Stephen Jackman

Stephen Jackman doesn't need anyone. That is, he's a solo artist who requires no one but himself to play all of the instruments—percussion, bass, synth and guitar—and sing lead and backup on his recordings. Steve Me Alone, the Flathead Valley resident's appropriately titled album, is his sophomore effort. And like his debut, Band O' Steve, it sounds like there are at least five other people in the band. It's a pretty sweet trick.
In "Montana," the abrupt silences between keyboard riffs add edginess. And "Houseboat" shimmers with dreamy vocal layers so lulling that it's just like a boat drifting under the stars. Those songs alone keep this album afloat. - Missoula Independent Noise

Whitefish musician Stephen Jackman has made a me-myself-and-I CD and, as one can infer form the clever title, Jackman is a one man band.
Here he's playing a bunch of real instruments, including guitars, keyboards and a mandolin, and a couple of fake ones (synthesizer, drum machine) too. Promo notes tell us that he drive the truck and sets up the gear...."all for a chance to open my heart to some strangers."
The album is jazzy with pop sensibility, and Jackman knows his way around the technology. Lots of reverb and effects line the nine original tunes, which include love songs and one instrumental that's sort of an improvised streaming concoction ( Prelude to a Dream").
I'm hearing Dan Fogelberg and Steely Dan nuances in his compositions, and there are lots of references to water and boats. The title cut, "Steve Me alone" conjures palm-tree breezes and coconut drinks.
There's the bluesy "700 Days", and the sustained drone intro and snappy drums of "Houseboat". A whispery country guitar underlies "Is That Any Way", with its layered vocal harmonies, and chunky guitar and vocals regale us on "The Truth About Lies": "They wonder how I'll ever get up to heaven, I say don't forget to write".
this CD follows on his 2006 release, BAND O' STEVE. - State of the Arts Montana Arts Council September/October 2010

Flathead Valley resident Steve Jackman must be a really busy guy. Any normal man would require octopus arms to shovel the mound of sound Jackman piles up all by himself on his self-released album. This isn't one of those
"solo" albums that bears the name of a single artist even though there are actually 25 muscians on the project's payroll-Jackman actually plays every note on the album. Well, almost-he has a little help from his friends on a live track recorded at Missoula's Old Post Pub, but rather than that, it's all Jackman.
What's so shocking about this recording is not only the time it must have taken a single man to layer bass, percussion, lead and harmony vocals, synthesizer, live guitars and other instruments into the cohesive songs on this rich and varied ablum, but also that this dude plays each part so fluently.....Jackman doesn't lay down a single feeble line of musical thought. This Pro Tools poster boy confidently Mambos, waxes jazzy and struts Zepplin, all by his lonesome. ( Caroline Keys) - Missoula Indepent