Customer Reviews

My Shining Hour

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I dont know what the one star rating of the previous reviewer was thinking, but believe me this one of the el primo jazz recordings you are going to find by one of the truly great jazz players of all time.

A 6 star performance

Buy this one sight unseen if you are passionate about the guitar.

Howard plays just as exquisite performing in person!

He does unbelivable things with the guitar

Howard performs on both acoustic and electric archtops. What you hear on this record is the greatest living solo jazz guitarist. Joe Pass is gone, Bucky Pizzarelli is in his 80's. Howard, apparently alone, is carrying on the tradition of pick-style solo guitar a la Dick McDonough and Carl Kress. If you know who those two were you'll know this is like the finest wine. "All too Soon" is worth the price alone. Along with Bucky Pizzarelli's solo recordings, and everything Joe Pass ever touched, this is more precious than gold.

Having been a guitarist for over 40 years, I know when I hear greatness. This is greatness. I played in a band
for several years, wrote music, studied music and appreciate great talent. From the opening bars of My Shining
Hour you know that you are in for a great treat. This guy can play. The sound that he delivers is pure silk. He
excells on the following tracks, My Shining Hour, All Too Soon, Isn't It A Pity, Soul Eyes, and E is fo Emment.
His rich style of play coupled with his unique phrasing establishes this CD as one of the best Smooth Jazz
CDs on the market. He is only accompanied by hinself, yet the music is full and rich. You only need his guitar.
If you enjoy outstanding ,smooth ,and easy jazz guitar, then this is the CD for you. It truly deserves 5 stars.
It is as smooth as silk.

First off, let me say that I now have almost every album Alden has made. He did several with the late George van Eps & during their collaberation. Alden learned to play the 7 string guitar from Eps; at least I think he did.

"He may be the best of his generation," writes Owen Cordle in JazzTimes. George Kanzler of the Newark Star Ledger proclaims that he is "the most impressive and creative member of a new generation of jazz guitarists." And Chip Deffaa of the New York Post observes that he is "...one of the very finest young guitarists working today."

If I had to name one tune on the album that I liked best it would be the album title, "My Shining Hour." In it he shows just what he can do. It is a solo album that rivals the virtuoso albums of the late, great Joe Pass & Ted Greene. He plays, unlike Joe, Ted & George, a variety of guitars including 7-string, as he does on this one. Get it! You won't be sorry.

This cat is the best guitar player working today. Maybe the best of all time. No disrespect to Charlie C., Django, Wes, Barney, Herb, Charlie Byrd, George Van eps, Tal Farlow, Johnny Smith, Joe Pass, those guys from the past. I love 'em all. The guys working today, Jimmy Bruno, Bruce Forman, Peter Bernstein: awesome! But Howard is from another planet. Don't even mention Metheny, Scofield, Mike Hearn, Frank Gambale, Kurt Rosenwinkel etc. These electronic gadget freaks don't even deserve a mention amoung the real players. If you don't agree, no problem. I know what I like. You know what you like. email me well discuss it.