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Steve Blanco

STEVE BLANCO is a critically acclaimed musician - piano | keys | electric bass - composer, filmmaker, and teacher. He has been actively touring the world, performing & recording in a multitude of diverse projects.

Son of a Moroccan belly dancer and NYC cinematographer / film editor, Steve was raised in a creative home. Growing up with a mentally disabled brother and witnessing the day to day challenges his family faced played a key role in his involvement with the arts, particularly music and cinema. Blanco began as a trumpet player then switched to drums, piano, and electric bass. A super 8mm film camera from Steve’s father initiated his love of filmmaking.

Blanco’s work includes, but is not limited to:

•Solo pianist •Leader of the Steve Blanco Trio as piano player, composer, and founder •Bassist in the Extreme Metal band Imperial Triumphant •Bassist in PAK with Ron Anderson (Molecules) and Larry Kwartowitz (Cleric) •Bassist / Keys in El Chico Blanco - Psychedelic Rock trio •Keys in Mark Feldman’s Level 5 - Fusion quartet •Director of a dozen short films including The Filth (official selection San Francisco International Film Festival) •Produced & Directed music videos including several for his band Imperial Triumphant •Three un-produced feature film scripts •Thousands of gigs in the NYC Jazz scene over a few decades In addition Steve also does guitar/bass repairs, mods, and setups.

Awards

Digital Cafe Tour 2008; Steve Blanco Trio received first place out of over 2000 artists.

Take Five With Steve Blanco

by AAJ Staff
October 11, 2009

Meet Steve Blanco:I play piano, compose, make films, write scripts and do odd jobs for dough ($$).Instrument(s):Piano, drums.Teachers and/or influences?There are too many to list.Two piano teachers that I feel I learned from would be George Mancini, Charles Blenzig and Jean-Michel Pilc. They were giants of help and wisdom at times when I needed much help with many aspects of my life. I will never forget ...

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Album Review

Steve Blanco Trio: Piano Warrior

Read "Piano Warrior" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
May 2, 2009

A true piano warrior in every sense, Steve Blanco's second solo release offers an expansion to applications previously encountered via Contact, his independent 2006 trio debut. He offers the antidote to the customary trio format with an abundance of jazz-based thematic forays that project a contrasting spell to the typical ballad-bop-swing concepts.

Blanco combats any semblance of piano trio listening fatigue with explosive themes, subtle nuances and unanticipated shifts in tempo. The crack rhythm section abets the leader's ...

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Album Review

Steve Blanco / Jeremy Wilms: Semblance

Read "Semblance" reviewed by Budd Kopman

by Budd Kopman
February 17, 2008

Semblance, from the duo of pianist Steve Blanco and guitarist Jeremy Wilms, is an intriguing, multifaceted and ambitious work. Of the fourteen tracks, fully half are improvised, demonstrating lightning-sharp musical reflexes. Blanco and Wilms share the compositional credits on six tracks, with the remaining track being Marvin Gaye's “What's Goin' On." In any duo, regardless of instrumentation, the interaction between the players is especially critical to the success of the music. There is literally no place to ...

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Album Review

Steve Blanco Trio: Contact

by Budd Kopman
September 20, 2006

Do you like your music white hot and intense, even during quieter passages? Do you value individual interplay that creates a total group sound? Do you pine for compositions and interpretations that change the very space around you when you listen? Then Steve Blanco's Contact is for you. This trio, however, is not really a piano trio, in the sense of a piano lead with a rhythm section. Bassist Adam Roberts and drummer Sunny Jain are Blanco's ...

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Festival

Steve Blanco Trio to Play LIC Jazz Festival on March 28th

Source: Michael Ricci
March 15, 2010

New York City) Steve Blanco Trio will be performing at The Secret Theater as part of the LIC Jazz Festival in Long Island City, NY on Sunday March 28th. The event will be a entire day of talented local Jazz musicians performing in a variety of different ensembles and settings. Long Island City is home to many professional artists and musicians, and the LIC JAZZ FEST will be another in a long line of cultural contributions to the community. The ...
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Performance / Tour

Steve Blanco Trio Rare Concert Performance at St John's On Christopher on December 3rd

Source: Michael Ricci
November 24, 2009

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Recording

Steve Blanco Trio's "Piano Warrior" on Art of Life Records

Source: All About Jazz
December 18, 2008

Steve Blanco Trio-“Piano Warrior" Art of Life Records AL1035-2 CD & MP3 Digital Download Now available for ordering via our web site's secure server. Art of Life Records is proud to welcome pianist Steve Blanco to its roster of recording artists. Joining Steve on his Trio's latest release, “Piano Warrior", is drummer Sunny Jain and bassist Adam Roberts. “Piano Warrior" features the Trio's Jazz arrangement of Pink Floyd's classic song “Us and ...
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Performance / Tour

Steve Blanco Trio in L.I.C. NYC

Source: All About Jazz
February 18, 2008

"It moves like the warrior of its title - ferociously, and in an ever-changing terrain" -Donald Elfman, All About Jazz "This is progressive jazz at its finest" -ejazznews "What one awaits for from a musician" -Jazz Hot "Bill Evans trio at its tightest, combined with the rambling, unpredictable theatricality of Ahmad Jamal at his best, and then increase the intensity quotient five notches." -All About Jazz "The melodies are full of lyricism and impressionistic tones" -Jazz&Tzaz Magazine "All three players are so alive and aware that the music literally jumps out of the speakers." -All About Jazz

Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

$65 per lesson | block discounts available | in my studio | $5 fee to travel to you place I teach piano, bass, and drums! 9 years teaching experience to all ages and levels at a very reputable community music store 15 years teaching experience privately Have taught all levels and ages. It's about the love of music.