15 Facts About Alexander Hawkins

Alexander Hawkins was born on 3 May 1981 and is a British jazz pianist and composer.

Alexander Hawkins's father played piano and clarinet and introduced Hawkins to jazz through early Duke Ellington recordings.

Alexander Hawkins decided to concentrate on piano practice when he was 18.

Alexander Hawkins started playing jazz in his mid-teens and played gigs in pubs with friends.

Alexander Hawkins decided not to study jazz academically, as he felt that the courses available were too prescriptive and that he had sufficient technique to play what he wanted.

Alexander Hawkins avoided transcribing and imitating the playing of others, concentrating instead on developing his own piano style.

Alexander Hawkins used his early experience of playing church organs when he began to play the Hammond organ.

The Convergence Quartet was formed in 2006 by Alexander Hawkins and Lash, as the latter knew drummer Harris Eisenstadt and Alexander Hawkins and Lash invited cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum to play with them.

In 2012, Alexander Hawkins recorded his first solo piano album, Song Singular.

The change was made because members of the original group had to move and Alexander Hawkins preferred to compose with specific musicians, rather than instrumentations, in mind.

Alexander Hawkins appeared at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in 2014, as a trio with Francois Houle and Eisenstadt.

Alexander Hawkins has often played with Louis Moholo-Moholo, who "has never once told me what to play or suggested what to play", according to the pianist.

In 2015, Alexander Hawkins was asked to "write a new book of arrangements for London's Dedication Orchestra".

Alexander Hawkins released a trio album of his own compositions, Alexander Hawkins Trio, with Charles and Skinner.

Alexander Hawkins plays to the pulse and builds up a ferocious momentum.