Alex Goodman
guitarist.composer

“A definite musical voice” (Guitar International) and a player of “fluid lyricism” (DownBeat), Canadian guitarist and composer Alex Goodman moved to New York City in 2012, where he became recognized as “among the most promising talents of his jazz generation” (JazzTimes) and “one of New York’s most vital guitarists” (Jazziz). In 2014, he won First Prize and the Public’s Choice Award at the International Guitar Competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Since then, he has contributed to and been featured on numerous Grammy-nominated recordings, as well as projects recognized by Canada’s JUNO Awards and the German Jazz Prize. Over the past decade, he has established a distinct presence, bringing together his work as a guitarist, composer, bandleader, and sideman.

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In addition to releasing ten albums as a leader or co-leader, Goodman has appeared as a contributor and soloist on a wide array of recordings alongside acclaimed artists including John Patitucci, Dave Douglas, John Ellis, Jonathan Blake, Dick Oatts, Ambrose Akinmusire, Mike Rodriguez, Rich Perry, and many others. He has toured extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and South America and performed at New York’s leading venues, as well as at international stages including the Kennedy Center, Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Lincoln Center, Massey Hall, Auditório Ibirapuera in São Paulo, and Chaoyang Theater in Beijing. Festival appearances include Winter Jazzfest, Montreux, Montreal, C6 Brazil, and Jazz Baltica.

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Goodman has maintained an active compositional practice, writing for ensembles ranging from solo guitar to chamber groups, orchestras, and big bands, with early recognition including a 2013 ASCAP Herb Alpert Jazz Composer Award. His book of solo guitar etudes, released in both book and recording formats in 2013, reflects an early interest in counterpoint that continues to inform his writing. In 2022, he received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to compose a new program for string quartet, guitar, and bass, which premiered on a European tour in 2024 and was subsequently recorded with bassist Rick Rosato and the Netherlands-based Adam Quartet. 

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A graduate of the Master’s program in Jazz Performance at the Manhattan School of Music, he is currently Professor of Jazz Guitar at the Kunstuniversität Graz.