To everyone complaining that this isn't real jazz: Listen to Joey's rendition of "Giant Steps". Yes, THAT Giant Steps. Or "My Favorite Things". To everyone saying that his parents probably forced him to learn jazz and punishes him for "making mistakes": Jazz is not the kind of thing you learn from endless hours of disciplined practice and repetition of the same thing over and over again. That would be classical music. Jazz is improvisation, the kind of thing you can only really learn by enjoying and understanding the music you listen to and play. And there are no mistakes.

Joey is gifted beyond explanation. I've made my living as a teacher and musician for a very long time, and he is unlike anyone I've ever encountered. Stunningly brilliant. Can't wait to see his career and musicality continue to develop. Go Joey!!!!

I'm a jazz guitarist/pianist , and I would say that Jazz has a few hundred useful chords ( it could be said there is an infinite number of chords, but how many are useful? ), and each chord you have to be able to visualize and hear it across the keyboard, and be able to articulate according to what the hear wants to play, and do it instantly. It's one thing ti memorize every note like a classical musician, but jazz is basically making music up as you go along ( within a harmonic framework set by the composer ) so jazz, even for prodigies, takes years of knowledge acquiring and maturity of expression, let alone all the single - note line playing, but I've never seen such a prodigy in jazz as this kid. He plays like someone three times his age.

Lots of people are here saying that given the right surroundings anyone could play like this. As a jazz piano player I completely disagree for those that know anything about jazz know it is much more complicated than any idea of classical music. He is the first jazz piano prodigy no one has seen something like this before because the brain has to be so far advanced in the ideas of creativity,skill, music theory and so much more to be able to improvise like this kid does. There is a reason that he is becoming famous. It's because he is a great musician.

Jazz is not something one can just easily learn and regurgitate. Jazz is felt in the soul and expressed in the notes. This kid has it...he has soul and the talent to make it sing.

I am a musician, have been for all most all of my life. When I hear people say that anyone can play this good, with constant practicing, I don't even entertain the conversation. Master Joey Alexander has a gift that God has given him. I have always said, " Jazz and Classical music is one of the hardest type of music to play on the piano. If you have mastered both of them, any other type of music is a breeze. I have much respect for this Prodigy. I, like millions of others, only wish we could play on this level. Take a BOW Master Joey Alexander. 10/29/2020

You guys make me mad. I'm pretty sure Wynton Marsalis is in a better place to judge Joey Alexander than all of you guys in the comment section, regardless of what musical background you might have (unless you're, let's say, Chick Corea). Wynton Marsalis called him "his hero" and he played with him. My jealousy-meter is off the charts when I read comments like "he's not a prodigy, he plays like a robot" or "he was forced into it, I could've done it if my parents taught me". This is NOT the right attitude to have towards a young musician like Joey. Pretty sure he has more musical maturity (and maturity in general for that matter) than all of you judging him. I'm a jazz pianist as well by the way, and I highly respect Joey; he truly has a gift since his level of playing is not what you can learn in even 11 years of constant "forced" practice. He just feels it and loves music.

To those who think just forcing a child with hours of practice can achieve this they are dreaming . Its one thing to read a music score but totally another to Improvise at this very high level at his age...for most people it takes decades ..if ever to reach.He is prodigy,jazz phenom on the highest level.

When I first was introduced to Jazz and heard him playing, I thought "meh not worth listening to. So different from the recordings.".Now, I have a good enough ear to listen to Jazz and appreciate this kid's playing and how you cannot compare it to a classical prodigy. What a great Jazz player.

I’m extremely impressed with his touch and maturity in his musical sensibility. God gifted!

To all those armchair pianists saying this is easy, it's not. I'm a classically trained pianist for the last two decades and I struggle to play improvisational jazz. It requires a sophisticated creativity and mastery of music theory and technical skill; your entire performance is essentially an impromptu cadenza. The kid is a musical savant.

As an Indonesian, I'm so proud of Joey'''s tremendous characteristic of playing his music. It's so an authentic, beyond you can imagine how he plays...it's something truly coming from your sincere heart. It's so speechless, outregous....bravo Joey, just keep doing it and you make us proud as Indonesian people, as well as the nation. Bravo.....salute Joey...we love you

For all the haters: you’re wrong. Not robotic, delivered with impeccable understanding for the feel and timing of the genre. There is soul, and depth in his playing that simply can’t be taught even the most enthusiastic students. My hat’s off. Joey is a prodigy.

