Editorial Reviews Book Description Sweet and Lowdown, Woody Allen's film from 1999, starred Sean Penn as the legendary, but fictitious jazz guitarist of the '30s, Emmett Ray. Emmett considered himself to be the second greatest jazz guitarist in the world next to Django Reinhardt. The versatile Howard Alden played all of the solo acoustic guitar parts for the movie, as well as coaching Mr. Penn to play guitar for his role (for which he received an Oscar nomination, best actor). This book contains note-for-note transcriptions in both standard notation and tab of Howard's Django-esque interpretations and improvisations of classic standards of the 1930s, as well as original solo guitar pieces written by Woody's longtime musical director, jazz pianist Dick Hyman. Sweet and Lowdown contributed greatly to the recent renewal of interest in and revival of swing and gypsy jazz guitar. Howard's guitar work is a warm and personal example of the timeless musical vocabulary of swing guitar. About the Author Howard Alden is one of a handful of up-and-coming guitarists bringing the seven-string archtop to the forefront of jazz. His prowess as a single-string improviser is daunting and his insight into fretboard harmony and chord construction is second to none.
Born in Newport Beach, California in 1958, Alden began playing guitar and tenor banjo as a child. Alden's early influences were Louis Armstrong, Barney Kessel, and Charlie Christian. He later developed a passion for the harmonies and textures in the music of Bill Evans and Thelonious Monk. In 1982 he moved to New York City where he still resides.
Alden was voted "Best Emerging Guitar Talent" in the first annual Jazztimes critics poll in 1990 and "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" in the '92, '93, '95, and '96 Downbeat critics polls. In November 1997, Alden performed at the opening of the world famous Chinery Exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute's Museum of American History. He continues to challenge his creativity by performing in different instrumental combinations and settings.
To quote the master luthier Robert Benedetto:
No doubt, if you looked up Howard Alden in Webster's dictionary, he would be defined as "The Consummate Guitarist." Howard doesn't hold the guitar as he plays - he caresses it. As if being a world-class player isn't enough, he is also one of the most decent human beings I've ever had the pleasure of calling a friend. I'm at a loss for words when trying to describe Howard's playing style. He does everything with impeccable taste and truly plays as if the guitar were just another appendage. In another life, he must have been a guitar!
Sweet and Lowdown,Howard Alden,Mel Bay Publications, Inc.,0786670606,General,Music
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