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biography

Born in Oxford in 1981, Alexander Hawkins is a pianist with a fast-growing reputation, described as having a 'fierce technique' and a 'wizard's touch'. Equally at home with completely free as with complex notated territories, he works in improvised idioms ranging from funk to jazz to non-idiomatic European styles.

Current co-operative groups include The Convergence Quartet, a transatlantic ensemble featuring Hawkins, US musicians Taylor Ho Bynum and Harris Eisenstadt, and Dominic Lash; Nostromo, with Pete McPhail, Dominic Lash, and Roger Telford; and Barkingside, with Alex Ward, Dominic Lash, and Paul May. Debut albums from The Convergence Quartet (Live in Oxford) and Barkingside (self-titled) have both met with critical acclaim. He also anchors fast-rising funk unit Big Train's Haymaker from the organ.

In more ad hoc groupings, he has worked with musicians such as Tom Arthurs, Tony Bevan, John Butcher, Andy Cleyndert, Lol Coxhill, Otto Fischer, Will Gaines, Steve Noble, Eddie Prevost, Orphy Robinson, John Russell, Pat Thomas, Clark Tracey, Steve Waterman, Alan Wilkinson, Steve Williamson. He has also performed as part of the Oxford Improvisers Orchestra, the London Improvisers Orchestra, and the Pendulum big band.

He has performed in venues including Symphony Hall, Birmingham; St. Sulpice, Paris; The Vortex Jazz Club, London; West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge; 93 Feet East, London; The Spitz, London; Barcelona Cathedral; Florence's Duomo; and the Jacqueline Du Pre Music Building, Oxford.

Alongside performance and session work, he teaches the piano, both privately and periodically in local schools.

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For images and/or a more extensive biography, please contact alexander [at] alexanderhawkins [dot] com