The title of this tune is Monk's Dream by Thelonious Monk. It was recorded by Monk in 1952. Joey knows more jazz than most of you morons will ever know at age 13. But then...Mozart wasn't accepted untill he died. Like the Misterioso quote here by him. This young man has the tools. We can only hope he continues growing and inspiring young people to discover and remember all the jazz greats who came before him.

This is the problem with introducing jazz to a non-jazz public. A lot of people don't understand what's actually going on here and tend to pass it off as just another young piano player. No.. this is a young JAZZ piano player, and an excellent one at that too! There are no rankings in jazz, everyone stands their own and Joey is definitely and should definitely be put up there with the "grown" jazz pianists. Makoto Ozone gives his highest regards to this kid. Look into jazz more before you guys speak please!

As I know that he doesn't like to be called "Prodigy" here he said: "I just like to be as myself, I know many people call me a prodigy; I mean, OK, I thank you, but I still want to be called a jazz musician." Just enjoy the music!!! :)

This kid's musical facility is off the charts...There are players that have been playing 4, 5, 6, or 8 times his lifetime who can't come close to the chops, technical ability and moxie to pull this off. He was 11 years old here. 99.99999999999% percentile of ability at his age for damn sure and not much off that for ANY age.

To be a jazz musician at 11 years old and have the ability of any piano jazz great from the last 90 years is off the charts unbelievable. Joey is a great argument for the concept of reincarnation. There is no other way this talent can be explained.

Just incredible!! His timing and phrasing are impeccable...just have to sit and wonder...what will he be playing at 20?? Unbelievable young brutha..keep living and learning you are TRULY worth following

This young fellow will be playing for a long time. Beautifully played peice by Thelonius Monk.

I am not sure people understand what they are seeing with Joey. This is not just hard work. This is otherworldly gifting. The phrase 'touched' applies here, because this is just an astounding level of talent/gift.

I can listen to him all day~!!~!!!

As someone who's approaching to jazz I have no idea how someone could put together something like this at his age.

I'm a listener of jazz. Joey, has absolutely Jazzy-Soul in him. Love him 😍

He is playing with SO much emotions. This is something practice can't get you to do, you have to feel the music, it needs to grow inside you, from the way he plays you can tell his passion for this art form. I'm a diploma student in piano and I think I'm qualified to judge his brilliance. Stop the negative comments, this child has TALENT!

People criticize because they don't understand what they're hearing

The title of this song by the way is "Monk's Dream". (Dear TED editors: you had ONE job...)

Too many people judging. on the basis of one song. Have you listened to any other his work. It is staggering, the feel, rhythm, timing, dynamism of a rare master. For example, his own composition, Soul Dreamer, close your eyes and you will think you are in the presence of a great master.

This is a mental version of sauna: First you get to see and hear an absolutely brilliant performance from what has to be one of the most brilliant children on this planet right now. Then you scroll down and see how grown ups debate whether he is good enough to deserve a prodigy status and whether this is a proper jazz or not. People, grow some hearts, ears and last but not least, brains!

For those people that gave this kid a thumbs down.... there could only be one reason. You are not musically educated enough to understand what this kid just played. Study Music before you make judgement. That is the problem with the music industry today. You need to be educated in music to perform, because the people listening are as uneducated as the so called musicians. I am so sick and tired of comments from people who have no clue what they are talking about when it comes to music. You don't have to like what he does or how he does it, but you better recognize and respect his gift.

The parents when he was born: Y'like jazz?

There is just one Joey Alexander by generation. This kid, apart from being an hard worker, is deeply gifted.

why cant we all just sit and watch him play.. its beautiful

Wow...... Audiences in TED gave standing ovation for his performance...and jealous people here commented otherwise.

I was in the audience of this concert and I came back the next day to hear Joey once more. I 've never heard a child swing like that. It was really a great event that I'll never forget. H.U.

99% People saying that other people shouldn't be judgmental 1% People being judgmental

What's with all the empty seats? And what's with all the negative comments? Nice work, kid.

