Alex Koo (BE)

Belgian-Japanese piano wizard Alex Koo seemed destined for a career as a classical concert pianist, but in his teens he became completely enamored with jazz. Driven by his passion, he moved to New York, where he studied and taught at the renowned NYU Steinhardt. There he came into contact with jazz greats Mark Turner and Ralph Alessi, with whom he released the album “Applebueseagreen” in 2019, which was promptly included in the prestigious list of “Best Albums of 2019” by the legendary Downbeat Jazz Magazine with the words “Stunningly original”.

With his brand new Etudes for Piano, composed for and commissioned by Bozar Brussels, he shows how his passion for both worlds – jazz and classical – merge perfectly. Adventurism and virtuosity go hand in hand with melancholy and elbowing  (literally, for those who really know Koo knows). His music sounds like a marriage between Debussy, Chopin, Reich, Rachmaninov on the one hand and Keith Jarrett, Craig Taborn, Brian Eno and Philip Glass on the other. Alex Koo is a conjuring natural born storyteller on piano.

Alex’ fabulous technique, sounding downright genius at times is the basis for this dizzying tour de force of an album. London Jazznews

No matter how Koo twists and turns and seems to grab it energetically, the piano becomes  a hamster wheel. Clever head, this half-Japanese. Bad Alchemy

Such bravura, such virtuosity. (…) Stunning record. De Standaard

Koo’s compositions and playing are absolutely world class. Written in Music

A colorful album that keeps the listener on the edge of his seat for almost forty minutes. L’Echo

When listening, Keith Jarrett’s name came to mind several times. Not because Koo’s playing is so similar to that of the American master, but because it is of the same rare high level. Trouw

 

Other projects of Alex Koo include:

IDENTIFIED FLYING OBJET (BE/HU/US)
with Ralph Alessi (trumpet) and Attila Gyárfas (drums).
Their eponymous album was released in 2021 on W.E.R.F. Records.

KIMONO GARDEN (BE/NL)
New and electronic quartet featuring Lorena del Mar (vocals), Lennart Heyndels (bass) and Mark Schilders (drums). Album out now!

ALEX KOO TRIO (BE)
with Dré Pallemaerts (drums) and Lennart Heyndels (bass).

 
LINKS

http://www.alexkoomusic.com

 
LINE UP

IFO
Alex Koo —
piano
Attila Gyárfás — drums, electronics
Ralph Alessi trumpet

KIMONO GARDEN
Alex Koo — piano
Lorena del Mar — vocals
Lennart Heyndels bass
Mark Schilders drums

ALEX KOO TRIO
Alex Koo — piano
Lennart Heyndels bass
Dré Pallemaerts drums
Optional: Jean-Paul Estiévenart trumpet

 

TERRITORY

Worldwide

 
 
UPCOMING SHOWS

2024thu28mar20:07thu20:07Alex KooCC De Schakel, Waregem (BE)

2024sat18may20:30sat20:30Alex KooHaconcerts, Gent (BE)

2024sat22jun14:40Alex KooMidsummer Jazz Festival, Ronse (BE)