"An individualist with a style and sound all his own" (DownBeat), the trumpeter and his longtime quintet project This Against That perform material from his new ECM release Imaginary Friends.
Born in San Francisco to a classical trumpeter father and opera singing mother, Alessi cut his teeth in the classical realm, performing as a freelancer with the San Francisco Symphony at the same time he was working with his Cal Arts professor and bass legend Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra. Now a celebrated performer, composer, and bandleader on the New York scene, Alessi has led 11 albums and performed extensively with saxophonist Steve Coleman and maverick pianist Uri Caine.
Named for Alessi's 2007 album This Against That, a recording that made JazzTimes magazine's Top 10 for the year, the quintet features an impressive cast of New York's most exploratory musicians.