Mandolin Mondays featuring Alex Heflin /// "Benjamin"

Los Angeles-based jazz mandolinist Alex Heflin joins Mandolin Mondays this week with a tasty solo arrangement of his original tune, "Benjamin."

Alex has been making waves in recent years with his own youtube channel. Every Friday he posts a creative cover featuring his adept playing on the mandolin and multiple other instruments. Alex also transcribed and published a great collection of monumental jazz mandolin solos in his book called the Mandolin Omni Book: http://store.alexheflin.com/

Here's Alex with a word about this video: "First of all, my thanks to David for letting me participate in my absolute favorite series on YouTube. He's an outstanding player and it couldn't be more of an honor to be a part of Mandolin Mondays. This is a quick little solo rendition of the tune Benjamin off my new mandolin/upright bass duo record. The tune is essentially an f minor blues with a couple extra bars in there, and was named after an old dog of the family's. The new record, titled "Hats Off" features just this mandolin and Mike Gurrola on upright bass - on this tune and seven others. If you dig this, check it out!"

The new record is coming out this week on May 5th--be sure to grab a copy. Alex plays a Blue Marlin electric mandolin which he built himself based on the Paul Lestock Jazzbo mandolins. The mandolin has custom Kent Armstrong pickups played through a Fishman Loudbox Artist on this video. Connect with Alex at the links below for more info about his music:

http://www.alexheflin.com/
   / alexheflin