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Chris Alford
New Orleans based, Mississippi born guitarist and composer Chris Alford keeps feet in the muddy roots with eyes looking beyond the horizon.
About Me
New Orleans based improviser/guitarist/composer Chris Alford utilizes a spherical approach in his artistry. In one
hemisphere is the deep tradition of jazz and blues languages of the past and in the other is avant-garde, unconventional,
creative syntax. Warping the old with the new, Alford keeps his feet rooted in the ground all the while looking beyond
the horizon. He is just as likely to galvanize an audience with peculiar, angular, sharp flourishes as he is to allure with
luscious, atmospheric harmony and melodies. An openness to sound and collaboration allows Alford to shape and
guide the music in an organic flow.
Alford earned music degrees from The Chicago College of Performing Arts and Belmont University. Alford has had the
opportunity to study with Henry Johnson, Regi Wooten, John McLean, Joe Morris, Hank Mackie and Chester Thompson.
Chris Alford has performed with legends of jazz and creative music including: Cassandra Wilson, Ra Kalam Bob Moses,
2Face Idibia, Jerry Jemmott, Rhonda Richmond, Leslie Hunt, Ezra Brown, James Singleton , Tim Berne, Albey Balgochian,
John Sinclair, Reginald Veal, Algerbra Blessett, Jeb Bishop, Mino Cinelu, Dennis Warren, Mike Burton, Tim Green, Mike
Dillon, London Branch,Luke Stewart, Aurora Nealand, Rob Cambre, Hellen Gillet, Gregoire Maret, Robert Walter,
Grayhawk Perkins, Evan Gallagher, Matt Ulery, Reed Mathis, Michael Vatcher, Simon Berz, Dr.Jeff Albert and many
more. Alford fulfills his passion for creative music education through his teaching, both in the community and at the
University of Southern Mississippi, where he was on the Jazz department faculty from 2007- 2019.
