Howard Wade - Leave the Blues Behind (2012)

Leave the Blues Behind is produced by the award winning master blues and ragtime guitarist Mary Flower, the album is a collection of original compositions and blues classics ranging from ragtime blues reminiscent of Hot Tuna to delta stylings invoking Robert Johnson. “We wanted the album to be pretty stripped down. Mary plays slide on two tunes. Other than that it's just my voice and guitar” noted Howard who's playing is characterized by a driving thumb with beautifully crafted picking. The originals are fresh but solidly grounded in the acoustic blues tradition. The covers pay homage to the great blues men of yesteryear.

“Howard has a great feel for fingerpicking this century old roots music. Never rehashing the same old but creating his own compelling arrangements, he is an old soul in this modern world of ours. It was a pleasure to work in the studio with this relative newcomer whose focus on this genre is honest and refreshing as the day is long.” Mary Flower

“Authentic blues with soulful guitar. Lively, satisfying listening on both the vintage classics and Wade's well-crafted original songs. Do not miss the tracks where Wade and Mary Flower duet on guitar. They are an outstanding pairing.” Laurie Sonnenfeld, Folk Music Programmer, KBOO radio, Portland, OR

“Howard Wade is an exceptional acoustic guitarist … His debut recording, Leave the Blues Behind, is filled with terrific fingerpicking that makes this traditional music come alive … Very melodic and inspiring … A wonderful, captivating release by an artist that is more than worth all efforts to check out.” Greg Johnson, President of the Cascade Blues Association from a review in BluesNotes.

Howard has been playing guitar for fifty years. He has performed as a lead guitarist in numerous bands since the 1970s in the San Francisco and Portland areas. “I started out playing folk music really back in the days of Peter, Paul and Mary and Joan Baez” he explained. Howard was classically trained on the cello, played Jazz on the bass guitar, study music composition and played for years in clubs as a sideman before setting out as a solo artist.