Artist description On his ASCAP-award-winning, debut recording, "First Move," composer/bassist/producer Larry Steen is joined by jazz luminaries Ernie Watts, Dave Weckl, Bill Cunliffe, Jeff Beal and Otmaro Ruiz, among others, in the creation of a rich milieu of "world-jazz" textured with authentic West African, Brazilian, Caribbean and funk-r'n'b rhythms and the sophisticated harmonic sensibility of jazz and classical music. Jimmy Haslip (of the Yellowjackets) is the executive producer of the CD which is distributed by City Hall Records.

Music Style World-Jazz

Musical Influences West African, Brazilian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, funk-r&b, classical, and, of course, jazz

Similar Artists The Yellowjackets, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Jean-Luc Ponty ("Tchokola" recording), the Brecker Brothers, Pat Metheny, Oregon, Chick Corea, Trilok Gurtu, Billy Childs, Jeff Beal, Marcus Miller

Artist History “A giant of the not-too-distant future” declared the distinguished, late jazz critic Leonard Feather of bassist/composer/producer Larry Steen. In 1988, Steen won the International Society of Bassists’ Jazz Competition after completing a Bachelor of Music degree (Magna Cum Laude) in Studio Music and Jazz from the University of Miami in Florida and attending the world renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston. Since then, he has received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Jazz and Afro-American Music from the California Institute of the Arts (CALARTS) and has toured, performed and recorded with artists that include Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald, Barry Manilow, Melissa Manchester, Engelbert Humperdinck, Stevie Wonder, Billy Eckstine, Jon Hendricks, Mose Allison, Jimmy Buffet and the Coasters. He has also recorded extensively for film, television and radio, and on CDs which include his own debut world-jazz release, "First Move."

Group Members (Other than Larry Steen, personnel varies from track to track on CD) electric and acoustic basses: Larry Steen; saxes & woodwinds: Ernie Watts, Doug Webb, Katisse Buckingham; trumpet & flugelhorn: Jeff Beal, Clay Jenkins; piano & keyboards: Otmaro Ruiz, Bill Cunliffe, Justin Reinhardt, John Dickson, Larry Steen; guitars: Jimmy Mahlis, Brian Monroni, Michael Monsalve, Dave Hart; drums: Dave Weckl, Gary Novak, Mark Converse, Joel Alpers; percussion: Kevin Ricard, Cassio Duarte

Instruments (Instrumentation varies) sax & woodwinds, trumpet & flugelhorn, piano & keyboards, guitars & bouzouki, electric & acoustic bass, drums, percussion

Albums "First Move" (distributed by City Hall Records)

Press Reviews “. . .yet it is Steen himself who most amazes with lyricism that belies his young age. [First Move] is a delightful effort on the part of a musician who we are bound to hear more from.” - Michael Stephans, L.A. Jazz Scene “. . .a giant of the not too distant future. Steen is a young, limber bassist whose works sparkled with fresh ideas.” - Leonard Feather, Los Angeles Times “[the Larry Steen World-Jazz Ensemble], a well-rehearsed and colorful group, which is both funky and explorative, is carving out its own unique niche.” - Scott Yanow, Music Connection

Additional Info e-mail Larry Steen at: LMSteen@aol.com

Location Los Angeles, CA - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).