Ralph Alessi
General Info
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Location BROOKLYN, New York, US
Profile Views: 47445
Last Login: 5/18/2011
Member Since 1/23/2006
Website www.ralphalessi.com
Record Label Unknown Indie
Type of Label Indie
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Bio
Since 1991, trumpeter/composer/educator Ralph Alessi has been an active member of the New York jazz and improvised music scene as both sideman and leader. Called “…a highly-in-demand, adventurous virtuoso who can handle just about anything” (L.A. Weekly), Alessi has performed and recorded with the likes of Steve Coleman, Uri Caine, Don Byron, Ravi Coltrane, Sam Rivers, Fred Hersch and many other of the great innovators in improvised music. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Alessi was always surrounded by a family of musicians including his father Joseph Alessi with whom he began studying the trumpet at the age of six (his mother is a former singer with the Metropolitan Opera Company). From 1985-1990, he attended the California Institute for the Arts, where he studied with Charlie Haden and James Newton. In that time, he received a B.F.A. degree in jazz trumpet performance and a M.F.A. degree in jazz bass performance. During his residence in Los Angeles, he performed with Bill Perkins, Frank Strazeri and Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra to name a few. Shortly after relocating to New York City, Alessi joined bands led by saxophonist Steve Coleman and Pianist Uri Caine (with whom he continues to play with) as well as performing and recording with Michael Cain, Curtis Fowlkes, Peter Epstein, Mark Helias, David Gilmore, Bobby Previte, Tim Berne, James Carney, Andy Milne, Muhal Richard Abrams and Lonnie Plaxico. These days as a sideman he is performing and recording with Don Byron, Tim Berne, Drew Gress, Kenny Werner, Fred Hersch, Scott Colley and The Extension Ensemble. As a leader, Alessi has three recordings to his name. In 1999, he released his first CD Hissy Fit (Loveslave) a recording that Cadence magazine called “a winner.” His second CD Vice and Virtue (RKMmusic), a collaborative and mostly improvised recording with drummer/trumpet player Shane Endsley, has been referred to as “a singular pleasure” by JazzReview.com. Vice and Virtue was released in 2002 along with This Against That (RKMmusic), a quintet release featuring Don Byron and Jason Moran that received a 4star review from Downbeat magazine. In 2006, Alessi will release two new CDS. As an educator, Alessi has been a member of the faculties at Five Towns College and the Eastman School of Music. He is currently the founder and director of the School for Improvisational Music (www.schoolforimprov.org), a non-profit entity currently holding improvisational music workshops in and around New York City. Recently, he joined the New York University jazz faculty as adjunct professor. -
Members
THIS AGAINST THAT: Ralph Alessi (trumpet), Andy Milne (piano), Drew Gress (bass), Mark Ferber (drums) SHANK: Ralph Alessi (trumpet, bass), Tim Berne (saxophone), Shane Endsley (drums, trumpet) MODULAR THEATRE: Ralph Alessi (trumpet), Peter Epstein (saxophone), Mark Helias (bass), Gerald Cleaver (drums), Will Jennings (vocals) -
Influences
Too many to name but here are a few: Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Paul Smoker, Steve Coleman, Bach, Stravinsky, Kenny Wheeler, Shane Endsley, Nabate Isles, Jeff Hermanson, Eric Biondo, Michael Cain, Tower of Power, James Brown, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Joe Alessi Sr., David Ake, Mark Miller, Charlie Haden, Earth Wind and Fire, Radiohead, Tribe Called Quest, Steely Dan, Art Tatum, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter, Paul Motian Trio, Weather Report, Thelonius Monk, Keith Jarrett, Paul Bley, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, Bill Frisell, Meshuggah, Kneebody, Mark Hollis, Prince, Henry Threadgill, Clifford Brown, The Beatles, Tim Berne, Ravi Coltrane, James Carney, Rufus, Joseph Campbell, Don Byron, Peter Epstein, Jaco Pastorius, Joe Henderson, Joni Mitchell, Lee Morgan, Sonny Rollins and countless other things. -
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15 Songs | May 13, 2011















Richard Harris
6 months ago
Richard Harris
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INCOGNITO 11 months ago
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10 of 343MoreSUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT AND VOTE ON NOV 6TH Ralph!
"JACKSON'S LOVE - FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD" - MY BRAND NEW CD - HAS JUST BEEN RECORDED - WATCH FOR IT SOON @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com
TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA ...
Our President NEEDS and DESERVES our support!
