A boy from Bali is taking the jazz world by storm.
At just 12 years old, Joey Alexander has become the youngest performer invited to play on the Newport Jazz Festival stage and the spot is a huge achievement for a jazz musician of any age. And that’s just one of his many jazz accolades so early on in his career.
Alexander’s progression from a hyperactive kid in Bali who just got his first keyboard to his big move to New York City to ride out his jazz potential was featured in a recent segment on the American TV program 60 Minutes.
Sure, too many kids are coerced by their parents to play classical piano and memorize sheet music, but “what’s most remarkable is that Joey is already a master of improvisation,” reporter Anderson Cooper muses.
“Most of what he plays, he makes up as he goes on.”
Just watch the kid play and you can see that he’s not just good for his age, he’s already a straight up genius on the piano. He plays jazz piano with passion and creativity and it’s a lot of fun to watch—plus he’s super adorable!
You can watch the full segment here.
