Lineup Alex Koo Trio
Alex Koo - piano & sing
Dré Pallemaerts - drums
Lennart Heyndels - contrabas
Alex Koo
Alex Koo (幸, pronounced /koː/) is no ordinary jazz pianist. Half Belgian, half Japanese, he grew up in a quiet corner of West Flanders, raised by a former missionary and a peace activist—an upbringing between cultures, and his music reflects that precisely.
Jazz, contemporary classical music, indie, and film music flow into one another in his cinematic sound world, which is characterized by long improvisations, lyrical compositions, and unexpected silences.
A piano prodigy
Koo started out as a classical piano prodigy at the age of five and became completely captivated by jazz in his teenage years. Later, he garnered praise from artists such as Brad Mehldau, Kenny Werner, and Kurt Elling, and received international recognition as "stunningly original" (Downbeat Magazine) and "of the same rare caliber as Keith Jarrett" (Trouw).
Blame it in My Chromosomes
His breakthrough album Appleblueseagreen (2019) – a haunting trio with Mark Turner and Ralph Alessi – was named one of the best albums of the year by Downbeat. His latest album, Blame It on My Chromosomes (W.E.R.F. records – 2025), explores even deeper, emotionally rich, and genre-transcending territory: a highly expressive album, formed by his regular trio – drummer Dré Pallemaerts and bassist Lennart Heyndels – with a notable guest appearance by trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire.
Prinses Christinaconcours
Over the years, Koo has received a number of important distinctions: a Fulbright Scholarship, a BAEF Fellowship, winner of the Princess Christina Competition, and composition prizes on both sides of the classical-jazz divide. At the age of ten, he was already a laureate of the Cantabile Competition, where he also received the Emmanuel Durlet Prize (best interpretation) and the Chris Van Hoof Prize (youngest laureate).
He studied on a full scholarship at the conservatories of Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and New York University (Steinhardt), where he also worked as an adjunct lecturer. Today, Koo is a professor of jazz piano at the LUCA School of Arts in Leuven – although he has never really been a fan of the term 'academic'.
Unique sound
Live or on record, Koo's music feels like a film that hasn't been made yet. Sometimes it's tender. Sometimes chaotic. Sometimes subtly absurd. But always unmistakably his.
Press on Alex Koo Trio
In a CD review, writteninmusic.com writes the following: “And then just listen closely to what Koo does between the leading melodic line. That is not only technically brilliant but also emotionally so incredibly poignant.” And they also write: “Blame It On My Chromosones is one of those albums where Koo goes full flow and, after his solo adventure, pulls everything out of his musical arsenal to make clear what he is capable of. And that is a great deal.” “Blame It On My Chromosones is of a very high level and absolute world class.”
Reviewer Duarte Figueira of ukjazznews.com wrote his glowing review on February 6, 2025, the day before the official release. He concluded with “I almost stood up to applaud.”
Concertgebouw Amsterdam
The Alex Koo trio, via the Bimhuis in 2025 and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (spring 2026) to Jazz in Wageningen. We can't wait!
Tickets concert
The concert on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, starts at 20.30.
Your ticket for this concert off Alex Koo trio order you here.
Locatie
Theater Junushoff, Plantsoen 3, 6701 AS Wageningen. Look for directions and parking options Google Maps
