Inside the Mind of a Modern Jazz Guitarist: Cecil Alexander on Practice, Creativity & Staying True

Cecil Alexander is a jazz guitarist, composer, and educator from Michigan, now based in Boston. Influenced by legends like Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, and Jimi Hendrix, his playing blends groove, soul, and technical depth. He studied at Berklee College of Music, where he now teaches, and later earned a master’s in jazz performance from William Paterson University. He’s won several major guitar competitions and was a finalist in the Herbie Hancock International Guitar Competition.

Cecil’s 2022 debut album, Introducing Cecil Alexander, pays tribute to his late father and showcases his distinct style. In 2023, he and his wife, Ari Alexander, released Duos, a guitar and vocal project highlighting their musical connection. He also performs with the Ari and Cecil Alexander Quartet and tours with trumpeter Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah. Through his online program, “Shed With Cecil,” as well as in courses through Pickup Music, he offers guitar lessons on topics like blues, bebop, and playing like the jazz greats.

👇 Below, Cecil, shares an honest look into his practice routine, creative process, and the lessons he’s learned on his musical journey. From focusing deeply on a small handful of tunes to exploring new genres and gear, Cecil emphasizes listening deeply, trusting your instincts, and making music that feels personal. In this interview, he also opens up about his favorite records, gear choices, and upcoming projects—including new duo and quartet albums with his wife, Ari Alexander. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, Cecil’s thoughtful advice and grounded approach offer something valuable for every guitarist.

🎸 Q & A

What does your current guitar practice routine look like?

I usually try to find ways to tackle a lot of different concepts/topics at once. When I was first getting into Jazz, this mainly consisted of transcribing lots of solos/excerpts of solos. I felt that this improved my technique (because I was learning vocabulary that was unfamiliar to my hands), my ears, time feel, familiarity with the idiom, and my theory brain.

Although theory was was often the lowest of my priorities, I would still make certain breakthroughs/connections through transcription (ie: ways of making certain notes sound more musical against certain chords).

Nowadays, I usually accomplish the same goals through focusing on repertoire, but not so much in the typical way. Rather than trying to learn as many tunes as possible, I focus on a small collection of tunes, and try to look for challenges within them that might improve aspects of my playing.

For example: I might be working on soloing over a tune like “Countdown,” and within the framework of the tune I’ll introduce pieces of vocabulary that I would like to get into my playing, or I’ll practice playing the tune in different tempos or time signatures.

This practice initially came about as a way of getting myself out of needing to play tunes in specific styles, keys, tempos, and wanting to be more free and loose. This has been the main way I’ve practiced for the last 4 or 5 years.

What's the best piece of advice you have for other guitar players?

A couple things come to mind:

• Prioritize listening as a part of your practice routine. There’s value in listening to a lot of different music, but a lot of progress as a player can come from just listening to the same record, player, or even one song for hours on end.
• Don’t compare yourself to other players. Everyone is at a different point in their development, and while there are “a-ha moments” that happen at different times along the way, they happen sooner for some people. There have been times where I think I’ve stumbled on something that is going to change playing, only to realize that someone told me the same thing years prior. I just wasn’t ready to hear it at that moment/or it didn’t make sense to me yet.
• This one is something you’ll hear a lot: don’t get caught up in technique just for the sake of technique, use technique to serve the music/ or the sound you hear in your head. When I first started playing guitar, I got really into the idea of being a proficient sweep picker/economy picker/legato player/fill in the blank. But it wasn’t until I started transcribing solos that I found that you will at some point need almost every technique to express yourself to the fullest.

What’s one technique, habit, or concept that helped you level up as a player?

Definitely singing and trying to audiate lines/ideas before playing them on the instrument. Not only does it give you more “ownership” of what you’re playing, but it also allows you to think less and create more spontaneously.

What gear (guitar/amp/pedals) are you using lately—and why?

I try not to get too tied to any one piece of gear, but right now I’m really into this archtop that builder Alexander Polyakov made for me. It’s a 17” L5 style body but with a floating humbucker he wound himself. I love the transparency and response of floating pickups. I asked him to build a really big neck for the guitar: 1 3/4” at the nut and 1.35” thick from the 1st to the 12th fret.

I don’t have super big hands or anything, but I’ve always loved the feel of a big neck. It makes my left hand relax and oddly enough I feel like I rely less on muscle memory with them. People often talk about the tonal benefits of a thicker neck, but I feel like that can vary quite a bit: some big necks I’ve played make a guitar sing and resonate more while others have a very tight and strident sound.

I’ve never been particular about amps, though I tend to like Fender Princetons.

Pedals vary a lot for me too, but lately I’ve been enjoying playing around with the Chase Bliss Mood and the Gamechanger Audio Plus Pedal. Both challenge me to play differently than I normally would.

What are the most effective ways you've found to market yourself or your band?

I think just staying true to yourself and your playing style usually results in an engaged audience. Just like with the music you write or the stuff you play, if it’s not coming from an honest place, people can tell and you’ll get burned out.

Are there any books, albums, or videos you recommend to other guitarists?

I always get a lot out of revisiting Hendrix’s “Band of Gypsys” record (as well as the expanded “Songs for Groovy Children”). I think all guitarists regardless of style can learn something from the way Hendrix stays true to himself.

Allan Holdsworth’s live record “Warsaw Summer Jazz Days ‘98” is for me, some of the scariest guitar playing that’s ever been recorded, and again, is a reminder to stick to your instincts and play what’s in your head.

I’ll also recommend Grant Green’s compilation record “Complete Quartets with Sonny Clark.” Grant Green is one of my favorite guitarists both because of his sound/approach but also because there’s no pretension or facade. He
plays exactly what’s there and exactly what’s needed.

How do you approach creativity—writing, improvising, or building a solo?

I like to fuel creativity through listening to music that inspires me, regardless of style. That keeps me inspired and motivated to try new things out and challenge myself.

What’s one lesson you wish you'd learned earlier as a guitarist?

Play what you want to hear, and make music you’d want to listen to.

What’s next for you musically—any projects or goals you're working on?

A lot of different things:

• My wife and I just finished recording a new duo record of songbook tunes and originals. We’ll soon be recording a quartet record with two friends of ours in Nashville
• I have a math rock/prog/fusion project with two friends of mine that’s currently being mixed.
• There’s a couple of other solo projects that I’m working on in various styles I’m interested in (rock, acoustic indie, funk)

In terms of musical goals, I just have some things that I’d like to get together in my playing but it’s a constant work in progress.

⚡ Lightning Round

One album every guitarist should listen to?

Jimi Hendrix- Band of Gypsys

Desert island guitar and amp?

A 1951 Nocaster and a 1959 Super Lead

What guitarist should everyone know about?

Todd Rittmann