Joe Alterman Trio at The Side Door

JOE ALTERMAN is an Atlanta-born jazz pianist, composer, writer, and cultural curator who channels the timeless joy of swing with youthful energy and heartfelt enthusiasm.

Praised by legends like Ahmad Jamal as “a very special artist,” Les McCann as “tiny but only in stature; as a man and musician, he is already a giant,” and Ramsey Lewis as “an inspiration” whose playing is “a joy to behold,” Alterman has carved out a singular space in the jazz world.

A graduate of New York University with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Jazz Piano Performance, Alterman has performed at iconic venues including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Birdland, and Blue Note, sharing stages with jazz greats like Houston Person, Les McCann, and Ramsey Lewis. He also had the privilege of opening for Dick Gregory at the Kennedy Center, where the legendary comedian introduced him with a knowing smile and the line: “See? Integration works!”