An award-winning radio and video producer, music nerd, and funky sax man based in New York City.
As the Lead Producer at Jazz Night in America, Alex worked from soup to nuts on 30+ video products (concert films and documentary shorts) and has produced 100+ documentary and concert presentation radio programs airing on approx. 200 NPR stations nationwide. This project is a flagship partnership between WBGO Studios, NPR Music, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Below are a few career highlights.
Jazz is the Mother of Hip-Hop is a short-form explainer hosted by Robert Glaser breaking down three of his favorite hip-hop samples pulled from jazz recordings. In 2018, Jazz is the Mother of Hip-Hop took home a Webby in the “Film & Video: Music” category.
Saint Coltrane: The Church Built On 'A Love Supreme' is a long-form “short” that profiles Franzo and Marina King, who establish a church devoted to John Coltrane and his spiritual message, incorporating the poem from the saxophonists seminal 1964 album A Love Supreme as their chief liturgical text. Saint Coltrane was featured at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
In this animation, the legendary pianist Abdullah Ibrahim tells us how — during the era of apartheid in South Africa — jazz and improvisation saved his life. This short was selected as a 2017 Vimeo Staff Pick.
Jon Batiste and Friends was an exclusive concert produced in house starring jazz superstar, pianist Jon Batiste performing in the round on the eve of his 33rd birthday. The radio component for this production included storytelling surrounding his journey to TV and the history of jazz in Late Night.
Jazz has been woven into Sesame Street since the program first debuted more than 50 years ago. In this radio episode, Alex worked to trace that lineage with exclusive access to some of the earliest composers and newest muppets: Hoots the Owl.
Youngbloods is a 5-part radio mini-series showcasing emerging jazz talent under 30 years old. Saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins; vocalist Samara Joy; pianist Isaiah J. Thompson; pianist Sean Mason; and saxophonist Sarah Hanahan. The series also featured an original hip-hop inspired “theme” comprised of samples of all 5 artists.
In this intimate radio episode, hang with saxophonist/composer Charles Lloyd’s beautiful home (outside Santa Barbra) for an intimate chat by the beach to reflect on his 80th birthday.
Reporting from Dallas, Texas, Snarky Puppy return to their gospel roots, take us inside the mechanics of their jazz fusion and rock out for a sold-out homecoming show. This video and radio co-production also features a glimpse into a Snarky post-show ritual: a stop by Fuel City, the best gas station tacos in town.
Herbie Hancock changed the game. We filmed the legend with in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park with an all-star band and for our radio program, did a deep dive into his impact on music technology.