Check Out Gregory Alper’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gregory Alper.

Hi Gregory, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I began composing on the piano at age six and later taught myself saxophone and guitar. I formed a rock band in the early 60’s and began playing in clubs at age 12.

At the University of Pennsylvania, I studied composition with George Crumb. After hearing John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme,” I dreamt of giant saxophones and dedicated myself exclusively to the Saxophone, transferring to Indiana University to get my degree in improvisation and composition. My senior year, my group performed at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival, receiving critical acclaim from Sonny Rollins.

Moving to New York, I spent the next 15 years performing in jazz clubs, concerts and recording. I played with and arranged for a wide variety of groups around NYC – Jazz, Big Band, Pop, Rock, Reggae, Latin and even country! One summer I was playing in a quartet at the Village Gate; we opened for many of the jazz greats and I learned a lot by being a fly on the wall in the green room.”

I have been fortunate to perform with many established and (at the time) up and coming great jazz players. My neighbor Bob Telson wrote a wonderful musical the Gospel at Colonus. I joined the show on Broadway. It featured Morgan Freeman and the 5 Blind Boys of Alabama.

My first recording – “Fat Doggie” by the Greg Alper Band (1978) for Adelphi Records received national airplay and earned a Billboard Pick of the Week. The album was issued on CD in 2010 by First Hand Records who asked me to come to London to supervise remastering at Abbey Road.

In 1989 I moved to LA to pursue film scoring. Some highlights: My song “Feliz” was featured in Random Hearts (feature film 1999) with Harrison Ford/Kristin Scott Thomas, Pirates of Dark Water (Animation) and Cracker (prime time Television).

I was very lucky to be on the cutting edge of music for games. I composed scores for some of the classics of Electronic Entertainment: Warcraft, Might and Magic series, Dark Seed and Mechwarrior 2.

In 1990, I founded the Gregory Alper Music School, offering private lessons and teaching jazz to kids age 9-16. At the same time I taught on the faculty of Children’s Music (directed by Larry Newman) where I directed the jazz band and coached the saxophone section for the annual televised concerts, which won several Emmys. I also appeared as a featured soloist.

During one of the Alper Music student recitals, when my quartet was playing “Watermelon Man”, a lady from the audience grabbed a mic and began scatting. She was fantastic. After a moment, a smile of shocked recognition lit everyone’s face – it was Ella Fitzgerald!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Working as a musician and composer or any freelance gig is never smooth. I tried to stay focused and not freak out when there were long spaces between gigs.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My jazz kids just completed the summer jazz camp and concert which was a lot of fun. I continue teaching jazz and all styles of music to young people, hopefully passing along my knowledge and love for music.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Perseverance, patience and sense of humor.

Contact Info:

• Email: alper@alpermusic.com
• Website: AlperMusic.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/JolietRoget070