Alden Hellmuth

Alden Hellmuth is a saxophonist, improviser, and composer “out of the ordinary” (In & Out Jazz) and currently based in New York. Originally from Hartford, Connecticut, she grew up surrounded by the legacy of the great saxophonist Jackie McLean and received her bachelor’s degree from the Hartt School at the University of Hartford. In 2025 she received her master’s degree from the Herbie Hancock Institute at UCLA, where she was mentored by artistic director Ambrose Akinmusire and Herbie Hancock. Grounded by her foundations in tradition and drawn to a wide spectrum of experimental musical practices, Alden is deeply inspired by art that moves with emotion and lives within dissonance. As a composer and improviser, Alden strives for authentic expression through freedom, intuition, and a deep dedication to her craft. Her debut album, "Good Intentions," released in September 2024, won “Debut Album of the Year International” (Deutscher Jazz Preis). Centered on the tension between composition and improvisation, her sophomore album Tether channels an explosive, low-end-driven sound, led by a two-bass quartet featuring Logan Kane, Miller Wrenn, and drummer Justin Brown. Blending jazz, punk energy, and freeform experimentation, the record moves between unruly intensity and deep musical connection, while always tethered to a shared pulse. Featuring guests Paul Cornish and Yakiv Tsvietinskyi, the album captures a bold, collaborative vision that pushes boundaries.