We didn't get into the mess HE INHERITED overnight,
and we won't get out of it overnight. But we are making
real PROGRESS! He needs your help on Tuesday!
PLEASE LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD AND
VOTE ON NOVEMBER 6TH!
With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,
Richard
www.RichardHarrisLive.com
Please take a minute and give my music a listen!
MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com
Can you BELIEVE this guy Ralph?
"JACKSON'S LOVE - FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD" - MY BRAND NEW CD - HAS JUST BEEN RECORDED - WATCH FOR IT SOON @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com
TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT TRUTH AND LIES ...
According to Webster, a LIE is defined as:
1.) a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive;
an INTENTIONAL UNTRUTH; a FALSEHOOD..
2.) something intended or serving to convey a FALSE
IMPRESSION; imposture: His flashy car was a lie
that deceived no one.
3.) an INACCURATE or FALSE STATEMENT.
4.) the charge or accusation of LYING:
THE TRUST OF THE INNOCENT IS THE LIAR'S
MOST USEFUL TOOL! DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING
YOU HEAR!
With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,
Richard
www.RichardHarrisLive.com
Please take a minute and give my music a listen!
MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com
Hello Ralph thank you for friendship these are 2 videos of mine i hope that you like them
dino massa featuring JOHN ABERCROMBIE:
AUTUMN LEAVES:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-7ziOaTseI
SOLAR:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtJHbu4bsIE
May all your DREAMS come true on your BIRTHDAY Ralph!
"JACKSON'S LOVE - FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD" - MY BRAND NEW CD - HAS JUST BEEN RECORDED - WATCH FOR IT SOON @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com
TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT BIRTHDAYS ...
“Your BIRTHDAY is a special time
to celebrate THE GIFT OF
"YOU"
to the world.”
AND IN THE END, IT'S NOT THE YEARS IN YOUR LIFE
THAT COUNT. IT'S THE LIFE IN YOUR YEARS!
With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE, my friend
Richard
www.RichardHarrisLive.com
Please take a minute and give my music a listen!
MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com
MUSIC never SLEEPS Ralph!
"JACKSON'S LOVE - FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD" - MY BRAND NEW CD - HAS JUST BEEN RECORDED - WATCH FOR IT SOON @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com
TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT MUSIC ...
"MUSIC doesn't LIE.
If there is something to be CHANGED in this world,
then IT CAN ONLY HAPPEN through MUSIC."
~ Jimi Hendrix
MUSIC CHANGES THE WORLD BECAUSE IT
CHANGES PEOPLE!
With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,
Richard
www.RichardHarrisLive.com
Please take a minute and give my music a listen!
MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com
Have an AWESOME WEEKEND Ralph!
I AM RECORDING A NEW ALBUM THIS SUMMER - WATCH FOR IT @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com
TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT WEEKENDS ...
"WEEKENDS do not count unless you spend
them doing something COMPLETELY POINTLESS."
~ Bill Watterson
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH DAYS IN THE WEEKEND!
With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,
Richard
www.RichardHarrisLive.com
Please take a minute and give my music a listen!
MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com
Hope that music continues to feed your soul Ralph.
http://www.incognito.org.uk/
facebook.com/cogheads
http://twitter.com/incognito_world
Check out our new album Surreal. Contains Soul, Jazz, R&B, Funk & Bossa
Honor All MOTHERS With LOVE and RESPECT Ralph!
TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT MOTHERS ...
“No GIFT to your MOTHER can ever
EQUAL her gift to you -
LIFE.”
A SALUTE TO ALL MOTHERS EVERYWHERE FOR
WHO YOU ARE, AND FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!
With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,
Richard
www.myspace.com/richardharrislive
Please take a minute and give my music a listen!
MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com
Happy Easter Ralph!
TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT EASTER ...
"The SPIRIT OF EASTER
is all about
HOPE, LOVE and JOYFUL LIVING.
Happy Easter!"
EASTER SPELLS OUT BEAUTY ~
THE RARE BEAUTY OF NEW LIFE!
With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,
Richard
www.myspace.com/richardharrislive
Please take a minute and give my music a listen!
MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com
Happy ST PATRICK'S DAY Ralph!
TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT AN IRISH BLESSING ...
"May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand."
MAY YOU LIVE AS LONG AS YOU WANT,
AND NEVER WANT AS LONG AS YOU LIVE!
With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,
Richard
www.myspace.com/richardharrislive
Please take a minute and give my music a listen!
MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com