My Shining Hour

Howard Alden

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9
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My Shining Hour Review

by Ken Dryden

With all of the recording activity by guitarist Howard Alden in the dozen or so years prior to the 2002 release of My Shining Hour, it is hard to believe that this is his first unaccompanied date. Alternating between electric and acoustic archtop seven-string guitars, Alden delivers one masterful performance after another. His brilliant technique is showcased in a dazzling take of "My Shining Hour" (which begins with a very subtle introduction), while his lyricism carries Duke Ellington's gorgeous ballad "All Too Soon." Alden, who taught actor Sean Penn to play jazz guitar for his role in Woody Allen's film Sweet and Lowdown, plays two miniatures written by Dick Hyman for its soundtrack; unfortunately, the intricate ballad "Unfaithful Woman" made only a fleeting appearance and the sparkling "E is for Emment" wasn't used at all, so Alden makes up for Allen's oversight. The inclusion of "I Wrote It for Jo," a piece by the late George Van Eps, shouldn't be any surprise to Alden's fans, who are well aware of Van Eps' pioneering work on the seven-string guitar, as well as recording four CDs with Alden. The guitarist also delves into the bossa nova classic "The Girl From Ipanema," Mal Waldron's bittersweet ballad "Soul Eyes," and Billy Strayhorn's very emotional "Blood Count" with a freshness that makes it sound as if one is hearing each piece for the first time. Howard Alden will have many shining hours ahead of him in the studio and on-stage, but this memorable CD should serve as an important landmark in his already very impressive career.

Track Listing

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	My Shining Hour Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer	Howard Alden	03:44	Amazon
2	All Too Soon Duke Ellington / Carl Sigman	Howard Alden	05:41	Amazon
3	Sweet Substitute Jelly Roll Morton	Howard Alden	04:02	Amazon
4	Unfaithful Woman	Howard Alden	01:56	Amazon
5	E Is for Emment	Howard Alden	01:32	Amazon
6	Blood Count Billy Strayhorn	Howard Alden	03:51	Amazon
7	I Wrote It for Jo George Van Eps	Howard Alden	03:55	Amazon
8	The Girl From Ipanema Norman Gimbel / Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes	Howard Alden	04:07	Amazon
9	Isn't It a Pity? George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin	Howard Alden	04:20	Amazon
10	Gone With the Wind Herbert Magidson / Allie Wrubel	Howard Alden	04:59	Amazon
11	Soul Eyes Mal Waldron	Howard Alden	04:27	Amazon
12	Chega de Saudade (No More Blues) Jon Hendricks / Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes	Howard Alden	04:57	Amazon
13	Crazy She Calls Me Bob Russell / Carl Sigman	Howard Alden	02:22	Amazon