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Steven Kirby, guitar
Guitarist, composer, educator Steven Kirby ("a guitarist of rippling technique and a poetic mind"- Downbeat Magazine) is known for performing exciting, melodic, lyrical and expressive jazz as well as being active in other contemporary styles. He has appeared on multiple recordings including three as a leader "Point Of Balance" and "North Light" (Challenge Records)—and "Illuminations" (WCS records). "Illuminations" was Downbeat Magazine's "Editors Pick" and was included on the Grammy Nominations long list in 2016 in four categories including best original jazz composition, best improvised solo, best jazz arrangement for small group.
Kirby has performed and/or recorded with many of the most respected contemporary jazz musicians including Chris Potter, Mike Manieri (Steps Ahead), Joe Lovano, Harvie S, Allan Holdsworth and others. He has toured in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, UK, Europe, China and Africa.
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, the Billboard Song Contest and Downbeat. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has a master's degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging from University of Massachusetts, (Amherst).
Kirby has published articles in multiple music media outlets including Guitar Player Magazine, Jazz Improv Magazine, Just Jazz Guitar, and others. He has been a featured presenter and performer at multiple industry conferences including IUT (2011 Bielefeld, Germany), BTOT (Berklee College of Music) multiple times, JEN Conference (Jazz Educators Network) in 2023 and the Brecon Jazz Festival (UK) in 2024. He is currently a Full Professor (Harmony and Jazz Composition Dept.) at Berklee College of Music and adjunct Professor of Guitar Performance at Wellesley College. He is the author of the successful instructional book, published by Berklee Press/Hal Leonard in 2021, entitled Jazz Guitar Improvisation Strategies.