This 11-Year-Old Piano Prodigy Is Too Damn Talented For Words

Wynton Marsalis and Herbie Hancock are big fans.

Meet Joey Alexander.

Rebecca Meek.

He's 11 years old and, like most kids his age, loves a good heap of french fries.

Joey Alexander / Facebook.

But Joey isn't really like most kids his age. He's also an amazing jazz pianist.

Rebecca Meek.

Born in Bali, Indonesia, he started playing Thelonius Monk by ear when he was six.

Seriously, the kid's got skills.

Motema Records.

Last May, modern jazz great Wynton Marsalis flew Joey to the U.S. for the first time for the all-star Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala in New York.

Joey Alexander / Facebook

And in October, he paid tribute to Herbie Hancock at "A Great Night In Harlem," the Jazz Foundation of America's Gala at the Apollo Theater.

Theo Wargo / Getty Images

Joey will release his debut album My Favorite Things on May 12. Making the album was his first time ever in a recording studio.

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Here he is getting into ~the zone~ before performing one of the album's songs, a cover of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps."

Motema Records.

Because being a jazz prodigy isn't easy. "I don't always want to play this tune because the chord progression is too intense...it's hard to be musical," Joey tells BuzzFeed News.

Motema Records.

"Once in a while I take the challenge. It means a lot to me if I can survive the solo and people enjoy it."

"The most fun part was when [me and my bandmates] exchanged smiles…when we connected in a groove," Joey says.

Motema Records.

"Listening to the music together after takes was fun too."

Watch the incredible full performance of "Giant Steps" below. My Favorite Things is available for pre-order here.

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