Greg Alexander
New York, New York, United States | SELF | AFTRA
Music
Press
February 15
2010
I just heard this guy for the first time and I am very glad I did. He sings with a bluesy tinge but in an upbeat optimistic manner. I do hear his stated influences of Clapton, Sexton and the Band in at least one or more songs, but there is also a hint of Dave Matthews as well. It's an original sound. His songs are never too heavy or dark in subject matter but are far from simplistic. He has some neat jazzy twists and consistently excellent accompaniment from local New England musicians. Bottom line-- His music makes me feel good... and it will you as well. That's reason enough to make a purchase. (My personal song favorites were Glad, Leaving Time and Listening To London) - Rob Lincoln, cdreviewsonline.com
Traditional folk catches festival judges' ears
"You get back to the originality and that's an artist's greatest gift," said judge Rita Houston, the music director for WFUV-FM. "That single thing that sets you apart."
Greg Alexander made all five judges think of pure folk music. They appreciated that he added his own bluesy twist and Houston said that he wrote a song that hadn't been written before.
"I got chills a couple of times during the song," said producer Leo Sacks. "He really embodies the folk tradition to me."
Providence Journal- Providence, Rhode Island -
- Providence Journal - Providence R.I.
Francis DiMenno
Senior Associate Editor
The Noise
Sept 2009
GREG ALEXANDER
Sky It Shall Be 11 songs
Greg Alexander sings and strums straight folk music with few of the
extravagant look-at-me frills so beloved of tyros and showboaters. His
songs are deepened in their texture by a significant bluesy
underpinning. But he's from a more modern wave of the folk/blues
tradition; think less of Bukka White and more of the 70s-era
singer-songwriters like James Taylor, with a slightly melancholic but
uplifting emotional component. Perhaps the most memorable song on this
collection is the delightfully uptempo "I'm Still Writing This," which
reminds me a great deal of British folk of the Fairport Convention
school. However, many of the songs are performed at midtempo, but with
nuanced and brightly colored instrumentals, heard to best effect on
"I'll Rock the Boat" and the soulful and appropriately titled
"Lullaby". A name to watch. (Francis DiMenno) - The Noise-Rock Around Boston
Discography
"Sleighbells in my Head (original holiday songs)" (2004)
"Live in the Village" (2005)
"Other Ways" (2007)
"Sky it Shall Be" (2009)
mp3s of recordings are posted at:
www.gregalexander.com/AvailableMusic.htm and on www.gregalexander.com/Bootlegs.htm
Songs from "Sky it Shall Be" and "Other Ways" have received national and international airplay in:
MA, CT, NY, PA, IL, TX, Australia and Israel
Photos
Bio
Greg Alexander calls his version of acoustic folk/blues "Future Folk" : a story in every song.
Honors and Credits
Winner, Newport Folk Talent Search, Newport Folk Festival
Winner, New Folk Song Contest, Hudson Valley Songfest
Winner, New Folk Showcase, New Jersey Folk Festival
New Folk Finalist, Kerrville Folk Festival
Emerging Artist Performer, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Finalist, Singer-Songwriter Showcase, Solarfest
Born in Springfield , Massachusetts , Greg found his way to writing music during a year abroad as an exchange student in Paris.
My French host family were all performers, actors and singers. They gave me a guitar to communicate until I could speak French - that took about six months. By then I was hooked on making music.
A graduate of New York City's National Shakespeare Conservatory, he has toured as both an actor & musician with the National Shakespeare Company.
"When theater is in cahoots with music - it's the best, it truly is."
Quotes and Testimonials:
"You get back to the originality and that's an artist's greatest gift; that single thing that sets you apart."
Rita Houston, music director, WFUV-FM.
His live performance is an evening for the good in man (humanity).
The Tip Berlin, Germany
His songs are deepened in their texture by a significant bluesy
underpinning. A name to watch
Francis DiMenno, Rock Around Boston
Greg has CDs available on his own label;
Summit House Music
Band Members
Links
