Jazz guitarist and composer Steven Kirby has built a reputation in the New England
area for performing exciting, melodic, lyrical and expressive mainstream and contemporary jazz. He has performed and/or recorded with Harvie Swartz, Joe Hunt, Garrison Fewell, Bevan Manson, George Schuller, Steve Johns, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Jimmy Odgren, Mark Shilanski, Phil Grenadier, Matt Malley (of the rock band Counting Crows), Eiden Essen, Ellen Rowe, Bruce Gertz and many others.
During the course of his 15 year professional playing career, Steven has toured throughout the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe including appearances at the Edinburgh Festival, Scotland; the Bath Arts Festival, Bath, England; and the Bracknel Jazz Festival, England. His music has been played on many prominent New England radio stations including WBUR, WGBH, WERS, and WICN. His playing, compositions, and arrangements were featured in the 1996 documentary film "The Vision," which was broadcast nationwide. He has also composed and performed music for other independent films, TV productions, and commercials. He was chosen as a featured composer in the 1997 Indian Hill Arts American Composers Series, in which he also performed.
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, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Bret Wilmot and Charles Banacos. He is currently on the faculty of Indian Hill Arts Center teaching guitar performance, ear training and theory.
Steven's recently completed recording project entitled "Point of Balance" features nine of his original jazz compositions and includes Harvie Swartz-bass, George Schuller-drums, Bevan Manson-piano, and others. Look for it on A-Records, a division of Challenge Records B.V.
