Biography
Bio
Jazz guitarist and composer and Berklee College of Music Professor Steven Kirby has built a reputation for performing exciting, melodic, lyrical and expressive mainstream and contemporary jazz. He has performed and/or recorded with Chris Potter, George Garzone, Scott Colley, Bruce Barth, Harvie Swartz, Joe Hunt, Steve Hunt, Bevan Manson, George Schuller, Sae Ghose, Laszlo Gardony, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Mark Shilansky, Phil Grenadier, Bruce Gertz , Matt Malley ( of the rock band Counting Crows) , and many others. During the course of his 20 year professional playing career Steven has toured throughout the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe including appearances at Boston Globe Jazz Festival and festivals in Europe
In 1998 Steven Kirby’s jazz CD “Point Of Balance” was released internationally on the European based Challenge/ A-Records label to much critical praise. His CD “North Light” was released in Feb of 2003 also on Challenge. It features Kirby along with many fine musicians including some particularly well-known jazz artists like Chris Potter, Bruce Barth, Scott Colley and Matt Wilson performing 8 new original compositions and 2 unique arrangements of jazz standards.
Press coverage of Steven Kirby’s music have appeared in many notable publications including Jazz Times, Guitar Player, Jazz Improv Magazine, Jazz Now, Just Jazz Guitar, 20th Century Guitar, Boston Globe and many others
Kirby’s music has been featured nationwide on over 100 jazz radio stations in US and Canada and Europe.
His composition, "Line Game" won 2nd prize in the 2004 International Songwriting Contest-Jazz Category. The judges included Pat Metheny and Bruce Lundvall (Blue Note Records).
Steven is a Cum Laude graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he was the recipient of multiple merit scholarships . In addition he has studied with Gary Burton, John Scofield, Adam Rogers, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Bret Willmott and Charles Banacos. He has a Master of Music in Jazz Composition and Arranging from the University of Massachusettes (Amherst) where he won two Downbeat awards for best arrangment and best song composition. He is now an Assistant Professor in the Harmony Dept. at Boston's renowned Berklee College of Music and has taught at other colleges and universitys including Brandeis, Umass (Dartmouth) and UMass (Amherst). He also teaches guitar performance, ear training and theory at his home studio in Concord, MA.
"From hard-hitting boppish opener to the heartfelt, poignant closer, Kirby cuts a wide swath of guitaristic expression on his sophomore outing….. With North Light , Kirby makes another leap in his progress as both player and composer. His prodigious chops and unerring sense of swing are on full display throughout this solid second offering. But it's his radiant melodies, inherent lyricism and big heart that ultimately elevates Kirby above the hordes of chopsmeisters and ax slingers out there today". -- Bill Milkowski (Jazz Times and Jazziz)
“Kirby plays and writes from inside the music, putting melody and feeling first.” – Bob Blumenthal (Boston Globe)
“ Meticulously played, elegantly produced post-bop jazz….Kirby has a serious command of the guitar” (New England Performer)
“ Kirby has an intense, darkly melodic sound that’s very much his own” (All About Jazz)
“ …beaucoup chops…creative music….beautiful and always well played…personal expression that transcends mere imitation” –Jim Ferguson (Jazz Times—May ’99)
“A very talented musician and composer, lyrically inspired and very adept....a must to listen to!— Steve Charbonneu (WICN Radio)
“Kirby doesn’t just play the notes, he plays the sound ”.—Louis-Victor Mialy (Jazz Hot Magazine)
“Compositional depth and brilliant playing” –David Miles (Worcester Magazine)
“One hopes the country’s late night jazz radio hosts discover (Kirbys new CD)….though it’s sole color is not only mid-night blue, ….there is a high, lonesome sound attending much of these proceedings....Kirby’s solos unfold with a naturalness unusual on any instrument, but especially guitar.” –James Issacs (Downbeat & MSN Sidewalk Boston)
Instrumentation
Steven Kirby (guitar)
Chris Potter or Bill Vint (sax)
Bruce Barth or Mark Shilansky/Lazslo Gardony (piano)
Scott Colley or Keala (bass)
Matt Wilson or Mike Connors (drums
Discography
Selected Discography
1)"Point Of Balance" 1998 (Challenge/A-Records AL 73124)
2) "North Light" released Feb, 2003 (Challenge/A-Records AL 73193)
3)"Nebula" released 2005 (Spice Rack)-- Kirby is sideman on this fusion project featuring Steve Hunt and Allan Holdsworth.
also numerous other jazz and contemporary pop/rock recordings.