Violinist Christian Howes stands out as a technically assured, forward-looking artist drawn to progressive jazz, bluegrass, and classical forms. Born in Columbus, Ohio, he took up classical violin at age five and, during his teenage years, entered multiple national classical competitions while simultaneously cultivating an expanding passion for jazz improvisation. At nineteen he received a drug conviction that carried a four-year sentence in a medium-security facility. Incarceration deepened his engagement with jazz and prompted an interest in fusing elements of gospel, folk, and country. Upon release he issued his first recording, the 1997 album Confluence, and quickly followed it with Ten Yard in 1998. Both projects earned strong notices and sparked a renewed career trajectory. As a sought-after collaborator, Howes has appeared alongside guitarist Les Paul, trumpeter Randy Brecker, trombonist Steve Turre, vocalist Jane Monheit, saxophonist Greg Osby, and additional prominent figures. He has sustained an active solo output, delivering Klazyc in 2003, Heartfelt in 2008, and Out of the Blue in 2010. Southern Exposure, which includes accordionist Richard Galliano, arrived in 2013. The next year he traveled through Montegro and Ukraine in the role of cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department. That journey directly informed the Americana-infused album American Spirit, which appeared in 2015.
