Wed Jul 15
Christian Howes
7PM / $35 | $7 Fees Get Tickets
Christian Howes
“Forget everything you think you know about jazz violin.” Chris brings jazz violin to Blues Alley like you’ve never heard it before, backed by a fearless quartet where anything can happen and everything is on the table. Pulling from swing, blues, funk, bebop, and beyond, the band throws in the whole kitchen sink: deep grooves, explosive improvisation, soul, fire, and pure unpredictability. Expect jaw-dropping interplay, high-wire spontaneity, and moments that will leave the room roaring long after the last note. One night. No safety net. Don’t miss it. Christian Howes — violin, Allyn Johnson— piano, Michael Bowie — bass, with special guest: Cedric Easton — drums.
Violinist, educator, and composer Christian Howes was voted #1 Rising Star Violinist in the DownBeat Critics Poll, named among the top three jazz violinists by JazzTimes, and nominated for Violinist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. His recordings Southern Exposure and American Spirit earned acclaim from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, DownBeat, and JazzTimes, with American Spirit recognized among the year’s best jazz albums by Huffington Post.
A recipient of the Artist Teacher Award from the American String Teachers Association, Howes is also the founder of Creative Strings, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding contemporary and improvisation-based string education. In 2026, Creative Strings received support from the National Endowment for the Arts for its online educational programs. Through the organization, Howes has created more than 500 free play-along lessons online, reaching millions of viewers, and has visited nearly 1,000 classrooms across the U.S. working with middle school, high school, and collegiate students and educators.
Special guest drummer Cedric Easton serves as Associate Director of Outreach Education at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
7PM / $35 | $7 Fees Get Tickets
1. Final sale, no refunds, not transferable.
2. $15 food/beverage minimum per person not included in ticket price.
3. Seating first come at the door. Doors open 6 PM & 8:45 PM respectively Monday thru Saturday, and 4:30 PM & 7:15 PM Sundays.
4. No Photography or Recording of any kind during the performance.
5. Keep conversation to a minimum during the performance.