Alex Skolnick initially rose to fame as a teen prodigy with the thrash metal band Testament in the early ‘90s, bringing an unprecedented level of technique and harmony to the genre. He later studied jazz at The New School in Manhattan, earning a BfA and cementing his reputation as a versatile and independent-minded “guitarist’s guitarist.”

PROVE YOU’RE NOT A ROBOT” (2025/Flatirion Records) is the sixth LP by Alex Skolnick Trio (AST). The album spans a rich palette of sounds and textures with its mix of dazzling guitar work (on instruments ranging from a vintage 1935 Gibson L-00 acoustic to a pristine Sadowsky archtop to Alex’s signature ESP line) and genre-bending arrangements. The album solidifies them as one of the most original voices in contemporary jazz crossover. Alongside originals, AST reimagines classics with their trademark inventive touch, which over the years have included bold interpretations by the likes of Scorpions, Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne and their latest album’s first single, a haunting, odd-time swing rendition of Tom Petty’s “Breakdown.”
To quote Bill Milkowski for Downbeat: “He (Skolnick) adopts a flamenco mode on ‘Armondo’s Mood,’ a clever mashup of Yes guitarist Steve Howe’s ‘Mood For A Day’ and Chick Corea’s ‘Armando’s Rhumba.’ The angular ‘Infinite Hotel,’ catches the trio in metal-bop mode, with Peck and Zebroski each turning in whirlwind solos along with Skolnick, who is deep in a John Scofield bag. The challenging and interactive title track is a throwback to Pat Metheny’s ‘Bright Size Life.’ Alex’s trio shows draw jazz aficionados and metal fans alike. With global festival appearances, critical acclaim from outlets like Billboard, Downbeat, and Jazziz, and endorsements from artists such as Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ulf Wakenous, Metallica and more, AST continues to expand the boundaries of what a modern jazz guitar group can be.