guitarist/vocalist/singer/songwriter James Howard's music site
In a live review by LA based Music Connection Magazine, Bernard Bauer says of James Howard, “…A guitarist extraordinaire, he mixes the intensity of Stevie Ray with the passion of Hendrix and plays some of the meanest blues this side of the Mississippi. He takes his phenomenal blues to places others have not, making the music his own. He has what it takes to bring the blues up to the next level…”
James Howard has been in love with playing music since the age of five, when he picked up his first instrument, inspired by his grandfather, an acoustic guitarist from Hawaii.
Howard played his first professional gig at fifteen and has honed his talent and developed his career as a blues, rock and acoustic guitarist, composer, vocalist, bandleader and recording session side man of choice for over thirty three years in clubs, festivals and recording studios from his native San Francisco, California to his current home in the Seattle, Washington area.
He has opened for artists including Robin Trower, John Waite, UFO, Greg Kihn and played, as a sideman, with Greg Allman’s solo back-up band, The Alameda All Stars.
Over the years, Howard has garnered numerous fans with his dynamic, expressive playing, his thrilling, dexterous technical skill and his casual, gracious manner on stage, consistently playing to sold out houses, from B.B. King’s Blues Club in Hollywood, to the Highway 99 Blues Club, in Seattle, where he has been playing a regular, popular gig with his band for the last three years.
Howard’s eclectic musical tastes span blues, rock, jazz, Latin, acoustic folk and country. He also has a strong interest in mysticism and spiritual growth. One can hear all these influences hybridized in his music and lyrics, giving him his own unique, compelling sound and style.
Howard is dedicated to giving back to his community through his music by teaching guitar and playing as lead-guitarist in the house band at the Center for Spiritual Living, in Seattle. He lives with his wife, Tonja, near Seattle.
His prestigious award for 2011 “Best Blues Guitarist” in Yamaha’s Six String Theory Guitar Competition comes serendipitously on the advent of the release of his third album on his self-producing label, Laughing Man Records.
About “L!VE in Seattle – Volume I” due to be released in Fall of 2011:
James Howard commented, “I have had the opportunity to perform live with some of the best musicians in the Northwest and I wanted to record some of the pieces that have inspired me most. This is the first of what will be a three CD set of live recordings with my band and guest instrumentalists and vocalists”.
The CD features eight tracks including five of Howard’s originals and his arrangements of three classic blues standards, with his regular quartet, The James Howard Band, with Howard (electric and acoustic guitars and vocals), David Close (keyboards), Jeff Tolbert (bass) and Andrew Rishikof (drums).
The album ebbs and flows in a variety of moods from the funky, feel good, New Orleans’ second- line style “Rhythm and Blues” (Howard), the sultry “Rain” (Howard), blistering guitar solos and lush organ on “Path of the Mystic” (Howard), Howard’s more reflective side, shown on “Chasing Moonbeams” (Howard) and “The Greatest Love” (Howard) and Howard’s soaring, no holds barred arrangements of iconic blues compositions, “Europa” (C. Santana, T. Coster), “Pride and Joy” (S.R. Vaughan) and “House of the Rising Sun” (traditional folk, unknown author).
This album has the distinction of having been completely funded by Howard’s loyal fans through the internet based Kickstarter (www.kickstarter.com) program which helps artists to network financial support from the public for their projects.
Contact Laughing Man Productions:
206-250-7494
