The Jenkins House Concert series is thrilled to announce that jazz violinist, Christian Howes, accepted our invitation to open our 8th season next month. Reid recently met Chris at the MOC-NYC String Camp where this concert opportunity fell into place. August 10th marked the release of Christian's latest album, “Out of the Blue” on Resonance Records featuring the legendary jazz and blues guitarist, Robben Ford. He has officially begun his ambitious tour of performances and clinics, including over 20 U.S. cities, assorted European dates, concluding with several engagements in Asia by the end of the fall. We welcome Chris to New York's Upper West Side.Christian grew up in Columbus, Ohio and received a degree in Philosophy from the Ohio State University. After spending 8 years based here in New York City and touring the world, he recently returned to Columbus to reclaim his roots. As an educator, performer and composer, Christian Howes has gained great notoriety and respect from critics and players alike. Christian was a favorite of the late Les Paul, with whom he worked for 11 years. Says Christian of his mentor, ”Les defied categorization in terms of age or genre. His character, approach to life, and musicianship taught me many valuable lessons which I hope never to forget”. In recent years, Howes has become an in-demand violinist on the New York scene, performing and recording with a bevy of jazz artists, including alto saxophonist Greg Osby, pianist D.D. Jackson, guitarists Les Paul , Frank Vignola, and Joel Harrison, drummer Dafnis Prieto, vibraphonist Dave Samuels’s Caribbean Jazz Project, crossover pioneers Spyro Gyra, and a 4-yr chair in Bill Evans Soulgrass. On his recent cd, Heartfelt, the violinist collaborates with pianist-arranger Roger Kellaway, a legendary figure in his own right.
In August, 2009, Christian was ranked (for the third time) as the #2 violinist in the Downbeat Critics Poll “Rising Stars”. Says All About Jazz ,”as a jazz violinist he has no peer”. The Minneapolis Tribune called Christian ”arguably the most intriguing young violinist in jazz”. According to the Chicago Reader, “Not since Jean Luc Ponty has a violinist ranged from pure classical to fuzz-tone rock to convincing jazz with such authority”. An Associate Professor at the Berklee College of Music, he is also the founder of the Creative Strings Workshop and Festival, which convenes during the first week of July every year at Otterbein College.
Chris will appear net Friday night with his trio: David Grossman, bass, Donald Vega, piano, and Jordan Perlson drums. For details and reservations please contact Sandy at; Sandilion49@gmail.com
