Howard Barkan, Guitar


       Howard Barkan has been a performing guitarist for more than 40 years. He started playing and performing on the East Coast. After moving to Chicago, he studied blues guitar with Buddy Guy and played blues on the South Side with members of the Buddy Guy - Junior Wells Blues Band. He also recorded and performed Latin music ( 'Salsa' ) with the 'Orchestre Magic du Chicago'. After moving to California, Howard began studying and performing jazz, Brazilian, and classical music. He studied jazz guitar and theory with Dave Craemer, a former member of the Miles Davis' ensemble.

       Howard has performed in a wide variety of settings. These have included solo, duo, trio, and quartet engagements featuring Vince Wallace on tenor saxophone at H's Lordships', Daniel's Fine Food, and other venues. Howard has also performed in small ensemble jazz engagements at many locations including the Claremont Hotel, Via Veneto, the Cafe Bistro, and the Awahnee Hotel. In addition, Howard has performed classical music and jazz in concert at Mills College. He has also provided the musical accompaniment for weddings and private parties at many places, including the Awahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, and private venues.

       Howard's repertoire is quite varied. It includes straight ahead jazz, Brazilian and other Latin musics, and both baroque and more modern classical pieces. His performing ensembles have ranged from solo settings, through duos with sax, flute, and piano, to trios, quartets, and larger ensembles. The performing groups have featured Vince Wallace on tenor saxophone; Sheldon Brown on flute and woodwinds; Chris Amberger, Paul Smith and Don Prell on Bass; the late Smiley Winters on drums; and other fine musicians based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Howard can be contacted via telephone at (510) 548-6564, via cell at (510) 332-9755,
or via e-mail at howardbarkan@cs.com.