Brilio.net/en - The 13-year-old Indonesian Jazz prodigy Joey Alexanderhas been named a Next Generation Leader by TIME.
The iconic US magazine bestows the honor to people it says will inspire and serve as role models to future generations.
Joey, the youngest Grammy Award nominee in history, was characteristically humble. He insistspeople pay attention to his music rather than his accolades.
I really dont think Im a genius or a prodigy, he says. I want people to dig my music, and not care about who I am. the Bali-born musician told Time.com on Monday.
Music runs in the family; his aunt is the Indonesian pop singer Nafa Urbach while his father is a highly accomplished pianist and guitarist.
My parents told me that when I was in my mothers womb, theyd play jazz greats for me, he said.
Louis Armstrong and Thelonius Monk's music was influencing himwhen he pickedup an electronic keyboard he thought was a toy his first musical instrument at the age of six.
And then I found the keys, and I just felt the sound.
His father then taught him the basics of the piano and brought the little Joey to attend several Jazz sessions, where he fell in love with the genre.
My music, its a gift from God, and its a gift Ive had to learn. It takes hard work and focus.
TIME named Joey in its list after therelease of his second album "Countdown".
(brl/red)
