Steve Kirby

Background

Kirby was born in Maumee Valley, Ohio, and his family moved to Saint Louis when he was two.

Education

He picked up guitar and electric bass while stationed at Fort Bragg, and following this he attended Webster University, receiving his Bachelor in 1985.

Career

He worked locally in various ensembles and then got his master"s degree at the Manhattan School of Music, where he played with Lester Bowie. In 1993 he returned to New York City and played with Oliver Lake, Claudio Roditi, John Hicks, Slide Hampton, Antonio Hart, Cyrus Chestnut, Joanne Brackeen, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Wallace Roney, Elvin Jones, Kenny Barron, Wycliffe Gordon, Steve Turre, James Carter, and Wes Anderson. Kirby currently resides in Winnipeg, Canada and is the head of the Jazz Studies program at the University of Manitoba.

He is the brother-in-law of singer Lullaby Baxter.

Achievements

• In 1988 he returned to Webster, where he taught until 1993, and while there he won the 1992 Hennessy Jazz Search.