The New Guitar Summit feat. J. Geils, Howard Alden, Gerry Beaudoin at Iridium Nov. 17-21

SHOW TIMES NIGHTLY AT 8:00, 10:00
Nov. 17-21 THE NEW GUITAR SUMMIT
FEATURING J. GEILS, HOWARD ALDEN, GERRY BEAUDOIN

New England has always had an affinity for guitar players. In recent memory three of the finest are Gerry Beaudoin, Jay Geils and Howard Alden. The three all have solid careers of their own with a combined guitar experience of almost 100 years. All three have crossed idioms and styles and won the admiration and respect of their peers as well as guitar fans world wide. What binds them together in this act is a mutual love for the guitar styles of jazz and blues. The three guitarists have a long history together. When the J. Geils Band was still playing blues around New England they crossed paths may times with “...The Best Little Big Band In America, Roomful of Blues...", which was fronted by guitarist and singer Duke Robillard. When Gerry Beaudoin was still in high school he became a Duke Robillard fan. Little did he know that fifteen years later he would be playing and recording with Duke in an association that has culminated in the formation of the NEW GUITAR SUMMIT. Jay Geils and Gerry Beaudoin had met at a guitar show in 1994. Jay became a frequent guest artist with the Gerry Beaudoin Trio in clubs and concerts across the country. His affinity and skill in performing jazz standards left audiences amazed that a superstar blues rocker had such depth to his playing. One night Jay came by to sit in on a gig with Gerry and Duke and THE NEW GUITAR SUMMIT was born. In the summer of 1997 they were chosen to be the special guests of The Woody Herman Orchestra at City Hall Plaza in Boston, MA. The event drew over five thousand people and was on all major television and print media outlets. Since these first few gigs they have gone on to play sold out shows around the country and plans are under way to record this special act. From New York's prestigious clubs to performances with symphony orchestras, THE NEW GUITAR SUMMIT is a polished, swinging reminder of America's great original music heritage.

Gerry Beaudoin - Guitarist Gerry Beaudoin has carved a career out as leader and arranger for one of the most successful acts to come out of Boston. The award winning guitarist (1992 Naird Award and 1994 Cadence Magazine Editors Choice Award) was the founder of the very successful and critically acclaimed “Boston Jazz Ensemble". His recording “Minor Swing" with mandolin virtuoso David Grisman and guitarist Duke Robillard has achieved cult status among acoustic music fans. His latest recording “Just Among Friends" features David Grisman and guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli. “Just Among Friends" reached number twenty on the Gavin Jazz Radio Chart and was submitted for consideration for a 1998 Grammy nomination. Gerry is also a member of the “Benedetto Players", a guitar group that features among others, Howard Alden, Frank Vignola, Jack Wilkens and Andy Summers from the group “The Police".

Jay Geils - Guitarist Jay Geils needs no introduction to the legion of music fans that made “The J. Geils Band" one of the number one acts in rock history. His hard driving blues and R&B based guitar style was the foundation of this band for over twenty years. He has recently released two albums with his group “Bluestime" which includes fellow Geils band mate Magic Dick. They have toured extensively around the world with blues legend B.B. King. Jay has also released an instructional video on the Hot Licks label which details his approach to jazz and blues improvisation. Along with Gerry Beaudoin, Jay has performed live on the internet to an audience of thousands. There are plans in the works to have Gerry and Jay host a series of shows on blues and jazz on the internet.

Howard Alden was voted “Best Emerging Talent-Guitar" in the first annual JazzTimes critics' poll, 1990, and “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" in the 1996, 1992, 1993 and 1995 Downbeat critics' poll. As jazz critic Wayne Thompson writes simply, in Jazzscene, “If there are better young jazz guitar players in America than Howard Alden, I have yet to hear them." Howard's growing base of loyal fans couldn't agree more.