A Kid Who Actually Earned the Hype
Eclipse is Joey Alexander playing with real conviction, not just showing off his chops.
By the time Joey Alexander released Eclipse (2017), he had already done something most jazz musicians never get close to: performed at the Grammy Awards as a teenager and become the first Indonesian musician nominated for a Grammy. That kind of backstory can be a curse — the prodigy label tends to follow you around and make everything you do feel like a novelty act. Eclipse is the record where Alexander starts shaking that off. It sounds like a guy who has been listening hard and is figuring out what he actually wants to say, not just what will impress people.
The album leans into originals more than his debut did, and that matters. His cover records were impressive showcases, but Eclipse is where you hear Alexander developing a real compositional voice. Tracks like 'Buku' and 'Cinta' draw on Indonesian musical feeling without making a big deal about it — it's just part of how he hears music. The trio format keeps things honest: piano, bass, drums, nowhere to hide. His touch is clean and his time is solid, and the rhythm section gives him room without disappearing into the background.
Is Eclipse a revelation? Not exactly. There are moments where it still feels like a talented young musician working things out in real time, which is fine — that's what this stage of a career is supposed to sound like. But it's a genuinely enjoyable record, and it holds up better on repeat listens than a lot of flashier jazz albums. If you want to understand why people took Alexander seriously beyond the prodigy story, this is a good place to start.
Who's playing
Where next?
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
