Updated: August 23, 2024
Born: July 31, 1974
Alex Anest is an American guitarist, teacher, and bandleader currently based in Southeast Michigan.
His projects as a leader or co-leader have included The Alex Anest Organ Trio/Electric Four, Nomad, The Ann Arbor Guitar Trio, and Giraffe, among others. These groups focus on improvisation, groove, creativity, and most of all a commitment to connection, both among the group members and with the audience.
He has released fourteen recordings as leader or co-leader and has appeared on another twenty-five records by a staggering variety of other artists including Gayelynn McKinney, Evan Veasey, Makadem, Nancy Ambrose King, Kevin Meisel, and Dave Sharp. Music has taken Alex around the midwest, south, and northeast of the U.S. as well as to Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Italy.
Regardless of the setting, Alex is an inventive and exciting player. In addition to performing and recording, he has extensive private teaching experience and was described by Ellen Rowe as “an excellent explainer of the guitar.”
Alex holds degrees from the University of Michigan and Bowling Green State University, and has studied with Miles Okazaki, Benny Green, Ellen Rowe, Chris Buzzelli, and Jeff Halsey.
Gear
Alex uses a few different guitars. He is most commonly seen playing a custom red thinline telecaster with noiseless Fralin p-90s that he built with his father many years ago, a sunburst Gibson ES-339, a blonde telecaster with Fralins made by Jim North, or a Heritage 575 Custom.
Alex will often run the guitar into some type of overdrive - typically a home-made Tube Screamer or a Bogner Ecstacy Blue. He is also fond of the Ibanez Bi-mode Chorus, the JHS Emperor Chorus, the Clarinot (also home-made), and the TC Electronics Plethora X3.
In terms of amps, Alex is a long time Quilter user and regularly runs into the SuperBlock US. He also plays through a Dr Z Maz 18, and often will use whatever backline amp is available. After all, tone is in the fingers.
Tags
All About Jazz Articles
Anest, Kendrick, & McKinney: Live at the Blue LLama, Volume 1 & 2
by C. Andrew Hovan
When it comes to talent, there's no shortage of gifted jazz artists that call Michigan their home. The Jones brothers long ago put Detroit on the map, but water-tight music programs at Michigan State and the University of Michigan have produced a thriving community of vital musicians. On any given evening, there's live jazz to be found in many night spots from Northport to Kalamazoo. A veteran of the Ann Arbor scene for many years, guitarist Alex Anest ...
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...or were mentioned in an All About Jazz article.
All About Jazz - Anest, Kendrick, & McKinney: Live at the Blue Llama Volume 1 & 2 8/18/23 - C Andrew Hovan
"With big ears and far reaching interests, Anest has learned the vernacular of not only the jazz genre, but also other styles such as progressive rock. His sound is distinguished by a warm and ringing tone, yet he doesn't shy away from the use of pedals and other effects."
"Clearly this is an organ trio with great potential. As such, further developments will be highly anticipated."
Primary Instrument
Guitar
Location
Ann Arbor
Willing to teach
Intermediate to advanced
Credentials/Background
Alex Anest is an in-demand music instructor who loves working one-on-one to help his students realize their potential. He has maintained a teaching studio in the Ann Arbor area for the past three decades and many of his students have gone on to have successful music careers of their own.
As a teacher Alex enjoys helping his students with technique, repertoire, theory, and developing good habits. This is not just a side project for Alex – he loves teaching and believes that it is important for musicians to pass their musical experience and perspective on to future generations.
