Born in Newport Beach, CA, Howard Alden began playing at 10, inspired by recordings of Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and Benny Goodman, as well as by guitarists Barney Kessel, Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt. Before moving to New York in 1982, he worked in Los Angeles in traditional, mainstream and modern jazz groups. On the East Coast, he performed and/or recorded with Ruby Braff, Joe Williams, Woody Herman, Benny Carter, Kenny Davern, George Wein & the Newport All-Stars, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Scott Hamilton and Ken Peplowski. A Concord Jazz recording artist since the late '80s, Mr. Alden consistently shows an astonishing virtuosity and originality as a leader, co-leader and versatile sideman. He can be heard on the soundtrack to the 1999 Woody Allen movie "Sweet and Lowdown," for which he coached Sean Penn for his Academy Award-nominated role as a legendary jazz guitarist.