his deep love for jazz. Notable instructors include Scott Glazer, Amy Hughley, Oliver Wood (of "The Wood Brothers"), and Gary Motley (director of Emory University's Jazz Program). While in high school, Joe also attended Jazz In July, a summer music program at UMass Amherst where he was able to study with Dr. Billy Taylor and Geri Allen. As a student at New York University, where Joe is a recent graduate, Joe had the opportunity to study with greats including Don Friedman, Brian Lynch, John Scofield, Billy Drummond, Mike Richmond, Kenny Werner, Ron McClure, Jean Michel-Pilc, and Martin Wind. Besides performing frequently with his trio (which includes extraordinary bassist James Cammack) Joe has also been fortunate enough to have performed with Houston Person and Ralph Lalama, among others. He has performed at venues around the world including the Blue Note Jazz Club in Milan, Churchiil Grounds in Atlanta, and Preservation Hall in New Orleans; he has led groups at venues in New York City including the Blue Note Jazz Club, the Iridium Jazz Club, and Cornelia Street Café, among others. In addition, he was recently selected by famed pianist Bill Charlap to be a participant in Charlap's "Jazz Piano Masterclass", which is held yearly at New York's 92nd Street Y. After hearing Joe's first album, NEA Jazz Master Nat Hentoff remarked, "Talk about the joy of jazz!...It's a pleasure to hear this music...You've got it!"

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