Taru Alexander
{{short description|American jazz drummer (born 1967)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Taru Alexander
| image =
| caption = American jazz drummer
| birth_name = Taru Alexander
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|12|18}}
| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
| death_date =
| instrument = Drums
| genre = Jazz
| occupation = Drummer
| years_active =
| label =
| past_member_of = {{unbulleted list|Roland Alexander's quintet|Roy Hargrove quintet|Carlos Garnett quartet}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.tarualexander.com/|TaruAlexander.com}}
}}
Taru Alexander (born December 18, 1967) is an American jazz drummer, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He is a son of Roland Alexander, an American post-bop jazz tenor saxophone player from Boston, Massachusetts.{{cite web |url=http://www.utasi.org/jazzbio2.html |title=Staten Island Jazz Festival |publisher=Universal Temple of the Arts, Staten Island, NY |access-date=May 5, 2018}}
Alexander started to play drums at the early age of seven years old surrounded by jazz musicians like Freddie Hubbard, Reggie Workman, Gary Bartz and Kiani Zawadi. At the age of nine he was studying drums under the leadership of master drummers Rudy Collins, Andre Strobert and Walter Perkins at the New Muse music school in Brooklyn, New York. By the age of thirteen, Taru started to perform professionally with his father Roland Alexander's quintet (Roland Alexander-tenor saxophone, Kiani Zawadi-trombone, Hilton Ruiz-piano, Paul Brown-bass). At the same time, he started to study drums with Justin DiCioccio at the La Guardia Music & Art High School in New York.{{cite web |url=https://www.smallslive.com/artists/2972-taru-alexander/ |title=Taru Alexander Profile |publisher=SmallsLIVE |access-date=May 5, 2018}}
Cooperations
While still studying at the age of sixteen, Taru recorded his first album as a side man accompanying Fred Ho Afro-Asian Ensemble on the Black Saint record label.{{cite book |last1=Buckley N. |first1=Roger |last2=Roberts |first2=Tamara |date=2013 |title=Yellow Power, Yellow Soul - The Radical Art of Fred Ho |publisher=University of Illinois |pages=233 |chapter=Chapter: Discography |isbn=978-0-252-03750-4}} Soon after, he established himself at the New York jazz scene and became one of the sough after drummers. He also toured US with the Moe Better Blues Band & The Drums of Fire bands. Taru is in 2018 actively performing with Williamsburg Music Allstars and various musicians throughout the New York, USA and Europe.
Alexander performed domestically and internationally with: Abbey Lincoln,{{Cite web |url=https://www.mptvimages.com/images/998/abbey-lincoln-with-marcus-melaurine-bass-and-taru-alexander-drums-at-the-jazz-gipfel-concert |title=Abbey Lincoln with Marcus Melaurine (bass) and Taru Alexander (drums) at the "Jazz Gipfel" concert, Stuttgart, Germany, 1992 |website=www.mptvimages.com |access-date=2018-05-11}} Betty Carter, Roland Alexander, Roy Hargrove, Rodney Kendrick,{{cite web |url=https://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/artist/Taru+Alexander/a/albums.htm |title=Taru Alexander Discography of CDs |publisher=CDUniverse.com |access-date=May 5, 2018}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1459275/a/last+chance+for+common+sense.htm |title=Rodney Kendrick - Last Chance For Common Sense CD Album |website=www.cduniverse.com |access-date=2018-05-11}} Branford Marsalis, Danny Mixon, Gary Bartz, Carlos Garnett,{{cite web |url=http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/profile/tarualexander?xg_source=profiles_memberList |title=PROFILE INFORMATION - Taru Alexander's Page |publisher=TheJazzNetworkWorldwide.com |access-date=May 5, 2018}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/stories/2011/3/2011_03_16_sub_brooklyn_jazz_festival.html |title=Jazzing it up with Carlos Garnett |work=Caribbean Life |access-date=2018-05-11}} Reggie Workman, Bill Saxton, Kenny