Biographical

Alex Are is an American-born descendant of Jews exterminated and displaced from interwar Poland. His ancestors were tailors in Koden; a small village of craftspeople serving the nearby city of Biala Podlaska.

Koden was home to 700 Jews around the year 1900. After the assassination of Czar Alexander II, ethnic pogroms swept the area and many of these Jews left their homes and fled to North America. In 1939, when the Nazis arrived, 500 Jews remained in the town. None survived.

Many Alex Are

Traditionally, Jewish names are Hebrew, Yiddish, or Ladino in origin. The name "Alexander" is unique; it is the only name of non-Hebrew origin which is an official Jewish name: אַלֵקסאַנדָּר.

In 313BCE, Alexander of Macedonia conquered the Persians and approached the Temple in Jerusalem. Israelites showed him around the ancient city, and -- impressed -- Alexander agreed to spare the Temple from destruction. As a show of gratitude, all boys born that year were named Alexander. This is why Many Alex Are.

The Piano

Alex Are is a descendant of acclaimed Polish-American pianist and activist Arthur Rubinstein, known for his interpretations of Liszt and Chopin. The family contains many other celebrated Cantors and musicians including Alex's father Eric, a jazz pianist of great attainment influenced by Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans.

Alex attended music conservatory from ages 10-14, but showed no preternatural disposition for piano. His early music education gave him a great fondness for Palestrina and Hyden.

Studio

Everything is broken

Everything in Alex's recording studio, and indeed his life, is broken.

Using a DVM, oscilliscope, and soldering iron, Alex gradually fixes the things around him -- but never quite completely.