Glenn Alexander - Full Biography
A native of Maize, Kansas, Glenn began his musical career playing piano and saxophone. At the age of twelve he took up the guitar. After receiving a college scholarship for saxophone, he later switched focus to guitar while attending Wichita State University where his musical ability earned him the first ever guitar scholarship. While completing his degree at the university he studied with Jazz guitarist Jerry Hahn and Classical guitarist Sila Godoy. Early guitar influences ranged from Glen Campbell, Roy Clark, Jerry Reed, Jeff Beck and Billy Gibbons and later included George Benson, Pat Martino, Wes Montgomery and Pat Metheny.
By age nineteen Alexander became the assistant guitar instructor at Wichita State University. At age twenty two, Alexander established himself as a full time faculty member taking over all of guitarist Jerry Hahn's classes at Wichita State University while Hahn took a sabbatical. His teaching duties ranged from one, two and four credit private studies, guitar ensembles, and master classes, to an assortment of guitar classes. Upon Mr. Hahn's return, Alexander teamed up with the legendary guitarist and toured the midwest, performing as a duo in concerts and clubs to capacity crowds and critical acclaim. Soon after relocating to the east coast, Alexander landed a gig with world renowned drummer Chico Hamilton, performing at venues like Carnegie Hall, The Village Gate, The Blue Note, and The Kool Jazz Festival. (Hamilton's bands have long been known as a springboard for young musicians such as Jim Hall, John Scofield, Larry Coryell and Eric Dolphy). During his two year stint with Hamilton, Alexander continued to hone his craft, studying briefly with long admired influences Pat Martino and John Scofield.
In 1984, he formed the jazz fusion trio Stretch with bassist Dave LaRue (Steve Morse Band, Dixie Dregs) and drummer Bill Elder. The group recorded one album and coordinated a national tour sharing headlines with such performers as Allan Holdsworth (who took a personal interest, and the friendship led to Glenn acquiring one of Allan's prize Charvel Guitars), Larry Coryell, John Abercrombie, John Scofield, Peter Erskine and T Lavitz (who also appeared on the Stretch album) just to name a few.
In 1987 Alexander's self titled solo album (featuring the talents of Randy Brecker on trumpet, Arnie Lawrence on saxophone and Mino Cinelu on percussion) was released, hitting national airplay charts and receiving critical acclaim from radio personnel, critics and the record buying public as well.
Alexander has left his mark as a popular sideman, performing in numerous settings ranging from ensemble stints like that with Chico Hamilton to larger orchestras backing the likes of Liza Minelli, Joel Grey and JoAnne Castle. Some recent recordings include performance and composition on We Remember Pastorius(Toshiba EMI)as well as performances by: Mark Egan, Kenwood Dennard, Dr. John, Eddie Gomez, Randy Brecker, Will Lee, Dave Weckl, Anthony Jackson and others; with L Shankar and the Epidemics on Eye Catcher, following previous guitarists Steve Vai and Warren Cucurullo and appearing on tracks with Stewart Copeland, Peter Gabriel, and Bruce Springsteen and others; Heroes (Voss records) by Mike Davis which features a host of New York session musicians as well as the Yellow Jackets; Dave LaRue's Hub City Kids (Audio Image Records) featuring Rod Morgenstein (Winger, Dixie Dregs), Van Romaine (Steve Morse Band) Mike Stern and others; Guitar On The Edge vol. 1 no. 4 along with Wayne Kranz, Carl Verheyen and Greg Howe; Bob Magnuson's Street News, appearing with Mark Egan, and Ben Perowski.
1992 saw the inception of the new jazz fusion super group, "The Connection" with their Shanachie debut "Inside Out", featuring Alexander on guitar, Danny Gottlieb on drums, T Lavitz on keyboards, and Dave LaRue on Bass. The CD features several compositions by Alexander, and was greeted with overwhelming response by listeners and radio personnel.
June 1993 marked the release of Alexander's own Shanachie debut, "Rainbow's Revenge". This CD features such world class musicians as Manolo Badrena, Mark Egan, Harvie Swartz, T Lavitz, Scott Healy and Michael Formanek and is mostly an electric outing which features eight compositions by Alexander and two by Healy. It has received stellar reviews and airplay from around the world as well as feature articles in numerous national publications.
In 1995 Alexander produced "Time Changes" on the Enja jazz label for legendary guitarist Jerry Hahn, his first release in twenty years. The recording features Steve LaSpina (Acoustic Bass), David Liebman (soprano sax), Phil Markowitz (piano), Jeff Hirshfield(drums), and Art Lande (piano). January and February of 1996 - toured Australia with the rock group L.A.X. featuring Van Romaine and Dave LaRue. In April of 1996 the CD "Oria" (Palmetto Records) was released and features mostly acoustic guitar, steel string and nylon, as well as a few electric pieces. It includes nine original compositions by Alexander along with a haunting version (on solo electric guitar) of Samuel Barber's "Adagio For Strings". The CD is receiving critical acclaim and was featured in a number of national publications including the May 96 issue of Jazz Is and the August 96 issue of Jazz Times. Glenn recorded a book of solo arrangements for thirteen Paul Simon tunes as arranged by Howard Morgen. "Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover" appeared in the 1997 May/June issue of Fingerstyle Guitar. The book is now available from Amsco Publications, a division of Music Sales publishing Co., in book and CD format.
Glenn is currently writing, recording and performing, both as vocalist and guitarist, throughout the US with L.A.X., with Dave LaRue (bass & vocals) and Gary Dates(drums). Presently Alexander is Instructor of Guitar at Sarah Lawrence College and serving on the faculty of The New School For Social Research both at the Guitar Study Center, and the Mannes Jazz and Contemporary music school.