Pianist Joe Alterman and his trio will be performing every Saturday at Birdland this May. Doors are at 4:30 PM and the shows are at 5:30 PM. With Alterman are Kevin Smith – bass and Justin Chesarek – drums. Each week will feature hand-selected repertoire from artists who’ve had profound influences on Alterman’s style and development as a musician.
Saturday, May 3 – Joe Alterman Trio
Saturday, May 10 – Celebrating Les McCann
Saturday, May 17 – Celebrating Ramsey Lewis
Saturday, May 24 – Celebrating Ahmad Jamal
Saturday, May 31 – Joe Alterman Trio
The connection that Alterman felt with these greats as a listener has, in many cases, long since been surpassed by the connections that he’s made with his heroes as a collaborator. His 2023 rollicking and emotional Big Mo & Little Joe, for instance, documented his close friendship and onstage partnership with the late McCann.
is an Atlanta native Alterman who began at NYU with a BA and Masters in Jazz Piano, followed by performances with Houston Person, Les McCann, Dick Gregory, and Ramsey Lewis who described his piano playing as ‘a joy to behold’. Journalist Nat Hentoff championed three of Alterman’s albums, as well as his writing (Alterman wrote liner notes to three Wynton Marsalis/JALC albums, for example).
For more information and tickets, click here.
Birdland is located at 413 W. 44th St., NYC
