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Steven Kirby

Jazz guitarist /composer based in Boston, MA, USA

About Me

Guitarist, composer, educator Steven Kirby has built a reputation for performing exciting, melodic, lyrical and expressive mainstream and contemporary jazz as well as being active as performer in other contemporary styles. He has appeared on over 25 released recordings (including two as a leader “Point Of Balance” and “North Light”—available via iTunes, Amazon and at CDBaby). His newest recording, “Illuminations”, is slated for release in early 2016. He has performed and/or recorded with many of today’s most respected contemporary musicians including Chris Potter, George Garzone, Scott Colley, Bruce Barth, Joe Lovano, Harvie Swartz, Joe Hunt, Steve Hunt, George Schuller, Allan Holdsworth, Matt Malley (of Counting Crows) and others. He has toured in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Europe and China. Kirby’s music has been played on over 100 radio stations in the US and internationally including features on NPR’s “Here and Now”, “Jazz with Bob Parlocha” and “Eric in the Evening”. His jazz compositions have won awards in the International Songwriting Competition and the Billboard Song Contest and Downbeat. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has a Masters degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging from University of Massachusetts (Amherst). He is currently on the music faculty at 4 institutions of higher education: Berklee College of Music, Salem State University, Brandeis University, Wellesley College.

Selected Reviews:

“Kirby plays and writes from inside the music, putting melody and feeling first.” – Bob Blumenthal (Boston Globe)

“ Meticulously played, elegantly produced post-bop jazz….Kirby has a serious command of the guitar” (New England Performer)

“ Kirby has an intense, darkly melodic sound that’s very much his own” (All About Jazz)

“ …beaucoup chops…creative music….beautiful and always well played… personal expression that transcends mere imitation” –Jim Ferguson (Jazz Times— May ’99)

“A very talented musician and composer, lyrically inspired and very adept....a must to listen to!— Steve Charbonneu (WICN Radio)

“Kirby doesn’t just play the notes, he plays the sound ”.—Louis-Victor Mialy (Jazz Hot Magazine)

“Compositional depth and brilliant playing” –David Miles (Worcester Magazine)

“One hopes the country’s late night jazz radio hosts discover (Kirby’s CD “Point of Balance”)….though it’s sole color is not only mid-night blue, ….there is a high, lonesome sound attending much of these proceedings....Kirby’s solos unfold with a naturalness unusual on any instrument, but especially guitar.” –James Issacs (Downbeat & MSN Sidewalk Boston)

Contact Me

My Jazz Story

I was first exposed to jazz... through a room mate who was also the lyricist in the rock band I was in at the time. He had an extraordinary record collection which spanned all the decades from 1930s to the most current music. Though not a musician himself he was a great listener and very sensitive and discerning about music. Though him I discovered Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, John Mclaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, and perhaps most influential of all, the ECM record label and all it's artists.

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