Christian Howes’ American Spirit Quartet Virtuoso violinist, composer, producer & DownBeat Critics' Poll winner brings spirituals, classic blues, familiar Americana, classical expressions and more from his all-new album on Resonance Records, "American Spirit," in return to BLU! Featuring Mike Forfia, Julian Garvue, James Gaiters.

Violinist Christian Howes is one artist whose upward trajectory has been tangible, full of great heart and vigor, laced with an obvious curiosity for ground both less and well-traveled, with an eye always towards reinvigorating the latter. This newest recording [“American Spirit”] finds he and his cohorts breathing fresh air into the tried and true, from spirituals to classic blues to two slices of pop culture to familiar Americana and classical expressions, in a program of eight standards leavened with three of his originals.
 
Howes’ progression, which from his early youthful enthusiasm, with a wild blond mane that in full throttle performance bore a whirling dervish quality, has blossomed into a veteran’s assuredness. On the violin there’s now a sense of grace that serves this music marvelously and more substantively than the seemingly reckless, no holds barred abandon of his youth. There is a sophisticated élan in his playing that speaks to acquired wisdom and taste. Christian Howes’ development has been delightful to behold, especially for we Ohioans who recall the callow youth from Columbus.
 
“The opportunity to create “American Spirit” comes at a turning point in my career and life,” says Howes. “At 43, as my daughter goes to college and my son starts kindergarten, I find myself looking at the world in a new way. Less focused on climbing the career ladder, I’m rather more aware of my ability to influence others and the desire to stand for something larger than myself,” he confirms. The sense of progression one derives from “American Spirit” and the overall development of his artistry, as player, composer, and arranger – are roles he fulfills successfully with this record.
 

“​Jazz is quintessentially American, and art, including music, has a way of clarifying what words sometimes cannot…”
– Christian Howes

 
Another key is his bandleader’s astuteness in engaging musicians who properly enhance this program of music he has carefully selected to represent the “American Spirit” theme. Fundamental to this success is his engagement of a complementary rhythm section. “The piano chair in my band is a tough one to fill,” he suggests, “because I’m picky about how I want to be supported by the piano.”
 
The title track is one of three Christian Howes originals, broadened by the dark roasted tone of the Octave Geiger hybrid instrument, pitched an octave lower than violin, a range between viola and cello. “It enables me to cover the viola and cello range in my one man string sections,” an atmosphere he very subtlety lends to several of these pieces, a further sign of his maturity in service to the music on what is decidedly not a blowing date.
 
The opener, one of Leonard Bernstein’s signature songs from West Side Story, elicits richly evocative violin work, including the leader’s quote from “Maria”. Lest one so completely immerse oneself in these fertile arrangements (including four from the pen of pianist Tamir Handelman) and the successful cohort interplay of this date, Howes closes the proceedings with a “Postlude,” substantiating his prodigious playing in solo. “A solo piece is imperative to my personal artistic identity,” he verifies, “it tells my story”. “It uses jazz scales and progressions, although it clearly incorporates elements of classical tradition. The connection to the classical world is very important in order to create a “bridge” whereby non-jazz listeners will connect to the rest of the material on the album.”
 
There is much to appreciate about this date, from its captivating arrangements to Howes and company’s virtuosic playing, to its sense of true Americana. Interestingly the idea behind this theme stemmed from Howes’ State Department-sponsored residencies abroad. “Working with the State Department, as well as traveling around the world for many years has inspired me to think about what it is to feel pride in being American,” Howes asserts. “Growing up in the 80s, American pride was framed in relation to events specific to that time and I feel like today I can reexamine the concept of “American Spirit” and define it for myself on fresh terms.” Clearly “American Spirit” is the work of an artist who has grown exponentially yet remains on an upward arc, as evidenced by his most successful recording to date. Drop this one in the player and you be the judge. As Howes succinctly declares, “Jazz is quintessentially American, and art, including music, has a way of clarifying what words sometimes cannot,” as you are about to discover in “American Spirit.”
 
– from “American Spirit” liner notes by Willard Jenkins
 
Don’t miss your chance to hear this captivating artist in a very special one-night-only return to BLU, get your tickets today!
 

About Christian Howes

Christian Howes grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where he studied violin through the Suzuki method from the age of five, performed as a soloist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at age 16, and later earned his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the Ohio State University.
 
During his teen years he began playing guitar and bass in rock, blues, and fusion bands. At age 20, he began playing violin in gospel church settings. These experiences ultimately led him to pursue a singular goal to become a versatile jazz musician and composer.
 
Since then, he has gained respect from critics and players alike, establishing himself as a world­class jazz violinist and educator. From 2001­-2009, Howes became an in­demand violinist on the New York scene, collaborating with a bevy of top shelf jazz artists, including Greg Osby, D.D. Jackson, Frank Vignola, Joel Harrison, Dafnis Prieto, Dave Samuels, Spyro Gyra, and a 4­year chair in Bill Evans’ “Soulgrass” band.
 
Christian was a favorite of the late Les Paul, with whom he worked closely for 11 years. Following a three ­year tenure as Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music and after establishing his “street cred” in New York City, Christian returned to his hometown in order to be close to family and set out to build his career exclusively as a bandleader and entrepreneur.
 
In August 2011, Christian was ranked as the #1 “Rising Star” violinist in the Downbeat Critics Poll and nominated for the Jazz Journalists Association’s “Violinist Of The Year”. In 2012, he was voted among the top three violinists in J​azzTimes’​“E​xpanded Critics Poll“​. The same year, he received the Residency Partner Award from Chamber Music America for his educational outreach with school orchestra programs. He now regularly tours throughout Asia, Europe, and the U.S. as a leader of his own groups and a soloist with orchestras. Howes toured Ukraine in June 2014 at the invitation of the U.S. Embassy, underscoring U.S. support for Ukraine.
 
After releasing a string of independent releases as a leader, he signed with R​esonance Records​in 2008 and released three critically acclaimed albums. The first, “Heartfelt”, featuring pianist Roger Kellaway, showcases ballads and lyrical works. “Out of the Blue,” released in 2010, features guitarist Robben Ford, and demonstrates a wide range of modern and traditional sensibilities, steeped in the blues. His newest release, “Southern Exposure,” featuring accordionist Richard Galliano, draws from a Hispanic sphere of influence.
 
In 2001, he founded the C​reative Strings Workshop and Festival,​which convenes during the first week of July every year in Columbus, Ohio. Says Howes, “The Creative Strings Workshop and Festival offers string players from Columbus and around the world an opportunity to study improvisation, composition, and styles outside the realm of classical music, while bringing the city of Columbus a plethora of talent and musical energy.”
 
Howes also launched an online lessons website in 2011, the “C​reative Strings Academy,​” popular worldwide among string players exploring jazz and improvised music.
 
In 2014, Christian formalized his “Creative Strings” initiatives with the founding of Camille Catherine, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non­profit organization dedicated to the expansion and improvement of music education, with a focus on the development of curriculum and programs for classically trained musicians to expand their creative skills. Christian regularly visits school orchestra programs offering residencies which combine collaborative performances with interactive clinics, rehearsals, and teacher training.
 
Since 2007, he has also built an innovative online production business, “Christian Howes String Recording,” which provides live string sections and more to music producers worldwide via a remote, collaborative “virtual” orchestra.
 
An active blogger, he is frequently engaged to speak regarding music education and music business. He has worked with homeless, at­risk, and prison populations, as well as humanities departments at universities, incorporating diverse social causes and character education into his broad, inspirational message.
 

$20