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.
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About the Author
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!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great resource for learning!,
By Guitar Man (Atlanta) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mel Bay Sweet and Lowdown (Sheet music)
This is a great book for any guitar player who wants to learn some of those gypsy-jazzesque licks. Now, all I have to do is practice like a mad man.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Alden's Sweet & Lowdown,
By Chicagosevenstringer (Chicago) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mel Bay Sweet and Lowdown (Sheet music)
For the intermediate to advance guitarist this book is a goldmine of ideas. It show the thought process of one of the greatest jazz guitarists alive today. From it you can learn how to use scales, diminished arpeggios, and repetitive figures, among other things to enhance your melodic improvisation. I highly recommend it.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book,
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This review is from: Mel Bay Sweet and Lowdown (Sheet music)
I bought this book because I love Gypsy jazz, and the movie "Sweet and Lowdown". Although I'm not a very good player, the tab was easy to follow and the songs are fun to play.
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Geranium Music, All Rights Reserved, Emmett Ray, Eastlake Music, Warner Bros, Howard Alden Guitar Solo, Dick Hyman, New York, Next Decade Entertainment, Unfaithful Woman, Copyright Renewed, International Copyright Secured, Mills Music Inc New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
- Blowing Bubbles ELT Edition (Cambridge Storybooks) by Juliet Partridge in Front Matter
- The Reluctant Film Art of Woody Allen by Peter J. Bailey on page 267, and Back Matter
- Like Young: Jazz, Pop, Youth, and Middle Age by Francis Davis on page 205
- Black Magic: White Hollywood and African American Culture (Jazz & American Culture) by Krin Gabbard on page 211
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