John Stowell / Steven Kirby Duo

John Stowell John Stowell began his successful career in the early 1970s. He has performed and/or recorded with a long list of jazz luminaries includign Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton, Art Farmer, Conte Condoli, Herb Ellis, Bill Watrous, Mundell Lowe, George Cables, Billy Higgins, Billy Hart, Richie Cole, Paul Horn, Tom Harrrell, Don Thompson, Dave Liebman, David Friesen and many others John continues to tour, record and teach internationally. He has been Artist-In-Residence at schools in Germany, Indonesia, Argentina, and in the United States and Canada. He served as assistant director and performer in Oregon Public Broadcasting's PDX Jazz Summit in 1991, and since 1995 has been a contributing columnist for a number of magazines, including "Downbeat", "Guitar Player", "Canadian Musician", "Soundcheck" (Germany), and "Guitar Club" (Italy). He was featured with bassist David Friesen on the soundtracks of two Academy Award Nominated short films (Will Vinton Studios, Portland, OR, and Bosustow Studios, Los Angeles, CA) "Through the Listening Glass" with David Friesen chosen of the "Ten Best Jazz Albums of the Decade" by the Los Angeles Examiner Chosen "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" by Downbeat's International Critic's Poll, 1978 and 1979 Featured in Japan's "Swing Journal", "The Jazz Guitar" (Ashely Mark Publishing, England), and the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler). Appearances on BET Jazz Discovery and Guitar Series television shows Steven Kirby Guitarist, composer, educator Steven Kirby (a guitarist of rippling technique and a poetic mind- Downbeat) is known for performing exciting, melodic, lyrical and expressive jazz as well performing 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 Magazines Editors Pick and was included on the Grammy Nominations long list in 4 categories. He has performed and/or recorded with many of today most respected contemporary 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, Europe, China and Africa. Kirbys music has been played on over 100 radio stations in the US and internationally including features on NPRs 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 Masters degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging from University of Massachusetts (Amherst). Kirby has published articles in Guitar Player Magazine, Jazz Improv Magazine and others. He is currently an Associate Professor (Harmony Dept.) at Berklee College of Music and teaches as Visiting Professor at Wellesley College. He has just completed an instructional book for Berklee Press entitled Jazz Guitar Improvisation Strategies due to be published in early 2020 by Hal Leonard Publishing.