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About Me

Steve Yarrington is an accomplished guitarist whose style centre’s on the “swing” of the earliest electric guitarists in jazz. Steve’s approach is to strip down the “Big Band” genre, to show how these guitarists might have sounded “swinging” with just a trio.

Steve’s passion for the guitar started when he moved over from the drums - which he began playing at the age of 13. He then transferred his sense of “swing”, as a drummer, to his development as a guitarist.

He soon joined the lively, semi-pro scene around Birmingham, UK and eventually progressed to performing nationwide, in theaters, as backing guitarist to a number of recording artistes, originally from the early 1960s: Ricky Valance, Tommy Bruce, Wee Willie Harris, Lee Curtis, Dave Sampson, Danny Rivers and Craig Douglas.

Steve later spent 11 years in the Shetland Isles, and was a founding member of Fiddlers’ Bid - with whom he has recorded, toured the world and performed on live radio & television broadcasts. During Steve's time in Shetland he enjoyed the friendship of legendary guitarist Peerie Willie Johnson, for whose encouragement Steve will always be indebted. Peerie Willie developed a unique acoustic guitar backing style, and he toured the USA with Aly Bain and The Boys of the Lough in the 1970s.

Steve’s eclectic mix of experience as a guitarist has taken him around the world; and now all these influences and experiences are coming out in his playing, especially his passion for the “swinging” style of the pioneers of the electric guitar in jazz – notably the playing of Charlie Christian.

Steve currently has three jazz guitar albums on release - available through iTunes and Amazon - which offer a mix of tunes, many of which are his own compositions, but all played with Steve’s “swinging” style. Through the extensive airplay of these albums in the USA, Steve is achieving both American and worldwide interest in his music, in countries which include: Canada, South America, Europe, Iceland, Israel, Asia and Japan.

Steve also has a collection of “chill-out” acoustic guitar tunes on an album called Acoustic Equanimity, which draws inspiration from Steve’s time spent in Shetland – with its rich musical tradition – and also through his discovery of the music of Nick Drake and his unique guitar style and extensive use of alternative guitar tunings.

Steve continues to write and produce his own original material. His latest release, Midnight Sun, is an album of all original guitar instrumentals.

Steve also performs the classic tunes from the founding greats of jazz guitar. His three current jazz releases: Time Flies, Sketches and Jazz Notes include stylized numbers from the Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery catalogue, as well as original Steve Yarrington compositions.

My Jazz Story

I am endeavouring to promote my music and style of playing, which centres on the ‘swing’ style of the earliest electric guitarists in jazz. My background in jazz goes back to Birmingham UK's Jazz Central improvisation workshops in the mid 1980’s. (At which time, I met the legendary American guitarist Tal Farlow, when he performed his only gig, outside London, accompanied by my course tutors: Chris Bolton on double bass and Tony Levin on drums. This would have been in 1985, I think). I later spent 11 years in Shetland and was the founding guitarist with Fiddlers’ Bid - with whom I have recorded, toured the world and performed on live radio & television broadcasts. In Shetland I also enjoyed the friendship of legendary Shetland guitarist Peerie Willie Johnson, for whose encouragement I will always be indebted. (Peerie Willie had a unique acoustic guitar backing style, and he toured the USA with Aly Bain and The Boys of the Lough in the 1970s).