October 18th 2026

Compelling. A global phenomenon. Prodigious talent.

Superlatives given to acclaimed pianist Joey Alexander who did not disappoint in his Sydney debut for SIMA.

Fresh from the Wellington and Melbourne Jazz Festivals, Joey brought his exceptional playing and explosive trio to the first of two Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA) special event nights. With a large and attentive crowd listening intently in the ambient church setting, the Alexander Trio played a straight set dazzling with technique, collaboration and consummate artistry.

It was jazz as chamber music, featuring original Alexander works from his new album ‘Celestial Keeper’ release (Mack Avenue July 2026) alongside standards and gospel influenced blues. Alon Near on bass and drummer Tyson Jackson responded to every nuance from the keyboard, leaning in to visually connect and nodding with positive energy. Free-flowing solo piano opened several numbers, Alexander gaining momentum and all across the keyboard as the bass then drums entered seamlessly.There were no holds barred on louder passages but superbly balanced by drawing back into delicate and expressive phrases, fragments of stride or possibly Liszt or swaying bossa feel.

Speaking quietly into the mic after two extended tunes, Joey introduced a revered standard, having heard it sung by luminaries such as Ella Fitzgerald, the classic Rodgers And Hart ‘I Didn’t Know What Time It Was’. We could hear birds twitter in Spring on the piano, gentle brush strokes on drums evolving into an incredible bass solo and the trio conveying all the emotions of the lyrics, “to be young, to be mad and grand to be alive.” Next up was a sit back and feel it in four bluesy number where the three musicians and audience repeatedly moved forward then breathed a momentary beat of silence together in perfect synchronicity. A reflective ballad with a beautiful, lyrical solo piano solo and reminiscent of a film soundtrack featured Tyson Jackson subtly drumming with soft mallets and palms only.

The crowd delighted in the Latin feel of Joey’s own composition ‘Bali’ from his fourth album ‘Eclipse’ (Motema 2018) with pianistic calisthenics and descending lines on bass with an abrupt V-I final cadence that made us all smile. The penultimate number set off at a cracking bebop pace to ultimately showcase and cement in our minds the incredible technique on display. Shutting your eyes, we were surely in the presence of an experienced jazz legend, although Joey has only just turned 23!

Three Grammy-nominations, seven albums and elite performances with jazz royalty and for Presidents, Alexander is forging his own path shaped by his creativity, faith and transformation. After a waltzing finale, the crowd rose as one to celebrate, excited and blessed to have been present to listen, admire and enjoy a triad of superb musicians.

New Album Release on Bandcamp: Celestial Keeper | Joey Alexander

ZODIAC

Jordan Chung | piano
Hinano Fujisaki | tenor saxophone
Sabine Tapia | double bass
Manson Luk | drums

Supporting the Joey Alexander Trio and already an integral part of Sydney’s contemporary jazz artists, Zodiac impressed with their confidence and tight sound. The set included tunes from their recent release ‘From’ (2025) reflecting on and questioning identity and cultural roots from their lived experiences as Asian-Australians.

Albums on Bandcamp: Music | Zodiac

IMPROVISED AND UNPREDICTABLE: SIMA:

Journey to a world of the unexpected, the thrilling, and the ground-breaking. Check out upcoming events from SIMA including the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival curated by Jess Green through October.