Joe Alterman Trio

An Atlanta-born pianist channeling the timeless joy of swing, praised by Ahmad Jamal as "a very special artist," comes to The Side Door. A graduate of New York University with both a Bachelor's and Master's in Jazz Piano Performance, Joe Alterman has spent his career channeling the exuberant, deeply melodic spirit of swing-era jazz greats like Erroll Garner and Red Garland. He's built genuine friendships and musical partnerships along the way with some of the music's true legends, Ahmad Jamal called him "a very special artist," Les McCann said he was "tiny but only in stature; as a man and musician, he is already a giant," and Ramsey Lewis praised his playing as "a joy to behold." Alterman has performed at some of the most storied rooms in jazz, including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Birdland, and the Blue Note, where he's opened for Ramsey Lewis on numerous occasions. With eight critically acclaimed albums to his name, including his 2023 release Joe Alterman Plays Les McCann: Big Mo & Little Joe, he continues to build on a songbook rooted in tradition but entirely his own. DownBeat Magazine has called his playing "hard-swinging," while the late journalist Nat Hentoff wrote that it "makes people smile, and if the room is right, dance." Expect a night of warm, infectious swing from a pianist who wears his love of the music on his sleeve. The Side Door Jazz Club is a dedicated jazz listening room located inside the historic Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT.