The Alex Anest Organ Trio presents an evening of exciting repertoire for the classic combination of guitar, organ, and drums. The set features original tunes as well as works by the likes of Duke Pearson, Emily Remler, Ernie Krivda, Christine Jensen, and Herbie Hancock. The lineup includes Jim Alfredson (Organissimo, Larry McCray) on organ and Jesse Kramer (Roe Bickley Kramer, Morgan’s Organ) on Drums. The focus is on working together and connecting with the audience through improvisation, groove, and feel. Music should be fun to listen to as well as to play, and this trio is all about enjoying the music. The Alex Anest Organ Trio has lately been performing around the Southeast Michigan area including dates at the Blue Llama, Cliff Bell's , Old Town Tavern, 2 West, and North Star Lounge. This will be the trio's debut performance at The Hidden Gem. Tickets are $10 with doors at 6, music at 7. This is an all ages show
Alex Anest is a lifelong guitarist and musician who is fascinated with the endless possibilities of improvisation. While he grew up in Columbus, he has been teaching, performing, and recording in the Southeast Michigan area since 1996. Over the years he has been a founding member of various jazz oriented groups including the Ann Arbor Guitar Trio, Nomad, Giraffe, and Never Nebula. Since 2018 he has played with Gayelynn McKinney in her McKinney Zone project, which won a Detroit Music Award for Outstanding Jazz Recording. Alex has studied with Miles Okazaki, Chris Buzzelli, Benny Green, Mark Kirschenmann, and Ellen Rowe. He has also appeared on over 30 albums, mostly recorded in Michigan.
Jim Alfredson comes from a musical family. His father earned a living as a professional musician for many years and encouraged Jim's talents from a very young age. Some of Jim's earliest memories include pulling on the drawbars of his father's Hammond B3 at the age of four. Jim began writing his own songs at the age of eight on a Yamaha organ. A score of synthesizers and multitrack machines followed until he came full circle at sixteen and began lusting after the sound of the Hammond organ once again. Jim has immersed himself in the study of the mighty Hammond B3 ever since, dedicated to uncovering new directions within the deep tradition of the instrument.
Based in Ann Arbor, Jesse Kramer is one of the most in demand drummers in Metro Detroit. Kramer began learning drum set at the age of five, and grew up studying and working with local jazz masters such as Sean Dobbins, Paul Keller, Vincent York, and Claude Black. Kramer graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music in 2011, where he studied with Ellen Rowe, Andrew Bishop, Michael Gould, Marion Hayden, and Geri Allen. While attending U of M, Kramer was awarded a DownBeat Magazine Student Music Award, and represented the University at the 2011 International Association of Schools of Jazz meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil, directed by Dave Liebman.
Kramer has performed with countless local and national artists, and is himself a respected band leader. He has recorded with artists such as Paul Keller, Demetrius Nabors, Miles Brown, and Vincent Chandler. Kramer performed and recorded in Bangkok with vocalist Natasha Patamapongs and her acclaimed group Mellow Motif for ThaiPBS "BossaNona All-Star Brazilian Concert" in 2011, and for the live DVD recording "Ao Vivo!" released in 2015.