Goodman sat down with The CJN recently at a Toronto-area coffee house to discuss his emerging musical career. A native Torontonian, he recently returned from Montreal, where he lived for two years while pursuing studies at McGill University and working for the non-profit. Goodman’s interest in music started when he was a child taking piano lessons. Despite a natural aptitude, he soon grew tired of the formal practising and dropped the hobby for a time.

But by age 15, he started noticing “cool kids” playing guitar and instantly rediscovered his zest for music and taught himself how to play classical guitar. He credits his parents’ penchant for travel and their interfaith marriage – his father is Jewish, his mother Christian – for allowing him to experience both cultures and opening his senses to an eclectic range of world music. “I always knew music was something I wanted to be a part of in my life,” he said.

“But it’s hard to make a career out of it.” Still, Goodman is giving it his all and has been recognized as an emerging jazz talent. “I know what I need to do… be as close to the top of my game as I can to succeed,” he said.

“I love jazz because… it’s very spontaneous and improvisation is a huge part of it.” Which is why he “pretty much gigs every night” to keep his chops sharp and is involved in numerous side projects, including being the main guitarist for the Ed Vokurka Jazz Violin Ensemble; composing pieces for cinema and heading his own band, the Alex Goodman Quartet.