Davis, Lonnie Plaxico, Bill Lee, Tommy Turntine, Bill Saxton, Gary Bartz, Eddie Comes, Murgrew Miller, Taurus Mateen, Roland Alexander, Eric Alexander, Reggie Workman, Branford Marsilis, Wynton Marsilis, Gerry Eastman,{{Cite web |url=http://www.jazzartsfoundation.org/archive/library/JAFEmailJAMSESSIONVol1No2Oct-2008.pdf |title=Library Series continues for Second Year 2008-2009 |date=Fall 2008 |access-date=May 11, 2018}} Ron Burton, Paul Brown, Juni Booth, Kiani Zawadi, Eddie Henderson, Abbie Lincoln,{{Cite web |url=http://www.centerblog.net/musique/30017-25-abbey-lincoln-golden-lady- |title=Abbey Lincoln Golden Lady - Centerblog |website=www.centerblog.net |language=fr |access-date=2018-05-11}} Betty Carter, Sweet Georgia Brown, Fred Ho, Sam Furnace, Hank Jones, Roy Hargrove,{{Cite web |url=http://www.bluenote.net/newyork/schedule/moreinfo.cgi?id=3505 |title=Blue Note VERVE CD RELEASE WEEK - ROY HARGROVE QUINTET - 2006-03-14 |website=www.bluenote.net |access-date=2018-05-10}} Benny Green, Christian McBride, Steven Scott, JD Allen, Peter Bernstein, Monte Croft, Don Sickler, Bobby Watson, Clifton Anderson,{{Cite web |url=http://www.hvmusic.com/listing/calentry_detail.php?listing_id=42466 |title=Clifton Anderson Quartet |website=Hudson Valley Music |access-date=2018-05-11}} Tadataka Unno, Amin Salim, Ronnie Mathews, Dywane Burno, Justin Robinson, Curtis Lundy, Michael Marcus,{{Cite news |url=https://m-etropolis.com/blog/michael-marcus-lotus-symphony-nottwo-records/ |title=Michael Marcus {{!}} Lotus Symphony {{!}} Not Two Records|date=2011-01-18|work=M.etropolis|access-date=2018-05-11}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.jazzsound.pl/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1163 |title=Michael Marcus - LOTUS SYMPHONY |website=www.jazzsound.pl |language=pl |access-date=2018-05-11}} Sonny Simmons{{Cite web |url=http://www.sonnysimmons.org/news.htm |title=Hello World ! the Sonny Simmons homepage : news (new records, schedule, gigs) |website=www.sonnysimmons.org |access-date=2018-05-11}}{{Citation |last=Simmons |first=Sonny |title=The Sonny Simmons Quintet performs the music of Charlie Parker + |date=2011 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/252166467 |publisher=New York, N.Y. : Zingmagazine |access-date=2018-05-11}} and many more...{{cite web |url=http://www.utasi.org/jazzbio2.html |title=Staten Island Jazz Festival |publisher=Universal Temple of the Arts, Staten Island, NY |access-date=May 5, 2018}} He has a musical group called The Taru Alexander Quartet.{{Cite web |url=https://www.smallslive.com/events/12308-the-taru-alexander-quartet/ |title=The Taru Alexander Quartet |website=SmallsLIVE |access-date=2018-05-11}}
Clubs
Alexander played and performed in jazz clubs in New York - FAT Tuesdays, Sweet Basil, Bradley's, The original Smalls Paradise in Harlem, Blue Note,{{Cite web |url=https://news.allaboutjazz.com/tonight-michael-marcus-quartet-at-the-blue-note-nyc.php |title=Jazz news: Tonight! Michael Marcus Quartet at the Blue Note (NYC) |last=Jazz |first=All About |website=All About Jazz News |date=February 2010 |access-date=2018-05-11}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Blue-Note-Jazz-Presents-February-And-March-Schedule-20100125 |title=Blue Note Jazz Presents February And March Schedule |author=BWW News Desk |work=BroadwayWorld.com |access-date=2018-05-11}} Village Vanguard, The Village Gate, The Garage, The St. Nick's Pub, Tavern on the Green, Smalls Jazz Club,{{cite web |url=http://m.livelist.com/shows/taru-alexander-quintet |title=SmallsLIVE by Taru Alexander quintet |publisher=LiveList.com |access-date=May 5, 2018}} 55 bar, Up and Over jazz club, The East, Pumpkins, The Blue Cornet, Paris Blues, Williamsburg Music Center,{{cite web |url=https://www.bandsintown.com/e/21275637-taru-alexander-at-williamsburg-music-center?came_from=245 |title=Taru Alexander at Williamsburg Music Center |publisher=Bandsintown Inc. |access-date=May 5, 2018}} Sister's Place, Zinc Bar, Lenox Lounge.
