Highland Park singer-songwriter Dave Howland has been telling stories and creating melodies most of his life – using a reporter’s notebook and a saxophone. Equipped now with an acoustic guitar and influenced by his experiences as a journalist and teacher – unexpected highs, discouraging lows, and everything funny and strange in between – he recorded his first album of original songs last summer with an eclectic group of musicians whose talents are as diverse as his writing style. Dave’s music reflects elements of Americana, country and alternative rock, jazz, and funk. A former member of the Stacking Stones Band in Boston, he has shared the stage with a number of terrific bands and artists including Truffle, Back on the Train, Bliss, and Dan Walker. After 20+ wonderful years in New England, Dave moved to the Garden State last summer and teaches writing at Rutgers.