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Jazz Guitar Today Talks To The Incomparable Howard Alden
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In this exclusive video podcast, guitarist Howard Alden talks to JGTās Bob Bakert about playing and enjoying the music you like and live with.
Introduction by guitarist Ted Ludwig: āWhen I decided to switch to 7-string guitar, I started checking out Howard Aldenās playing.Ā I was blown away!! His ability to accompany other players, his use of contrapuntal voice leading, and his unique way of delivering a melody has always fascinated me. He also possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of tunes and changes that is unsurpassed. Howard is undoubtedly one of the finest to ever pick up a 7 string guitar.ā
Excerpt from Howard Alden interview with JGTās Bob Bakert
Bob: Looking back at your experiences of working with the best of the best ā what gives you the most enjoyment in your music today?
Howard: I appreciate getting together with people (whether Iāve played with them a little bit before or not have played with them ever). Having everybody be in the moment and making music and listen. Things are starting to pick up here again in Phoenix. I had a couple recent gigs in town with a great bass player and drummer that really felt like everybody was hooking up and making good music ā it was exciting for both the band and the audience. So, just being on the band stand again and making music together. Thatās what gets me off.
Bob: What kind of tunes are you playing at these gigs?
Howard: Well, I draw from a lot of things. Again, Iāve been a little, Iāve enjoyed playing a wide span of music. I like a plan, a lot of more traditional, jazz, more pre bop, pre bop, even pre swing. And Iāve always liked some of the main, you know, since the twenties, Iāve been fascinated with like felonious Monkās music or duke Ellingtonās music. So I usually try to pick up a variety of things out of that, whether itās some classic songs by Cole Porter that I like, whether itās a monk tune or two, whether itās attuned by one of the guitar players that I admire, whether itās Joe pass or Django Reinhardt, I always try to include a couple of George van EPCIS pieces just to show what he brought to the seven string guitar. So itās, itās really, and also for years, Iāve been fascinated by the traditional Brazilian music called So I always try to include one or two of those just because itās my personal passion. And even if I find people that arenāt that familiar with the style, I have the music and I introduced them to it.
Bob: Is there anything you would like to share with the JGT audience?
Howard: I was doing a guitar workshop in Germany ā on the first day, people were introducing themselves and playing something so I could get to know them. People were saying, yes, well, Iām so-and-so and Iāve been playing for a while. I play mostly folk and jazz. Iām sorryā¦ And then someone else says, yes, Iām I really want to play jazz, but I play mostly play folk music. And then finally, I said, wait a minute, what are you talking about āJazz is Folk musicā. You know, where people are in the world are playing āAll the things you areā right now, probably than ever played, āHang down your head, Tom Dooleyā.
Howard: Jazz is Folk music. And then someone else says, oh, Iād like to play something I learned. And he starts playing āAs Time Goes Byā ā singing along. I said, see, thatās folk music! You guys all know that one too. And thatās a tune that youāve been playing and living for 60 years. Anyhow, I guess the point is ā
ā¦the music you like and you live with ā play that on your instrument, make it your own and enjoy it.
And thereās so many things to be created from your common knowledge and your background. And donāt feel that you have to artificially create something from some mathematical formulas or scale books or pattern books ā draw upon what youāve heard and what you know, and make that part of your existence.
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