Lauded as "one of the most sensitive and creative guitarists in a city filled with them" (Neil Tesser, Chicago Tribune), Neal Alger has performed or recorded with Howard Levy, Typhanie Monique, Grazyna Augusick, Leslie Gore, Under the Streetlamp, and most notably, singer/pianist Patricia Barber.  Neal has toured Europe, Canada, Brazil, South Korea, Russia, and the U.S. with Patricia and he is featured on her Blue Note Records releases Verse, Live: A Fortnight in France, Mythologies, The Cole Porter Mix, and Higher.  Neal just released his first leader recording in many years on Calligram Records titled Old Souls with his new straight-ahead jazz quintet and which features his original compositions.  Alger also functions well in other genres of music, performing regularly with New Black Renaissance (R&B/Soul) and Bossa Tres (Brazilian samba). When not performing, Neal serves on the faculty of Elmhurst University and Roosevelt University.