"He may be the best of his generation," writes Owen Cordle in Jazz
Times. George Kanzler of the Newark Star-Ledger proclaims that he is
"the most impressive and creative member of a new generation of jazz
guitarists." And Chip Deffaa of the New York Post observes that he is
"...one of the very finest young guitarist working today."
Howard is one of a handful of young musicians who, in the words of the New Yorker's Whitney Balliett, "contain the past and the present. They hold in balance the love of melody and tonal quality of the old swing musicians and an awareness of the harmonic expansions and rhythmic freedoms that have taken place in jazz in the past 20 years." Jazz critic and author Richard Sudhalter has noted, "his mastery of jazz guitar in all its many styles displays a maturity and musical wisdom normally found in far older, more experienced players."
Born in Newport Beach, California, Howard began playing at age 10, inspired by recordings of Armstrong, Basie, and Goodman, as well as guitarists Barney Kessel, Charlie Christian, and George Van Eps. Soon he was working professionally around Los Angeles playing in groups ranging from traditional to mainstream to modern jazz. In 1979, Alden went east for a summer in Atlantic City with Red Norvo, and continued to perform with him frequently for several years.
Upon moving to New York City in 1982, his superb solo and accompaniment skills were quickly recognized and sought for appearances and recordings with such artists as Joe Bushkin, Ruby Braff, Joe Williams, Warren Vache Jr., and Woody Herman. He has continued to win accolades from musicians and critics alike, adding Kenny Davern, Benny Carter, Flip Phillips, Bud Freeman, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, George Van Eps, Mel Powell, Wild Bill Davison, as well as notable contemporaries such as Scott Hamilton and Ken Peplowski to his list of impressive credits.
Howard Alden has been a Concord Jazz recording artist since the late '80's where his prolific recorded output as leader, co-leader, and versatile sideman has captured an artist of consistently astonishing virtuosity and originality. One of the many highlights in Howard Alden's fruitful association with Concord Jazz came in 1991 when, at the urging of Concord president Carl Jefferson, Alden recorded with one of his all-time heroes, seven-string guitar master George Van Eps on the album Thirteen Strings (CCD-4464).
As a result of his association with--and inspiration from--George Van Eps, Alden has been playing the seven-string guitar exclusively since 1992. The seven-string guitar imparts a greater range and harmonic richness to Alden's already colorful tonal palette, as evidenced on two remarkable follow-up albums with Van Eps, Hand-Crafted Swing (CCD-4513), and Seven & Seven (CCD-4584), his critically acclaimed duo recording with saxophonist/clarinetist Ken Peplowski Concord Duo Series, Volume Three (CCD-4556), and his remarkable live performance on The Fujitsu-Concord Jazz Festival Silver Anniversary Set (CCD-7002), among others.
Your Story--the Music of Bill Evans (CCD-4621), released September, 1994, beautifully showcases Howard's constantly evolving harmonic and melodic mastery of the seven-string guitar, featuring some stunning interplay between Alden and guest Frank Wess.
In a follow-up to the critically acclaimed Concord Duo Series recording, Alden's latest release again finds him in collaboration with Ken Peplowski, in an exciting live recording appropriately titled Encore! (CCD-4654).
Howard Alden was voted "Best Emerging Talent-Guitar" in the first annual Jazz
Times critic's poll, 1990, and "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" in the
1995, 1992, and 1993 Downbeat critic's poll. As jazz critic Wayne Thompson writes
simply, in Jazzscene, "If there are better young jazz guitar players in
America than Howard Alden, I have yet to hear them." Howard's growing base of loyal
fans couldn't agree more.
Send email to Howard Alden.
Howard Alden is featured in the Riverwalk program:
Jazz Guitar
