guitarist/vocalist/singer/songwriter James Howard's music site
James Howard, awarded “Best Blues Guitarist” in Lee Ritenour’s Six String Theory Competition for 2011, is an American Blues/Rock Guitarist, and Singer-Songwriter, whose music has been compared to Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Beatles, and Santana to name a few.
About Yamaha’s “Six String Theory” Guitar Workshops and Awards:
Legendary Jazz guitarist, Lee Ritenour, in association with sponsors, Yamaha Corporation, Concord Music Group, Monster Cable, National Guitar Workshop, Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation and D’Addario Strings, recently presented the second annual Six String Theory Workshops and Finalist Awards, for 2011, to top guitarists in Blues, Classical/Flamenco, Acoustic, Jazz/Fusion, Rock and Country. Six semi-finalists in each genre were chosen from a large field of international applicants.
One week, all expense paid workshops were presented around the U.S. for the semi-finalists, each genre in a different location. In the Blues Guitar workshop, in New Milford, Connecticut, in July 2011, Howard studied with world-class musicians/instructors including, Ronnie Earl and David Bromberg.
A final winner was awarded in each category, from the six workshops. James Howard (Seattle, WA) won “Best Blues Guitarist”. The other winners include: Leon Gropp (South Africa) Classical/Flamenco; Cory Sterling (New York, N.Y.) Jazz/Fusion; David Browne-Murray (United Kingdom) Acoustic; Fabrizio Zambuto (Italy) Rock and John Huldt (Santa Monica, CA) Country.
These six finalists attended a week-long workshop and festival at the Flathead Lake Lodge, in Bigfork, Montana, with instructors Lee Ritenour, Joe Bonamassa and Steve Lukather and played in a concert August 31st, 2011, at The Big Fork Theater with a back up band including Melvin Lee Davis, on bass, and Dave Weckl, on drums. As the Blues Finalist James was awarded a Yamaha guitar and Yamaha guitar endorsement. “Being able to hang out and learn from iconic guitarists Steve Lukather, Joe Bonamassa and Lee Ritenour as well as playing with Dave Weckl and Melvin lee Davis was a high-light of my life” exclaims Howard, “Thank you to Lee and every one at “The Crown of the Continent” Guitar Festival.”
