Part of the '80s swing movement, Howard Alden is a brilliant guitarist (on both electric and acoustic) who has also mastered the seven-string guitar and the banjo. Alden started off playing banjo in Dixieland bands in pizza parlors in Southern California. When he acquired a guitar, he took lessons from Jimmy Wyble and Howard Roberts. He worked at Disneyland when he was 18 and in 1978 debuted in the big leagues with Red Norvo. Since moving to New York in 1982, Alden has worked with many great veterans (such as Ruby Braff, Kenny Davern, Woody Herman, Benny Carter, Monty Alexander, Flip Phillips, and George Van Eps) and contemporaries (including Dan Barrett, Warren Vache, and Ken Peplowski), recording frequently for Concord and on one occasion (a Harry Reser tribute set) on banjo for Stomp Off. Howard Alden is at the top of the field among swing revivalists and yet is flexible enough to record a Bill Evans tribute. ~ Scott Yanow