Tours and festivals
- Carlos Garnett quartet{{Cite web |url=https://www.inntoene.com/archiv/inntoene-2011/carlos-garnett-quartet/ |title=Carlos Garnett Quartet |website=www.inntoene.com |language=de |access-date=2018-05-11}} – European tour, The intone Jazz festival with Paul Zauner, Panama Jazz Festival in 2012
- Cosmosimatics Band with Michael Marcus{{Cite web |url=http://www.michaelmarcusmusic.com/ |title=michaelmarcusmusic.com |website=www.michaelmarcusmusic.com |access-date=2018-05-11}} and Sonny Simmons - European tour, JazzWerk Festival in Ukraine in 2007{{Cite web |url=http://www.companyofheaven.com/id24.html |title=Tour Dates Archive |website=www.companyofheaven.com |access-date=2018-05-11}}
- Roy Hargrove quintet{{Cite web |url=http://jazz.unt.edu/news-2006 |title=News from 2006 {{!}} Division of Jazz Studies|website=jazz.unt.edu|access-date=2018-05-11}} - European, USA & Caribbean Islands tour, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Idaho USA with Hank Jones and Benny Green with Roy Hargrove quintet, Barbados Jazz Festival in 2004 & 2005
- Roberta Gambarini – Barbados (jazz festival) & Chicago (jazz showcase) in 2004 & 2005{{Cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/11/25/minus-hargrove-quintet-performs-most-admirably/ |title=Minus Hargrove, quintet performs most admirably |work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune |access-date=2018-05-11}}
- Roland Alexander quintet – New York jazz scene from 1981 - 2004
- The Drums of Fire with the band leader Morjim (father of the famous rapper Akon) – Canadian tour in 1992
- Abbie Lincoln – European & Canadian tour in 1995
- Rodney Kendrick trio & quintet - European & Canadian tour, Montreal Jazz Festival in 1993 & 1994
- Fred Ho Afro Asian Ensemble, West Coast USA tour and concerts in Paris in 1986{{cite web |url=http://www.utasi.org/jazzbio2.html |title=Staten Island Jazz Festival |publisher=Universal Temple of the Arts, Staten Island, NY |access-date=May 5, 2018}}
Discography
During his three decades of professional career, Alexander appeared as a side man on more than fifty albums.
Leader
As a leader, Alexander recorded in 2014 album titled "KoJo Time"{{Cite web |url=https://jazzleadsheets.com/monk-s-moments.html |title=Monk's Moments |website=jazzleadsheets.com |access-date=2018-05-10}} released under the Jazz Leadsheet label paying tribute to his father, tenor saxophone player Roland Alexander by playing his original compositions.
Sideman
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Album !Artist !Credits |
| 2008
|Brown Skin Gal |Gerry Eastman |Main Personnel, Drums |
| 2006
|Harlem Homecoming |Salim Washington |Drums, Drum |
| 1997
|Turn Pain into Power |Fred Ho |Drums |
| 1997
|We Don't Die, We Multiply{{Cite journal |last=Kalbacher |first=Gene |date=November 10, 1997 |title=Rodney Kendrick - We Don´t Die We Multiply |journal=CMJ New Music Report |volume=52 |pages=16 |issn=0890-0795 }} |Rodney Kendrick |Drums |
| 1996
|Resurgence |Carlos Garnett |Drums |
| 1996
|Abbey Lincoln |Drums |
| 1995
|Rodney Kendrick |Drums |
| 1994
|The Secrets of Rodney Kendrick |Rodney Kendrick |Drums |
| 1985
|Tomorrow Is Now! |Fred Houn |Drums |
| none
|Melvin Vines |Personnel |
{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/taru-alexander-mn0001196661 |title=Taru Alexander Credits |publisher=AllMusic.com |access-date=May 5, 2018}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1807631-Taru-Alexander |title=Taru Alexander |website=Discogs |access-date=2018-05-10}}
Awards
In 1996 Taru was honored with a proclamation for his musical achievements by Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz alongside jazz drummer Max Roach.{{cite web |url=https://www.smallslive.com/artists/2972-taru-alexander/ |title=Taru Alexander Profile |publisher=SmallsLIVE |access-date=May 5, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official|http://www.tarualexander.com}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Taru}}
Category:American jazz drummers
Category:Musicians from Brooklyn
Category:Jazz musicians from New York City