Bennett Morgan & Associates, Ltd.

     
New Guitar Summit
The New Guitar Summit is a jazz guitar group for the future with their roots in the rich history of jazz guitar. The three principle players can cover the whole history of the jazz guitar from Eddie Lang through the present. Founded by award winning jazz guitarist Gerry Beaudoin, The New Guitar Summit has been a revolving door of great jazz guitar talent since it's inception in 1997. Jazz guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, Chris Flory, Grammy nominated blues icon Duke Robillard and rock and roll superstar Randy Bachman from the seminal rock groups, The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive have all appeared in performance or recordings with the New Guitar Summit. From the smoke filled jazz clubs of New York City, through performances with symphony orchestras to tours of the United States and Canada, New Guitar Summit has been spreading the gospel of jazz guitar to new and old fans alike. Their front line of three guitars with their signature three part harmonies, backed by bass and drums, have been compared many times in print to the Concord Records group the Great Guitars, featuring Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel and Charlie Byrd. New Guitar Summit has recorded four CD's and a DVD which have all received great reviews. In 2009 New Guitar was placed on the Grammy Awards Ballot for Best Jazz Recording and Best Jazz Arrangement for their CD Shivers. With the addition of 7-string guitarist Howard Alden, the present incarnation of the New Guitar Summit has added a new tonal palette to its signature sound.

THE PLAYERS

HOWARD ALDEN

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."

It seems that the only thing regarding Howard Alden on which the critics have debate is whether the remarkable jazz guitarist is one of the best or simply the best.

Born in Newport Beach, California, in 1958, Howard began playing at age ten, inspired by recordings of Armstrong, Basie and Goodman, as well as those by guitarists Barney Kessel, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt and George Van Eps. Soon he was working professionally around Los Angeles playing in groups ranging from traditional to mainstream to modern jazz. In 1979, Alden went east, for a summer in Atlantic City with Red Norvo, and continued to perform with him frequently for several years.

Upon moving to New York City in 1982, Alden's skills, both as soloist and accompanist, were quickly recognized and sought-out for appearances and recordings with such artists as Joe Bushkin, Ruby Braff, Joe Williams, Warren Vache` and Woody Herman.

He has continued to win accolades from critics and musicians alike, adding Benny Carter, Flip Phillips, Mel Powell, Bud Freeman, Kenny Davern, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie and George Van Eps, as well as notable contemporaries such as Scott Hamilton and Ken Peplowski to his list of impressive credits.

Howard Alden has been a Concord Jazz recording artist since the late '80s where his prolific recorded output as leader, co-leader, and versatile sideman, has captured an artist of consistently astonishing virtuosity and originality.

GERRY BEAUDOIN

Award winning jazz guitarist Gerry Beaudoin ( 1992 NAIRD Award for best jazz recording, 1992 and 1993 CADENCE JAZZ MAGAZINE best jazz recording, 1998 submission for consideration for a Grammy Nomination and a 2009 placement on the Grammy Awards Ballot ) has had a career that has spanned over thirty years. A graduate of Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music, Gerry is also an Adjunct Professor of Music at Quincy College in Quincy MA. Known as a clinician and teacher as well as a jazz guitarist, Gerry has taught clinics and seminars at many jazz festivals and colleges across the country. In 2002 Gerry was chosen along with fellow New Guitar Summit member J. Geils, to be the clinician for the All State New Jersey High School Jazz Band. Gerry has appeared on over forty recordings in his career with many being the leader or co-leader. He has appeared in concert or on recordings with a host of the best jazz and blues musicians including Fred Lipsius from the seminal jazz -rock group Blood, Sweat and Tears, mandolin titan David Grisman, Howard Alden, Bucky and John Pizzarelli. J. Geils, Kansas City Piano legend, Jay McShann, saxophonist and blues shouter, Eddie" Cleanhead Vinson" Duke Robillard , clarinetist Dick Johnson from the Artie Shaw Band and harmonica legend from the Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton Bands, Jerry Portnoy. Gerry is a featured performer on the Mel Bay Productions DVD: The Benedetto Players, Café Benedetto which features Gerry alongside such jazz guitar greats Jack Wilkins, Howard Alden, Jimmy Bruno and Frank Vignola.

JAY GEILS

Rock superstar Jay Geils, founder of the legendary American rock and roll band, the J. Geils Band has had a legendary and illustrious career from the late 1960's to the present. With mega pop hits such as Freeze Frame and Centerfold Jay and his band rocketed to stardom in the 1980's. Shows with Janis Joplin, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Peter Frampton and the Allman Brothers were all in a days work for the J.Geils Band. Called the "greatest live Rock and Roll Band", they have been nominated twice for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Starting his career in Boston, MA during the late 1960's Jay performed with such blues legends as Muddy waters, B.B King, Mike Bloomfield and John Lee Hooker. Signing to Atlantic Records in 1971 the J. Geils Band undertook a grueling schedule of touring all over the world until 1984. The J. Geils Band retired at the top of the rock and roll game with the number one single and number one album on the Billboard Magazine chart. After retirement Jay didn't play guitar, instead concentrating, on his vintage car restoration business. In the late 1980's Magic Dick of the J.Geils Band called Jay about forming a blues band. The result was the very popular Bluestime which again saw Jay touring worldwide and cutting two albums for Rounder Records. In 1992 Jay met Gerry Beaudoin at a guitar show and confided to him he had always been a fan and disciple of jazz guitar legends Charlie Christian and Barney Kessel since his father played those records for him as a young man. He had been a jazz trumpet player before forming the J. Geils Band and had gotten back to his roots playing jazz guitar since the end of the J.Geils Band. He became a regular guest of the Gerry Beaudoin Trio at that point and in 1997 The New Guitar Summit was formed. In 2003 Jay released his first solo jazz CD: Jay Geils Plays Jazz and 2009 will see the release of his second jazz CD Jay Geils Plays More Jazz. In 2003 Jay had the honor of being on tour and the only guitarist ever to be asked to guest with blues legend B.B King on his show with B.B.'s Band. After all the accolades in his career, ( a triple platinum recording and five gold records) and selling over 16 million recordings Jay said that was the most important honor he ever received , to sit next to his idol B.B King and trade licks.


Bennett Morgan & Associates, Ltd. •  p:  845-227-6065  •  f:  845-227-4002  •  130 Beekman Road - Suite B, Hopewell Junction, New York, 12533, US