Hailing from Chicago, Alex grew up in a family of musicians with parents who emphasized musical exploration at an early age. He grew up in an area where the arts were strongly supported and he had the support to grow his passion for jazz. That passion led him into continued study at DePaul University in Chicago where he was under the tutelage of Ron Perrillo and Dana Hall. Alex has studied with masters Aaron Goldberg, Bill Charlap, Mark Colenburg, and Pascal LeBoeuf.
Alex's performance portfolio continues to grow. He has performed at national staples including the Jazz Showcase, Andy's Jazz Club, Green Mill, Rudys Jazz Room, Snug Harbor, and was featured in a master class at the Chicago Symphony with piano great Bill Charlap. He has been featured in the Chicago Jazz Festival and other jazz festivals nationally. Alex has had the opportunity to share the stage with artists MAJOR, Iam Tongi, Gabrielle Cavassa, Mark Colenburg, Bobby Broom, Adonis Rose, Chester Thompson, Joel Frahm, Dezron Douglas, Dave Douglas, and supporting Nicholas Payton at a residency at DePaul.
From a growing studio portfolio with jazz, pop, r&b, and hip hop artists as well as his continued pursuit of live performance, Alex has expanded his talent into the Nashville music scene collaborating with a variety of artists in many genres.
Most recently Alex can be seen featured on NPR's "Top Shelf" for a Tiny Desk submission that he helped produce with artist and Nashville native Brian Brown. Alex's relationship with Brian has made a distinct voice for Alex's artistry combining his love for various Black American Music's.
"Her voice gets under your skin," writes Stereophile, "It is idiosyncratic, but it is trustworthy in its clarity and almost physical in its intimacy..her intuitive interpretations and riveting voice make you sit very still in your chair."
Gabrielle Cavassa is a singer and composer, recently signed to Blue Note Records. She was ushered into the spotlight through her collaboration with renowned saxophonist Joshua Redman on his critically acclaimed 2023 record 'where are we'. In a five-star album review by Downbeat, Cavassa is hailed as "a young singer with a deep, rich, and fragile voice…a star in the making."
Born in Escondido California of Italian descent, Cavassa began "obsessively listening" to records from a young age. Largely self-taught, she developed a unique approach to singing that would later characterize her artistry. Cavassa received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from San Francisco State University, but credits the Bay Area music scene for her "real education". She moved to New Orleans in 2017, where she continued her education in local clubs. In 2020, Cavassa independently released an eponymous debut record produced by collaborator Jamison Ross. In 2021, she was crowned a winner of the prestigious International Sarah Vaughan Jazz Vocal Competition. Later that year she was discovered by Joshua Redman's manager at an event in New Orleans, leading to their 2023 collaboration on Redman's where are we. After the release, Cavassa toured extensively across the U.S., Europe, and Asia with the Joshua Redman Group from Fall 2023 to Spring 2025. Blue Note records announced they had signed Cavassa in 2024, quoting label president Don Was, "listening to Gabrielle sing is an experience akin to having her whisper secrets in your ear, the intimate honesty of her storytelling is breathtaking - she will be a major musical presence for decades to come." Cavassa's Blue Note debut is set to release in Spring 2026.
Alex Murphy - piano
Gabrielle Cavassa - vocals
Lex Warshawsky - bass
Marlon Patton - drums
