Alex Heitlinger is a jazz composer, trombonist, and educator, currently serving as Director of Jazz Studies at Elon University in North Carolina. A forward-thinking musician with a deep love of the jazz tradition and a passion for pushing musical boundaries, Heitlinger released his debut big band album, Slush Pump Truck Stop, in 2024 through SteepleChase Records. The album, his third as a bandleader, features a stellar ensemble including drummer John Riley, trombonist John Fedchock, pianist Carmen Staaf, guitarist Corey Christiansen, trumpeter Greg Gisbert, and saxophonist Michael Thomas. Praised by Jazz Mania Magazine’s Claudy Jalet as “eminently exciting” and “a beautiful and original discovery,” the album showcases Heitlinger’s unique approach to big band writing. Heitlinger prefers to be acknowledged for his creative work, but he is also well-known for his 2011 viral jazz montage The Lick, which has received over 4.9 million views on YouTube, becoming a widespread musical meme.