Tom Wakeling’s Strings & Things

($25-$40 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) TOM WAKELING’S “STRINGS & THINGS” Down-home Blues and Jazz meets Brazilian Choro.

Bassist Tom Wakeling’s “Strings and Things” embraces jazz’ past, present, and future with vibrant rhythms and an elegant, hard-swinging style. From beautiful and exciting Brazilian Choro rhythms to down-home Blues and Jazz, their joyful spontaneity and unique repertoire is filled with surprise, beauty, and creativity.

Featuring seven-string guitar legend Howard Alden, bass violinist Tom Wakeling, with special guests Arthur Vint and Angelo Versace.

**TOM WAKELING**

Bassist Tom Wakeling’s musical travels have taken him throughout Europe, Asia, and North America to perform and record at major festivals, jazz clubs, and concert halls.

Wakeling has put his bass to work with many of the jazz greats, including Arturo Sandoval, Lee Konitz, Mel Torme, Benny Golson, James Moody, Herb Ellis, Mose Allison, Charlie Rouse, Houston Person, Ken Peplowski, Ernie Watts, Scott Hamilton, Charles McPherson, Carl Fontana, and Herb Geller..

Tom has shared the stage with some of the most significant jazz pianists and drummers of our time, including Albert “Tootie” Heath, Lewis Nash, Jeff Hamilton, Mickey Roker, Butch Miles, Grady Tate, Dave Frishberg, Bill Mays, Roger Kellaway, Mike Wofford, Larry Fuller, Bruce Barth, Randy Porter, and Art Lande.

Wakeling’s “show biz” credits include playing in the orchestras of national touring shows such as “Cats”, “A Chorus Line”, the Joffrey Ballet, “Grease”, and “Damn Yankees” (with Jerry Lewis). He’s also backed up such showbiz figures as Della Reese, Mickey Rooney, Red Skelton, Rich Little, and the Fifth Dimension.

“…Excellent, exciting playing….” – TorontoJazz.com

“Bassist Tom Wakeling provides the great foundation upon which all else is built…” – Jazz Times

**HOWARD ALDEN**

Virtuoso guitarist Howard Alden, acknowledged as “…the best of his generation” by JazzTimes, can be heard on the soundtrack to the Woody Allen movie “Sweet and Lowdown”, starring Sean Penn. Howard not only played all the guitar solos, but also coached Mr. Penn on playing the guitar for his role in the film.

“A modern maestro…an original virtuoso…one of the 75 Great Guitarists of all time”, is how Downbeat, the world’s leading jazz magazine, describes Alden.

Having lived in New York City and toured the world many times over, Howard’s impressive performing, touring, and recording credits include such artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Torme, Charlie Byrd, Mavis Rivers, Benny Carter, Joe Williams, Flip Phillips, Mel Powell, Bud Freeman, Kenny Davern, Clark Terry, George Van Eps, Woody Herman and scores of others.

Howard’s inimitable playing has also been sought out by rock-blues-pop icon Steve Miller for recording projects and live appearances.

Alden plays the seven-string guitar, which imparts a greater range and harmonic richness to Alden’s already colorful tonal palette, as evidenced on so many of his remarkable recordings. He has appeared on over 100 recordings, including more than 30 recordings under his own name.

“I’m meat and potatoes, but he’s the real deal!” – Vince Gill

“It’s the best recording of the seven-string guitar I’ve ever heard.” – Leo Kottke

“If there is such a thing as a complete jazz guitarist, then Alden is it.” – The London Observer