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ECM Recording Artists

Ralph Alessi and Anemone: It’s Always Now

American trumpeter evokes a world of sound with his new band.

Describing Ralph Alessi’s trumpet playing is like describing his compositions: open and clear of sound and structure, and simultaneously full of ingenuity and expertise. On his new album It’s Always Now his tone is as flexible, sharp and present as ever. Pianist Matthieu Mazue, bassist Lukas Traxel and drummer Gerry Hemingway navigate through Alessi’s free-thinking compositions as if they have a sixth sense.

Ralph Alessi, the son of classical trumpeter Joe Alessi and opera singer Maria Leone, was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. Currently he shares his time between New York and Bern, Switzerland, where he teaches as a professor at Hochschule der Künste. He reached the highest ranks of jazz working with major artists such as Steve Coleman, Jason Moran, Don Byron, Ravi Coltrane and Fred Hersch. It’s Always Now is already his twelfth album as a leader and his fourth on the renowned label ECM Records.

Ralph Alessi trumpet, Matthieu Mazue piano, Lukas Traxel double bass, Gerry Hemingway drums