(e.g., "New York guitar player" or "Beatles influenced drummer")

Musician - James Howard

• Age 45 | Musician | Seattle, WA

I work as a profesional guitarist/guitar instructor in Seattle WA. I have a regular weekly gig at The Center For Spritual Living on Sandpoint where I play guitar and bass. The pianist/keyboardist kicks left hand bass when I play guitar and I play bass when he plays grand piano. I read charts well and play a variety of styles. My forte is blues guitar and I have some gigs coming up with CeeCee James at Hwy 99 blues club in Seattle. I also do quite a bit of session work and I am good in the studio on acoustic or electric guitar. In addition I am a band leader with 2 CD's out and a third due out this summer. I am looking for steady bandmates, drums, keys and bass who sing backup for gigs and touring. I am from the San Francisco Bay Area originally. My original material ranges from rock, blues, latin, jazz, acoustic singer/songwriter and alternative pop/rock. It sounds like it's all over the map but my singing and playing connects it up giving it continuity and compatability. You can check out my material at www.myspace.com/jameshowardguitar www.jameshowardmusic.com and www.sonicbids.com/jameshoward3

Guitar

Acoustic, Blues, Folk, R&B,
Roots, Singer/Songwriter, Jam Band, Jazz,
Fusion, New Age, Popular, Alternative,
Americana, Classic Rock, Funk, Indie,
Light Rock, Progressive Rock, Rock, Rock n Roll,
Southern Rock, Latin, Reggae, World

Keyboard, Organ, Piano, Drum Kit,
Percussion, Bass Guitar, Backup Vocals

Acoustic, Blues, Folk, R&B,
Roots, Singer/Songwriter, Jam Band, Jazz,
Fusion, Classic Rock, Light Rock, Progressive Rock,
Rock, Rock n Roll, Latin, Reggae,
World

I am influenced by the musicians that I play with and currently deepening my awareness of jazz. In my early days I listened to and picked up the licks from Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Santana, Van Halen, etc. Then I got into the blues and picked up the styles of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Clapton, BB, Albert, and Freddie King. I like acoustic rock ala Jack Johnson and write a bit in that style. I like to scat a bit and learn whatever I can about different styles. I pick the brains of musicians that I have the good fortune to work with on gigs and fill in the gaps in my education quite a bit that way listening to what they do that I like. Mostly I seek to inhabit the zone in my improvisations where a force beyond my mind and my technique communicates through me. I can always recognise when this is happening in the moment or later when I listen to a recording. To me good music communicates something true and beautiful or passionate and emotional. If I feel it and the listener feels it then something real has occurred and I am happy with it. Mostly I am happy with the abundance in my life doing what I love to do.

• I have played alot of music starting on latin percusion at 5 yrs old, drum kit at 9, acoustic guitar when I was 12 and electric guitar after that. I picked up on it quick and was playing lead guitar in a band in 1976 at the age of 13. My first professionl gig was at 15 and I began making a living out of high school. I studied music through out school and in college off and on. I have had a handful of private lesson instructors but most of what I know is from records, books and other musicians that I have played with over the years. I am mostly self-taught. I have made my living mostly from music and teaching guitar throughout my life. I have played in a lot of bands, worked as a sideman and fronted my own band for 14 years now.

• Available for gigs, recording and touring. Also looking for a keyboardist, drummer and bassist to work in my band.

• Experience: Professional
  
• Availability: 1 day a week
  
• Commitment: Professional
  
• Energy: Upbeat
  
• Smokes: Nope
  
• Drinks: Nope
  

• Experience: Professional
  
• Energy: Upbeat
  
• Tolerates Smoking: No
  
• Tolerates Drinking: No