Alex is a London-based tenor saxophonist and composer involved with jazz, improvised music and contemporary classical music. This page will document Alex's various musical happenings as they are presently and as they evolve.

2019 NEWS

ALEX MERRITT/ GARETH FOWLER QUINTET TOUR FEATURING PABLO HELD AND PERCY PURSGLOVE JUNE 2019 TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

I am very excited about an upcoming tour with my stateside guitarist friend Gareth Fowler, Percy Pursglove on trumpet and special guest for two shows, Pablo Held on piano. Completing the line-up will be Joshua Blackmore on drums and Oli Hayhurst on bass. We can now confirm that the tour will be funded by the Arts Council England and are excited to get this new music heard.

These are some of my absolute favourite musicians and I am very excited to invite Pablo across from Cologne to join us at Ronnie Scott's Late Show on 18th June and Kansas Smitty's on the 19th June. See the 'Gigs' tab for the full tour schedule. Pablo will also be teaching at the Royal Academy of Music during his visit and it will be a real treat to have him in town for a few days and to write music for this band. Do come and hear us if you can.

ALEX MERRITT/ STEVE FISHWICK QUINTET UPCOMING DEBUT ALBUM

The Alex Merritt/Steve Fishwick Quintet album has just been mixed and mastered! We are very happy with how it is sounding and looking forward to sharing it with you all. The record features brand new compositions by Alex, Steve and John. Keep an eye on this page for album news and 2020 tour plans as they evolve.

ALEX MERRITT QUARTET ALBUM 'ANATTA' RELEASED TO STRONG PRESS REVIEWS

‘A promising jazz debut of striking quality.’ John Fordham, the Guardian, *** Full Guardian Review

‘Merritt’s warm, dry, Getzian fluency is a joy, whether intertwining with Turville’s mysterious, unpredictable chordal shifts or bubbling with controlled fervour........
....This feels like just the beginning… and what a beginning’. Adrian Pallant, AP reviews, ***** Full Review

‘It’s one of the best UK jazz recordings I’ve heard this year’. Stephen Graham, Marlbank News, **** Full Marlbank Review

‘Merritt is not only an artist to watch, but also to listen to, as one would a dawn chorus: with eyes closed and mind opened’. Tyran Grillo, All About Jazz, ****1/2 All About Jazz/ECM Review

‘Merritt’s rich but dry tone traces a line back to the Cool School jazzers such as Warne Marsh’. Robert Shore, Jazzwise, **** Full Jazzwise Review

Order the album: amazon.co.uk/Anatta-Alex-Merritt-Quartet/dp/B016RBRJSQ

Read Alex's full biography...