Who we are
Alex Otey is an award-winning pianist, singer, trumpeter and composer/arranger who has performed with a number of prominent jazz musicians, and recorded with Grover Washington Jr and Richie Cole. Otey arranged, performed on, and produced a GRAMMY Nominated album and is included as a participant artist on a second nominated project, as well as on a GRAMMY Winning collaboration. His scope of performances also extends regularly to the Philadelphia PA and Central NJ areas with countless private party and public venue appearances, such as the River House at Odette’s, King George Inn, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, World Caf Live and Harrah’s Casino to his credit. He was honored to have performed at the White House Egg Roll event in 2010 with Miss Amy, and has appeared at Bethlehem Musikfest and other festivals along the east coast, along with performances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in NYC. Otey also received a master’s in Music Business from Berklee College of Music.
Early Years
In addition, Otey hosts The Trenton Jazz Show aired though WWFM JazzOn2 89.1 HD2.
Otey began his musical career with classical training of trumpet and percussion, starting lessons at age 7 and adding piano and singing to his skill set as a teenager. Influenced by music of the 70’s and performers such as Billy Joel and Elton John, Otey began performing “piano man” style entertaining while in high school. Other influences such as Harry Connick Jr. and the swing era have shaped Otey’s style to range from Sinatra ballads and jazz standards though Beatles, Van Morrison and Sting hits.
Otey’s father, concert pianist and Curtis scholarship recipient Orlando Otey, was Executive Director of the Wilmington Music School during the youngster’s upbringing providing him an early formal musical education. Appearing with the Wilmington Symphony as an early teenager along with competing in music competitions including Tri-County, Otey continued to study trumpet with Seymor Rosenfeld of the Philadelphia Orchestra until the age of 18.
Through his teen and young adult years Otey performed with jazz bands and orchestras, and formed small ensembles, including the APO Jazz Trio, performing in and around Philadelphia.
Projects
Otey has performed with Lew Soloff, played lead trumpet with Richie Cole’s Alto Madness Orchestra, and recorded with Grover Washington Jr. on the Skylarking album, as well as accompanied Tony Award winning Christian Hoff on We Talk Without Words. Currently, Otey performs regularly as a solo act, as well as with the Alex Otey Trio.
Otey has engineered and/or produced notable recordings such as A Gift To Be Free with Dana & Sue Talley, and New Music of the Americas with pianist/composer Leonardo Le San, as well as: Underwater, Wide Wide World, I Wanna Know How It Works!, The Chopin of Mexico Plays Chopin 1&2, Tenochtitl n 1325, Angels Riding Shotgun, Angel Blessings (Benefiting Hospice), and GRAMMY Nominated Fitness Rock & Roll™