Past Artists- Howard Alden ( November, 2007)

What our members had to say !

"This guy’s got it, you know what I’m saying? Charisma! Musical intelligence! To start, we had a record turnout for the clinic as well as at Ella’s for the show that night. The clinic went by so quickly even though it was 2 hours long. It seemed as though Howard could have easily done another 2 hours and I know I would have hung on every bit. It was lovely to hear him demonstrate tunes. His approach to teaching is methodical, practical and he told us that 50% of our practice time should be on playing tunes. Great! I needed permission! George Van Eps is one of his greatest mentors. He told us the Sean Penn was one of his most successful students in learning jazz guitar in only a few months by practicing for hours and hours at a stretch. Puts us to shame! Howard had many interesting stories to tell."

 

Howard Alden Clinic

November, 2007

Clinic: “Voicings With Moving Inside Lines”
 

Born in Newport Beach, California, in 1958, Howard began playing at age ten, inspired by recordings of Armstrong, Basie and Goodman, as well as those by guitarists Barney Kessel, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt 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, Alden's skills, both as soloist and accompanist, were quickly recognized and sought-out for appearances and recordings with such artists as Joe Bushkin, Ruby Braff, Joe Williams, Warren Vache` and Woody Herman.

He has continued to win accolades from critics and musicians alike, adding Benny Carter, Flip Phillips, Mel Powell, Bud Freeman, Kenny Davern, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie and George Van Eps, as well as notable contemporaries such as Scott Hamilton and Ken Peplowski to his list of impressive credits.