By Annie O’Gorman

At age 11, Alex made a demo CD. It caught the ear of Paquito D’Rivera. He is a Grammy award winner and saxophone star. D’Rivera guessed it was jazz legend Benny Carter playing on the CD. He was shocked to find out that it was a boy 75 years younger than Carter.

D’Rivera asked to meet Alex. When Alex admitted that he had never heard of Carter, D’Rivera ran out and bought a Benny Carter CD for Alex. Since then, D’Rivera has been Alex’s mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or guides other people. D’Rivera was a prodigy himself. He understands Alex’s passion for jazz.

Alex has soloed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He performed with D’Rivera at the Lincoln Center in New York City, New York, earlier this year, Alex shared the stage with jazz legends at an international music festival in South America.

“I’m still a kid who goes to school,” said Alex. “Playing the sax is a productive outlet for me. It keeps me away from too much television.” It also has helped his earlier diagnosed attention deficit disorder. He practices 2 hours per night, and then does his homework.

“I know I have talent,” Alex said. “But I also work at it. It took me five years of practice to get where I am today.” He is happiest when playing his sax. And he is proud of the attention D’Rivera gives him.

“It’s good to know someone else who cares so much about jazz,” Alex said. “A lot of people don’t. I enjoy knowing professional musicians. I want to be one when I grow up.”

Prodigy— A very talented young person.