Trained in the Jackie McLean tradition and later mentored by Herbie Hancock, Hellmuth explains how 'Tether' turns trust between bandmates into the record's actual structure.
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This week, we’re putting The Tonearm's needle on saxophonist and composer Alden Hellmuth. Alden grew up in Hartford, studying in the Jackie McLean tradition, and now works out of New York City.
Her new album is called Tether, and it features a band centered on two bass players, rounded out by drums, piano, and trumpet. Alden wrote music for the ensemble that keeps them all tied together, no matter how loud or free it gets.
We talked about our shared background in Connecticut, what she took from studying with Herbie Hancock, and how she writes for the specific people in the room.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Alden Hellmuth’s Tether)
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00:00 Introduction
01:13 Growing Up in the Jackie McLean Tradition
05:08 Defining Against a Tradition
07:40 The Meaning of "Tether"
11:33 Composing Between Structure and Freedom
14:55 Studying at the Herbie Hancock Institute
19:53 Writing for Two Bassists
26:08 Space, Trust, and the Sound of the Ensemble
29:27 Conflict, Gratitude, and Perspective
33:22 The Role of Place: DIY Spaces and LA
36:43 Chasing the Search, Not Perfection
38:11 Finding a Home on LEITER
39:53 Evolving the Music Beyond the Record
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Visit Alden Hellmuth at https://www.aldenhellmuth.com
and follow her on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/alden.hellmuth
and YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSw1Eid085Qw41divnGIikw
Purchase Alden Hellmuth's album 'Tether' from LEITER → https://store.leiter-verlag.com/products/tether
Bandcamp → https://aldenhellmuth.bandcamp.com/album/tether
or Qobuz → https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/tether-alden-hellmuth/lgukkqqxei7jv
and listen on your streaming platform of choice → https://ltr.lnk.to/Tether
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