That improvisation is almost magical, hope he get the Grammy.

Joey, you are amazing. Joey has a gift. It's amazing how people are so judgmental. I listened to my granddad play jazz from as early as I can remember and my style of music is reflective of that. Whether he was forced or not isn't the issue. Many kids are forced to do many things if you don't have the gift "it ain't coming out". Most non gifted people don't understand.

"Classical music needs tremendous practices, while jazz music needs tremendous creativities"

What a rare sight to have someone as young as him to be so into jazz! He's going to have such a bright future ahead of him

Anyone doubting this kid should at least look up the video of him in the studio playing "Giant Steps"

When others are into classical, this kid is doing all that Jazz . . .! Wow My favourite prodigy...

Such inspired playing. He really adds excitement to this great world music.

I totally agree with Philippe Grant, and Joeys playing is amazing at any age.He has a rare talent and you can only play at this level of jazz if you feel and love it to the extent he obviously does..Someone could practice for years and never get to this level,( I know because I`ve tried ! )

June 27, 2018 We are in awe of such an off-the-charts ability at any age, let alone by a boy/soul who in June 2018 just turned 15. The answer to this wonder is that we are all come from Eternal Divine Source which is inexhaustible "Creative Intelligence." And individual souls prepare for their next lifetime on earth from the "other side." Some individuals have a definite destiny, for example, in music - even though, at the same time, as human beings we also have a certain degree of "free will." The kind of talent for music that Joey Alexander has, or a Mozart, Bach had, or a Rembrandt, Leonardo Da Vinci, etc., cannot merely be chalked up to "science" and "good genes or DNA." There's too much specificity of talent that a generalized artistic genetic disposition cannot explain alone. Joey is self-taught and is doing things that masters playing their entire life have acquired, usually quite a lot through through formal training - Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, BiIl Evans and Herbie Hancock, for example. Details that cannot be accounted for by a mere "random birth of physical characteristics." Additionally, Joey Alexander was born with "perfect pitch." Whatever he hears inside can be flawlessly duplicated, replicated, executed onto the piano. Very few, relatively speaking, have that ability (Keith Jarrett also has perfect pitch). So Joey picks up new songs readily. And he memorizes songs easily. They're "imbibed" in him. And he can apply his God-given talent to the basic structure/harmony of music that he assimilates easily. One still has to work at their craft even though they may be extraordinarily gifted and talented. The fingers are physical and must gain superb technique to express what's inside the heart and soul. It may take hours and hours of daily practice, focus, but when you love something and it is your mission or destiny in life to bring it out to the world, it is a joy, a labor of love. Joey says you have to love playing every note. He has fun. He exudes passion and enthusiasm. Amazingly enough, at such a young (chronological) age, Joey Alexander has already learned a key truth and wisdom of life: He is incredibly HUMBLE, grateful, gracious, and acknowledges the people around him first. This is something we can all notice about his kindness and glean from it. Thank you, Joey, for being yourself! For as the joke goes, everybody else is taken. We hope for many more everlasting moments from your great inspiration and expression of life's "key notes." Pun intended.

old school jazz really not easy at all awsome performance. maturity in his style at 11 yo how its possible ! amazing

He has a great technique for a kid his age. But the most important,he enjoys playing it! Well done Joey!

This isn't great because he's 11 years old. It's just great.

To anyone saying he plays like a robot, the members of JLCO who were on the stage when he was kind of introduced to the world said that he played the song he performed differently each time he rehearsed for his performance. A whole bunch of old souls got together in this kid and we should all be lucky we are around as its happening because someone like Joey doesn't appear that often.

I have been a professional musician all my life . I can’t fathom how this kid still has haters and naysayers. People, you have NO ears. zero. There is no room for an argument here. Either you have ears, or you don’t.

He done magic! I never loved this kind of music before

Smart, talented and humble kid ... Love you Joey 💖 and i love all of Joey music / videos .. Cheers 🍸

How anyone could give this a thumbs down is beyond me. Joey is a phenomenal player at any age, it is really is a mystery how he can do what he does at such a young age, looking forward to watching/listening to him for years to come!

