Alex Terrier was born in Paris in 1980. “I didn’t grow up in a family of musicians, but my journey into the world of music began the day I first sat down at a piano.” He started studying classical piano at age 8, and at 12, he discovered Duke Ellington’s orchestra and the sound of Johnny Hodges—a pivotal moment that led him to dedicate his life to jazz.
“I would wake up and play piano before breakfast, listening to music constantly and studying tirelessly—it drove my mom crazy!” His early influences included Duke Ellington, Memphis Slim, Fats Domino, and Sydney Bechet, discovered through vinyl records in his father’s office.
In 1999, Alex earned a Brevet de Technicien des Métiers de la Musique in Sèvres and a Gold Medal from the École Nationale de Musique d’Évry. In 2004, he joined the Berklee College of Music, graduating in 2007 with a dual degree in Jazz Performance and Composition.
Since then, Alex has been based in New York, pursuing a career as an independent artist, bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. He leads the Alex Terrier New York Quartet in North America, the Alex Terrier European Quintet in Europe, and also performs in South America. “My goal is simple: to create beauty and share it. If my music helps even a few people feel better, my life has meaning.”
Passionate about composition, Alex draws inspiration from classical and jazz masters like Bach, Debussy, Mozart, Ravel, and leading jazz innovators. His albums include Stop Requested, recorded at Berklee with the guidance of George Garzone, and Roundtrip, recorded in New York in 2009, which Joe Lovano described as the work of “a very gifted and expressive saxophonist.”
A lover of big bands, Alex has studied the works of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, as well as modern composers like Kenny Wheeler and Maria Schneider. His arrangements span styles, from swing (Like Someone in Love) to modern jazz (Scrupules).
As an educator, Alex is praised for his passion and ability to inspire in a relaxed yet rigorous learning environment. “I do my best to share my knowledge and motivate students.” He teaches improvisation, composition, arranging, and ensemble mentorship.
Alex also produces music for visual media, exploring the possibilities of modern digital tools. A technical enthusiast, he co-designed a custom reed model with Fred Lebayle in 2011.