Alex Skolnick Trio

The Alex Skolnick Trio (AST) is an American jazz fusion group formed in 2001. The band is famous for its unique "modern standards" concept, which involves reimagining classic rock and heavy metal anthems as intricate, straight-ahead jazz compositions.

The trio was founded by Alex Skolnick, who originally found fame as the teenage lead guitar virtuoso for the legendary Bay Area thrash metal band Testament. Seeking to expand his musical horizons, Skolnick left the touring life behind in the 1990s to earn a BfA in Jazz from The New School in New York City. There, he formed the trio alongside fellow student musicians.

The band's signature style blends the sophistication, swing, and high-level improvisation of bebop and modern jazz with the energy and conviction of rock. They are celebrated for turning tracks by bands like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Kiss, and Aerosmith into lush chord melodies and bebop excursions. Over the years, the trio has also shifted significantly toward complex, original jazz-fusion compositions.