Alden Hellmuth

Alden Hellmuth is a saxophonist, improviser, and composer “out of the ordinary” (In & Out Jazz) and currently based in Los Angeles. 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 under the Fresh Sound New Talent label, won “Debut Album of the Year International” (Deutscher Jazz Preis) and garnered international acclaim, with Steve Smith of For The Record describing it as "a vital debut," and Culture Jazz praising it as "...full of character, great imagination, and vibrant energy." She recently recorded her sophomore album with Justin Brown, Logan Kane, and Miller Wrenn, featuring Paul Cornish and Yakiv Tsvietinskyi.

Alden has been awarded a number of opportunities including Chamber Music America’s Performance Plus grant (2025), ASCAP’s Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award (2024), New Music USA Next Jazz Legacy Semi-Finalist (2022), The Focusyear Fellowship (2021-22), and since 2016 has participated in numerous programs committed to the support and empowerment of female artists, including the Women In Jazz Organization and the Dorothy Goodwin Fund. She has performed at venues and festivals across the globe including The Hollywood Bowl (LA), Blue Note Jazz Festival (LA), International Jazz Day (Morocco & Abu Dhabi), Stanford Jazz Festival (CA), the Jazz Aux Écuries Festival (FR), the Hartford Jazz Festival (CT), Ottawa Jazz Festival (CA), Rochester Jazz Festival (NY), The Jazz Gallery (NYC), Smalls (NYC), Smoke Jazz & Supper Club (NYC), Bird’s Eye (CH), Jamboree (ES), The Loft (DE), Porgy & Bess (AU), and many more.

Alden has performed and/or recorded widely across genres with artists including Moses Sumney, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Adi Meyerson, Josh Evans, Lex Korten, Kahiem Rivera, and in 2023 released two electronic tracks (sophia x maxine). She has also arranged pieces for Moses Sumney, Brandee Younger, and other artists.