MUSIC: SING US A SONG, YOU'RE THE PIANO MAN'S DAUGHTER

MUSIC: SING US A SONG, YOU'RE THE PIANO MAN'S DAUGHTER
Asbury Park Press - Asbury Park,NJ,USA
BY ED CONDRAN. Alexa Ray Joel made things perfectly clear when she played Philadelphia's Tin Angel two months ago. "For anybody who ...
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 Alexa Ray Joel made things perfectly clear when she played Philadelphia's Tin Angel two months ago.

"For anybody who thinks my dad writes my songs, he doesn't," Joel said. "I write them all myself."

Judging by her well-received set in front of 100 middle-age curiosity seekers, Joel doesn't need any help from her father, rock icon Billy Joel.

She doesn't need assistance from her model mother Christie Brinkley either. Joel, a poised, head-turning brunette, is an impressive package at the ripe old age of 20.

Alexa Ray Joel sat behind a keyboard and delivered an enticing amalgam of rock, jazz and blues. While there's little doubt her proud father had an impact on his daughter, it appears Joel was weaned on a steady diet of Carole King and Stevie Wonder as well.

What's impressive is that Joel, who will perform tonight at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, has been content to fly under the radar for the most part. She's been playing clubs and bars with little fanfare and she isn't actively courting the media, mainly because she has yet to issue a release.

Joel is working on a demo that will shop to record companies. Her name alone should be enough to interest a label. In the meantime, she is proving herself playing live.