Eric Alexander

Eric Alexander (born August 4, 1968) is an American jazz saxophonist, known for his sophisticated hard bop and post-bop style.

Alexander began as a classical musician, studying alto saxophone at Indiana University with Eugene Rousseau in 1986. He soon switched to jazz and the tenor saxophone, however, and transferred to William Paterson University, where he studied with Harold Mabern, Rufus Reid, Joe Lovano, Gary Smulyan, Norman Simmons, Steve Turre and others.

Alexander first achieved fame by finishing second (behind Joshua Redman and ahead of Chris Potter) at the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. He was quickly signed and began recording albums.

Influenced heavily by John Coltrane, Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon and George Coleman, Alexander has worked with many notable jazz musicians, including Chicago pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Joseph Farnsworth, and guitarist Pat Martino. He has also recorded and toured extensively with the sextet One for All.

As leader

 * New York Calling (1992)
 * Straight Up (1992)
 * Up, Over & Out (1993)
 * Full Range (1994)
 * Eric Alexander in Europe (1995)
 * Stablemates (1995) with Lin Halliday
 * Two of a Kind (1996)
 * Heavy Hitters (1997)
 * Mode for Mabes (1998)
 * Extra Innings (1998)
 * Solid! (1998)
 * Man with a Horn (1999)
 * Alexander the Great (1999)
 * Live at the Keynote (1999) (Japanese import)
 * The First Milestone (2000)
 * The Second Milestone (2001)
 * Summit Meeting (2002)
 * Nightlife in Tokyo (2003)
 * Gentle Ballads (2004)
 * Dead Center (2004)
 * Sunday in New York (2005)
 * Gentle Ballads II (2006)
 * It’s All in the Game (2006)
 * Gentle Ballads III (2007)
 * Temple of Olympic Zeus (2007)
 * Prime Time (2008)
 * My Favorite Things (2009)
 * Revival of the Fittest (2009)
 * Gentle Ballads IV (2009)
 * Chim Chim Cheree (2010)
 * Don't Follow the Crowd (2011)
 * Touching (2013)

As sideman
With One for All With Reeds & Deed With others
 * Too Soon to Tell (1997)
 * Optimism (1998)
 * Upward & Onward (1999)
 * The Long Haul (2000)
 * Live at Smoke: Vol. 1 (2001)
 *  End of a Love Affair (2001)
 * Wide Horizons (2003)
 * No Problem (2004)
 * Blueslike (2004)
 * The Lineup (2006)
 * Killer Joe (2006)
 * What's Going On? (2007)
 * Return of the Lineup (2009)
 * Wailin' (2005)
 * Cookin' (2006)
 * Tenor Time (2011)
 * The Tenor Triangle: Tell it Like it Is (1993) (with Ralph Lalama & Tad Shull)
 * The Tenor Triangle: Aztec Blues (1998) (with Ralph Lalama & Tad Shull)
 * The Anniversary Quartet: You'll See! Live at the Cellar (1993) (with Peter Bernstein, Mike LeDonne, & Joe Farnsworth)
 * The Battle: Live at Smoke (2005) (with Vincent Herring)
 * Meeting Point: Quintessence (2009)
 * I Carry Your Heart: Alexis Cole Sings Pepper Adams (Motéma Music, 2012)