“Joe Alterman is a breath of fresh air on the music scene. I love hearing him play! It’s happy music with tasty meat on the bones! Although much younger than I, he is an inspiration to me! His piano playing, his will to explore and his ability to swing is a joy to behold.”
-RAMSEY LEWIS
“Having known Joe Alterman on a personal level, I can attest to the fact that he is a very special artist.”
-AHMAD JAMAL
“Joe is tiny, but only in stature. As a man and a musician he is already a giant. He’s on a ‘blow your mind’ level.”
-LES MCCANN
"All the musicians who are now considered jazz legends played there [Birdland]: Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Lester Young, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson and Duke Ellington, among others. Alterman would have been able to hold his own jamming with any of them…Alterman’s continually evolving presence on the jazz scene surely makes people smile and, if the room is right, dance. There’ll be no need for any last rites of jazz.”
-NAT HENTOFF
Photos DOWNLOADABLE FOR PRESS AND PROMOTION
press
downbeat - JON ROSS
“Joe Alterman: Pianistic Salvation”
the wall street journal - NAT HENTOFF
“Joe Alterman Strikes a Chord”
jazztimes - a.d. amorosi
‘No Party Like a Les McCann Party”
ALL ABOUT JAZZ - Mike Jones
“Joe Alterman, jazz pianist, Atlanta native, found a refuge in music”
CATO - “Joe Alterman’s Timeless Jazz”
NAT HENTOFF
JAZZED - Nat Hentoff
“When Jazz Musicians Become Jazz Historians”
ARTSATL - MIKE SHAW
“Joe Alterman pays it back to jazz legend Les McCann with ‘Big MO & Little Joe’”
“Joe Alterman combines outstanding musical technique with infectious enthusiasm for his work. I’ve seen him fill a room with joy as his skill at the keyboard combines seamlessly with his delightful and appealing onstage personality. Young Alterman is one fine, first-class entertainer.”
-DICK CAVETT
Tune in to Joe’s Podcast and Radio Show!
Atlanta-based jazz pianist Joe Alterman expresses his deep appreciation of jazz and swing in his performances and compositions. Now he shares that love of jazz on his new show on WABE, celebrating the legendary performers of jazz and exploring what makes the music so timeless and endearing to listeners. Each week, Joe plays both influential and lesser-known jazz records and breaks down what makes them great. Experience what the love of jazz is about on The Upside of Jazz with Joe Alterman.
Listen Saturdays at 7-8 p.m. on WABE 90.1