“Neal Alger’s guitar, in particular, is a thing of beauty, incorporating sinewy blues-rock textures a la John Scofield”  --  Clive Davis, The Times, London, Nov. 24, 2006

Alger “effortlessly steals the show no matter whether he is soloing or merely comping.”  -- Larry Hollis, Cadence magazine

“Monstrously talented” and “best known for his spectacular work with Patricia Barber”  --  Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times, April 2005

“Rich, urban-cool harmonies” and “has grown into one of the top soloists in the city”  --  Neil Tesser, Chicago Reader, August 2005

“Fine guitarist with a style all his own”  -- Richard Bourcier, jazzreview.com, April 2005

Alger “matches jazzman dexterity and harmonic mastery with rockist tone”  -- Jon Garelick, Boston Phoenix newspaper, Oct. 1, 2004

“Alger economizes in lieu of instituting an array of technical gymnastics”  --  Glenn Astarita, Downbeat magazine

Neal's "playing ranges from contemplative acoustic solos to searing, pointillist electric accents". - John Swenson, Stereophile magazine

"Liquid tone, careful diction, and an aura of cool." - John Barrett, jazzUSA.com

A freelance jazz guitarist in Chicago for sixteen years now, Neal Alger has toured Europe, Canada, South Korea, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, and the U.S. with jazz vocalist/pianist Patricia Barber and he is featured on her Blue Note Records releases Verse (2002), Live: A Fortnight in France (2004), Mythologies (2006), and The Cole Porter Mix (2008).  Neal has collectively led and co-led four recordings to his credit.  The first, Here and Now: There and Before (2001), showcases Alger’s eclectic compositions, fluid improvising style, and a prestigious Chicago lineup.  The next three recordings feature Neal in a duo setting with vocalist Typhanie Monique as they dress up old standards in new clothes and reconfigure contemporary pop, rock, and R&B tunes on 2004’s Intrinsic, 2007’s In This Room, and 2008’s Yuletide Groove.  Neal’s latest project is a quartet dedicated to performing classic and obscure compositions from the legendary Blue Note jazz label in the 1950’s and 1960’s.  Along with his performing activities, Neal also maintains a full teaching schedule with guitar instruction at Roosevelt University in Chicago and Chris Laughlin School of Music in Northbrook, IL. 

WEBSITE: nealalger.com

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