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Steven Lugerner
About Me
A Bay Area transplant to the NYC scene, multi-reedist Steven Lugerner
maintains an active bi-costal performance schedule - as both a leader
and sidemen. Since his relocation to New York City, Lugerner has
fostered contacts, study and collaboration with such artists as: Grammy
nominated pianist Fred Hersch; soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom;
flutist/composer Jamie Baum; trumpeter Ralph Alessi; pianist Myra
Melford; percussionist Matt Wilson; woodwind doubler Charles Pillow;
trumpeter Darren Johnston & SFJAZZ Collective member Miguel Zenon.
Steven Lugerner was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area in
a multicultural, artistically nurturing family. He began his early musical
studies “attempting” to play the trumpet - a painful experience for both
student and family audience. Thankfully, he followed the suggestion of
his music teacher and switched to lessons on the clarinet. He soon
discovered his niche in the world of woodwind instruments.
His elementary school music studies coupled with involvement in youth
orchestra allowed him to refine his studies on the clarinet and
additionally inspired his interest and concentration to the oboe, an
instrument no fifth grader dared to take up. During his middle school and
high school years, Lugerner performed on both the clarinet and oboe in
school and college-level bands, as well as professional pit orchestras. It
was in mid-high school that he began a dedicated study of saxophone
and the exploration of jazz and improvised music. This was a natural
reconnection to the sounds of his childhood years characterized by the
household music of Paul Desmond, Stan Getz, Milt Jackson and Steely
Dan.
Reflecting the cultural values of his Bay Area roots,
Lugerner’s music encompasses the richness of diversity. He is a skilled
woodwind doubler on saxophone, bass clarinet, clarinet,
oboe, english horn, flute and alto flute. Lugerner creates a singular
musical experience that is reflected in any one of his projects. By
combining his early training and affection for classical music with his
devotion to improvised music and jazz, Lugerner succeeds in creating
music that appeals to all audiences.