I know I couldn't play that at 11 and neither can nor could the majority of people. He is self taught so all things being fair, that makes this kid pretty special. He's playing with his eyes closed and obviously then, no sheet music. Always blown away by our capabilities.

Just Wonderful!!! Thank you Joey.

You bring the Yamaha to life, and you create happiness to my ears. ;Good job, indeed!!!

Damn Thelonious would be impressed. The kid killed it!

Love this kid's playing ... so musical ... so inventive ... so fresh ... he's way better than most adult piano jazzers who have been playing their entire lives.

Sure he's not quite at the level as some world class grown-up professionals, but I'm not even sure you can find another 11 year old jazz pianist in the entire world who can express jazz as well as him and improvise like that. To anybody with no background in jazz, this video may sound like just any old song but what's needed to play like this requires years of dedication and passion that most children and even teenagers cannot exhibit.

Absolutely FANTASTIC!! I never heard playing Monk like this.

Now this is talent. Good job kid, you have a bright future ahead of you

can feel your soul joey... love and respect... from indonesia...

All i know this put a BIG smile in my face

monk's dream... I love this tune..bravo..

Classic Monk's Dream... So many tritones. Love it

I don't know what people mean when they say words like "prodigy" and I really don't care what they mean. But I can tell you this: ANYBODY who can master the piano as Joey does, may offer a critique. But if you can't, you have no right to say anything except "AMAZING" or "AWESOME", or "FLABBERGASTINGLY OUTSTANDING!!!"

I really enjoy to listen he playing

hes gonna win grammies

Such an amazing talent! Beautifully played.

I've been trying to find a single negative comment that all these other comments are talking about, but I haven't seen one.

I have borrowed this sentence from a comment that is on a video of one of my other heroes and suits here wel too "To all the haters take a hike! this 11 yr old kid leaves more talent in the toilet than most of you can spew out of your mouths"!

Oh my God..Amazing Kid

this young fella is awesome

AMAZING! WHAT A GIFT

Super genius piano player. Very inspiring. Go Joeyyyy.

Anyone who thinks Joey's parents forced him to play piano 7 hours a day since he was 3 are cynics. Joey has a God-given talent which he choses to share with the world. He practices, jams and now performs with some of the best jazz musicians in the world. Just Google him and you'll learn that his low-key parents are just as surprised by their son's unique gift as the jazz world. Watch him in videos playing "Giant Steps" or "My Favorite Things" and you'll hear a brilliant but different interpretation every time. If you find his playing tense, forced, un-melodic and boring--to each his own. People have said that about Art Tatum, Thelonius Monk and Bill Evans, so I take no offense.

You have to love what your doing to play like this!

Outstanding! Bravo!

What a great talent...just amazing...!!!!

Fantastic! What a delight!

Beast mode activate at 3:30 excellent work young one .

Simply wonderful God Bless Thanks

Amazing gift what this kid has..😊

He starts of shy but eases into it great job!

Love you Joey, amazing..

Got to say not my favourite number but Joey's interpretation and performance is incredible. Can't believe he's only 11. Got to be second time around and previously studied with the greats.

Just made public "Joey Alexander Announces Surprise Live Album Of Thelonious Monk, Offering A Preview" and for sure I had a listen! Love it!

How are these comments saying he's not a prodigy getting so much traction?? This kid is a once in a lifetime talent. Truly. Anyone who really pays attention can see this. If Joey Alexander isn't a prodigy to you then I'm not sure what else you're looking for in a prodigy. Laser vision?

Love it!!

very proud to have you, Joey.... We cannot make evebody happy... for me you are wonderful.. the haters wil be the haters.. so dont listen.. keep it up and make Indonesia more bright!

Beautiful good sir, Bravo.

I love it !!

For those questioning whether Joey is a prodigy. The definition 'a young person with exceptional qualities or abilities.' Even though I understand where you are coming from by this definition I'm pretty sure he qualifies.

This improv is amazing. I feel like I'm comparing cave paintings to the Mona Lisa when I think of my improv after this. He looks like he's having a blast even while playing at this level. Awesome.

Master of interpretation.... GBU Joey...

Freaking amazing !

beautiful !

There's more people complaining about people hating on joey alexandar than actual people hating on joey alexandar.

Such style