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Steve Rudolph

Jazz Pianist/Composer - Founder of the Central PA Friends of Jazz - Yamaha Keyboard Artist

About Me

JAZZ PIANIST - COMPOSER - EDUCATOR - YAMAHA KEYBOARD ARTIST

STEVE RUDOLPH HAS HAD AN INSPIRING CAREER IN HIS 50+ YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL MUSIC MAKING. JAZZ IMPROV MAGAZINE STATES, “RUDOLPH IS A SAVVY, SWINGING, GLIMMERING HEAVYWEIGHT...SIMPLY OUTSTANDING.” HE WAS AWARDED TWO JAZZ COMPOSITION FELLOWSHIPS FROM THE PA COUNCIL ON THE ARTS. WITH FOURTEEN ACCLAIMED CDS AS A LEADER, HE HAS SERVED AS PRODUCER, ARRANGER AND PERFORMER ON MANY RECORDINGS INCLUDING SESSIONS WITH JOHNNY COLES, BILL GOODWIN, ALI RYERSON, MATT WILSON, DREW GRESS, CAL COLLINS, JONATHAN RAGGONESE, PHIL HAYNES, ROGER HUMPHRIES, DWAYNE DOLPHIN, JD WALTER AND VINNY VALENTINO. HIS VAST EXPERIENCE ENCOMPASSES CONCERT PERFORMANCES WITH MANY JAZZ MASTERS INCLUDING LOUIE BELLSON, CLARK TERRY, TERRY GIBBS, AL GREY, AND THE MILLS BROTHERS. STEVE HAS TOURED THROUGHOUT THE U.S., INDIA, EUROPE, CANADA, RUSSIA AND THE CARIBBEAN. AT HOME HE IS THE LEADER OF MANY ENSEMBLES INCLUDING THE HARRISBURG JAZZ COLLECTIVE BIG BAND.

STEVE WAS BORN IN EVANSVILLE AND GREW UP NEAR BOONVILLE, INDIANA. HE STUDIED TRUMPET AND COMPOSITION UNDER SCHOLARSHIP AT BUTLER UNIVERSITY IN INDIANAPOLIS WHERE HE DISCOVERED AN INSPIRING JAZZ COMMUNITY. SWITCHING HIS MAIN INSTRUMENTAL FOCUS TO THE PIANO AT AGE 22, STEVE WAS HIRED BY BUDDY MORROW IN 1977 TO PERFORM ON THE ROAD WITH THE TOMMY DORSEY ORCHESTRA. SINCE MOVING TO HARRISBURG IN 1978 TO PERFORM WITH HIS JAZZ TRIO AND GUEST ARTISTS AT THE HOLIDAY INN TOWN, HE HAS BEEN LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE THRIVING JAZZ SCENE IN CENTRAL PA. HIS DEVOTION TO THE ART OF JAZZ INSPIRED HIM TO FOUND THE CENTRAL PA FRIENDS OF JAZZ, NOW IN ITS 40TH SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF MONTHLY CONCERTS, YOUTH BAND, JAZZ CAMP, AND ANNUAL CENTRAL PA JAZZ FESTIVAL.

STEVE WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2002 HARRISBURG ARTS AWARD FOR DEDICATION TO THE ARTS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AND IN 2023 HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE CENTRAL PA MUSIC HALL OF FAME.

WELL KNOWN IN CENTRAL PA FOR HIS SIX NIGHT A WEEK, 22 YEAR LONG JOB AS HOUSE PIANIST AT THE HILTON HARRISBURG (1990-2012), STEVE IS CURRENTLY A YAMAHA KEYBOARD ARTIST AND IS IN DEMAND AS A CLINICIAN AND PERFORMER. HIS DETAILED RECORDING AND TOURING INFORMATION MAY BE FOUND AT WWW.STEVERUDOLPH.COM.