Episode Description
This week, we’re putting The Tonearm's needle on saxophonist and composer Alden Hellmuth. Alden grew up in Hartford, studying in the Jackie McLean tradition, and now works out of New York City.
Her new album is called Tether, and it features a band centered on two bass players, rounded out by drums, piano, and trumpet. Alden wrote music for the ensemble that keeps them all tied together, no matter how loud or free it gets.
We talked about our shared background in Connecticut, what she took from studying with Herbie Hancock, and how she writes for the specific people in the room.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Alden Hellmuth’s Tether)
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Dig DeeperArtist and Album:
- Visit Alden Hellmuth at aldenhellmuth.com and follow her on Instagram and YouTube
- Purchase Alden Hellmuth's album Tether from LEITER, Bandcamp, or Qobuz, and listen on your streaming platform of choice.
Collaborators:
- Logan Kane, bassist
- Miller Wrenn, bassist
- Justin Brown, drummer
- Paul Cornish, pianist, featured guest
- Yakiv Tsvietinskyi, trumpeter, featured guest
Label:
- LEITER, the Berlin label co-founded by Nils Frahm
Education and Mentorship:
- Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA
- Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School
Musical References:
- Jackie McLean, saxophonist and longtime Hartt faculty member
- Joe Morris, guitarist/improviser Hellmuth credits as an early gateway into improvised music
- Steve Lehman, saxophonist and composer, cited mentor
- Deerhoof, Breakup Song (2012)
- Otoboke Beaver, Japanese punk band
Venues:
- Real Art Ways, Hartford
- Non Plus Ultra, Los Angeles
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- Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com
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