Joey Alexander

“My dad played a little bit of piano and guitar, but not that professionally. I saw him play, and I said, 'I want to play. I want to try this instrument.'”

“I'll always be a student. I learn by doing.”

“I always communicate musically. I want my band not only to learn the form and feel of the song by ear, like I do, but also have the freedom to contribute.”

“Jazz is a hard music, and you have to really work hard and also have fun performing; that's the most important thing.”

“When I'm in stage, I never plan, you know, 'I'm going to do this.' But of course, you have a concept what you're going to do. But you don't really plan it.”

“As I grow older, I just want to be a better musician, to play more.”

“One thing people always say to me: 'Keep playing.'”

“I play sports - like, I play a little bit of tennis, swimming, like a normal kid. I watch movies.”