Hot House Jazz described Joe Alterman, a pianistic wunderkind, as “an elegantly swinging trappings artist like Erroll Garner or Red Garland.” He eschews the more refined vein of hard bop that is favored by today’s younger players to favor a more vintage style. Alterman is a joy to listen to, with a poetic pianistic touch and a intuitive sense of swing. Alterman’s extraordinary talents are enough to assure anyone that jazz is in safe hands. Joe was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He moved to New York to study music at New York University in the Fall of 2007. He graduated in May 2012 and is currently returning to finish his master’s degree. He studied with Don Friedman and Jean Michel-Pilc as well as Ralph Lalama and Joe Lovano, as well John Scofield. He has performed at many venues, including the Blue Note Jazz Club (Milan), the High Museum of Art (Atlanta) and Preservation Hall (New Orleans). He has also led groups at various venues in New York City, including the Blue Note Jazz Club and the Iridium Jazz Club. He was also a performer at the “Marian McPartland Piano Jazz All-Star Celebration”, at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. His trio has performed at the Blue Note Jazz Club multiple times as opening acts for jazz greats like Les McCann and Ramsey Lewis. Ahmad Jamal is his bassist, James Cammack is his current band, and his new album, “Give Me The Simple Life”, as a leader features jazz greats Houston Person and James Cammack (available on Miles High Records).
