Don Alder
Biography
Don Alder is a professional composer, songwriter, singer and musician. With roots in the acoustic tradition of greats like Michael Hedges, Don Ross, Bruce Cockburn and Tommy Emmanuel. Don's music is his own unique weave of deeply textured melody and story. Lyrical and compelling, his original songs are notes of exploration - some passionate and haunting, some hard-driven, others light and teasing. In quiet pieces or pushing right to the edge, Don's phenomenal fingerstyle playing and rich voice captivate. An accomplished live performer, Don has toured in B.C. with blues, folk, pop, funk and country artists over the last 23 years. He has also worked as a professional studio musician and sound engineer. As a composer, Don has created original commissioned works for television, radio, theatre, albums, feature films, documentaries and videos.
Don was a member of the team that went around the world with his childhood friend Rick Hansen in the late 1980s on his Man In Motion Tour, which led Don to volunteer work with the Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS). As a member of the VAMS performance band, Spinal Chord, Don helped break new ground in shaping perceptions, produced a CD and video and made numerous live and television appearances to promote and support music by the disabled.
Don has attended master class workshops with some of the best acoustic fingerstyle artists in the world, including Don Ross and Peppino D'Agostino, Stephen King and Alex De Grassi. In September 2002 and 2003 Don competed in the prestigious U.S. National Fingerstyle Guitar Championships in Winfield, Kansas. He won best song in one of the Song Categories for the Songwriters showcase and was also selected as 1 of the 3 annual performers to play Stage 5 at prime time slots. In March of 2004 Don won 1rst place at the Vancouver Guitar Show "Shred Competition". using an acoustic guitar. In September 2002 and 2003 Don again competed in the U.S. National Fingerstyle Guitar Championships in Winfield and took home the top honours as Fingerstyle Guitar Champion.
Don's "wow factor" has led to endorsement deals with 5 world class manufacturers and a collaboration with Greenfield guitars to produce a signature acoustic guitar "Don Alder G4" model.
Don lives in Vancouver, where he regularly performs with the Duvateens, a Vancouver-area R&B/funk band, and as a solo acoustic artist showcasing his own music at various clubs.
Discography
RECORDINGS
- Cool Compilation 2006
- Take the Train Eh! 2005
- The Best of Don Alder 2005
- The Acoustiholic 2003
DVD\CD
- live compilation DVD 2005 & Take the Train
- Fingerstyle All Stars DVD (featuring Andy Mckee, Peter Finger, Don Alder, Jacques Stotzem, Uli Bogenshausen)
- Acoustic Matters (The All Instrumental CD)
Performance Reviews
"What a thrill to have the wonderfully talented Don Alder perform at our event, the Alibi Unplugged Script Reading Series, in May. A strong, ear- pleasing voice, smart lyrics and truly impressive fingerstyle guitar- this guy has it all, and brings it to every song. Usually at the Alibi, the film savvy crowd is busy drinking and schmoozing, waiting for the film script reading to begin, while the musician provides background music. Not this time. The 200 -seat Arts Club Revue Theatre filled up early, as people were pulled from the bar and lobby once they heard Don's sweet tunes pouring forth. Truly a pleasure- we can't wait to have Don back for another special occasion- if we are lucky enough to get him again!" - Peter Graham-Gaudreau and Anita Adams, www.alibiunplugged.com
"I was so impressed with Don Alder's performance at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival this year. I found his imaginative playing style, ranging from explosive to gentle, to be a thrill to hear and see. Coupled with an excellent voice, he is definitely on my list of favorite musicians: Peppino D'Agostino, Pierre Bensusan, Michael Hedges and Leo Kottke to name a few." - Rick Micheletti, Luthier, www.michelettiguitars.com
"Don Alder is a one very talented man. Although he often sounds like two very talented men or three or four. Whenever Don plays the room gets quiet and people strain to listen, and move to a place where they can see his hands flying across the strings. Which is great because otherwise I would feel compelled to shush the crowd so that I could hear every note." - Adrienne Pierce, Artist, www.adriennepierce.com
Don Alder web site
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