Associate Professor, Jazz Composition and Harmony
Berklee College of Music
Concord, MA
About 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 as 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 4
categories including Best Instrumental Composition and Best Improvised Solo. He has performed and/or recorded with many of today’s most respected contemporary
musicians including Chris Potter, Mike Manieri (Steps Ahead), Joe Lovano, Harvie S,George Garzone,
Allan Holdsworth and others. He has toured in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, 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 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 & Jazz Composition Dept.) at Berklee College of Music and
also teaches as Visiting Professor at Wellesley College. Kirby wrote the instructional book Jazz Guitar Improvisation Strategies which was published in January 2021 by Berklee Press/
Hal Leonard Publishing.
Selected Reviews:
“Kirby’s music manifests the truth that jazz is an art built on growth and renewal…an extraordinarily pleasing and diverse album” (All About
Jazz).
“Steven Kirby, guitarist of rippling technique and a poetic mind, has developed a modern jazz guitar style that bridges the angular lyricism of Pat
Metheny and the painterly asceticism of Jim Hall”. (Downbeat Magazine)
“ Meticulously played, elegantly produced ….Kirby has a serious command of the guitar” (New England Performer)
"..deep beauty and spare, folkloric elegance while also an album that doesn't lose sight of Kirby's jazz roots and a penchant for more incendiary
playing. Texturally he expands his palette with a larger group who collectively lift these deep yet eminently accessible compositions off the page to
leap out of the speakers…….Illuminations represents Kirby's biggest leap forward yet -..as a writer but, equally, as a guitarist who leans towards
inimitable lyricism yet also possesses the chops to burn brightly as the music demands it”
John Kelman (Music Journalist and noted author of multiple ECM records liner notes)
Friday, January 6, 2023
5:00 PM – 5:50 PM US EST