Steven Kirby

Interactive Audio Guitar Lessons

Crazy Eighths

Hybrid Voicings

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About Steven Kirby

Jazz guitarist and composer Steven Kirby has built a reputation for performing exciting, melodic, lyrical and expressive mainstream and contemporary jazz. He has performed and/or recorded with Chris Potter, George Garzone, Scott Colley, Bruce Barth, Harvie Swartz, Joe Hunt, Bevan Manson, George Schuller, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Mark Shilansky, Phil Grenadier, Bruce Gertz , Matthias Lupri, Matt Malley (Counting Crows) , and many others. During the course of his 20 year professional playing career Steven has toured throughout the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe including appearances at festivals and clubs in Italy, Scotland & England. U.S. festival appearances include Boston Globe, Berkshire, Regattabar, River Fest Jazz Festivals.

In 1998 Steven Kirby’s jazz CD “Point Of Balance” was released internationally on the European based Challenge/ A-Records label to much critical praise. His new CD “North Light” was released Feb 4th, 2003 also on Challenge. It features Kirby along with many fine musicians including some particularly well-known jazz artists like Chris Potter, Bruce Barth, Scott Colley and Matt Wilson performing 8 new original compositions and 2 unique arrangements of jazz standards featuring quintet, quartet, trio and solo guitar configurations..

Press coverage of Steven Kirby’s music have appeared in many notable publications including Jazz Times, Guitar Player, Jazz Improv Magazine, Jazz Now, Just Jazz Guitar, 20th Century Guitar, Boston Globe, All About Jazz and many others

Kirby’s music has been featured nationwide on over 100 jazz radio stations in US and Canada and Europe.. He has also composed and performed music for documentaries, TV productions and commercials.

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, Adam Rogers, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Bret Willmott and Charles Banacos. He is currently on the faculty of Indian Hill Arts Center teaching guitar performance, ear training and theory as well as teaching at his home studio in Concord, MA.

"From the hard-hitting boppish opener to the heartfelt, poignant closer, Kirby cuts a wide swath of guitaristic expression on his sophomore outing….. With North Light , Kirby makes another leap in his progress as both player and composer. His prodigious chops and unerring sense of swing are on full display throughout this solid second offering. But it's his radiant melodies, inherent lyricism and big heart that ultimately elevates Kirby above the hordes of chopsmeisters and ax slingers out there today".-- Bill Milkowski (Jazz Times and Jazziz)

“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 1999 CD)….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)