Interview with Steve Hunt: Connections!

Karl Sterling Podcast

In this interview, keyboardist and composer, Steve Hunt talks about his upcoming release entitled CONNECTIONS. This new album features an allstar lineup of musicians, including Jimmy Haslip, Chad Wackerman, Gary Husband, Vinnie Colauita, Virgil Donati, Nate Wood, Evan Marien, Jimmy Johnson, Eric Marienthal, Billy Cobham, and many others. We also talked about his work with Allan Holdsworth, Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham, and others. Pianist Steve Hunt, throughout his career, has stayed true to an uncompromising vision of composing and performing jazz music from his heart. Steve has continued to push himself technically, focusing on a musical style which is both challenging and meaningful... Steve credits jazz greats Keith Jarrett, Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Thelonius Monk as strong influences to his jazz style. During his formative years he studied with concert pianist Albert Hirsh, and jazz pianists Sid Davis and Lyle Mays who all helped form his lighting fast technique and unique style. Steve later attended Berklee College of Music in Boston where he continued his study of jazz. After recording and performing with top Boston jazz musicians such as Randy Roos and Tiger Okoshi, and leading his own jazz fusion band, Steve spent the next ten years on the road with several renowned jazz artists such as Billy Cobham, Stanley Clarke, Angela Bofill, Tom Brown, and Allan Holdsworth. Steve's international touring took him to countries such as Japan, Israel, Austria, France, England, Italy, Sweden, Argentina, and Australia, as well as major cities in the US and Canada. During this time, Steve also served as musical director for the famous touring Jazz Explosion where he led the trio which headlined artists Freddy Hubbard, Gato Barbaira, Stanley Turentine, Ramsey Lewis, violinist Noel Pointer, Kenny G, and the late Phillis Hyman. The Jazz Explosion performed in major concert venues including the Circle Star in San Francisco, Beacon Theater in New York, Universal Theater in Los Angeles, and Hammersmith Odium in London. Steve's desire towards challenging himself is no where more evident than with his long time association with Allan Holdsworth, whose progressive and innovative style has helped Steve to further his own musical development. Holdsworths more recent CD releases including Secrets, Wardencliff Tower, and Hard Hat Area, as well as featuring Steve on keyboards, also include Steves original tunes "Maid Marion," "Joshua," and "Dodgy Boat." While touring with Holdsworth, Steve was featured in the Japanese edition of Keyboard Magazine (July 1991 and March 1993). Other noteworthy recording contributions by Steve include two of Stanley Clarkes CD releases If This Bass Could Only Talk and East River Drive. Steve reached a major milestone, producing his solo jazz CD From Your Heart and Your Soul (BMI). For the promotional release tour of his new CD, Steve organized a quintet including Gregg Bendian, John Lockwood, Ole Mathisen, and Bruce Bartlett.