Stephen began performing at the age of 4, playing piano and singing in recitals. Shortly thereafter, the guitar became a life-long passion after his mother taught him his first chords. He began playing professionally at age 13 and thus began a journey that has taken him on many roads.
Throughout a long career, Anderson has developed a highly original approach as a guitarist, composer and vocalist. While now composing and performing mostly as a solo guitarist, Stephen has been involved in many ensemble projects and collaborations with other artists through the years. During the 70s he lived in San Francisco, creating music for experimental film and performance art, and appearing at clubs and other events, along with artists/bands such as Tuxedomoon, Minimal Man, Snakefinger, and others.
In the early 80s Anderson lived in NYC, involved in jazz, music for film and other original music, performing in the Village and Lower East Side spaces and clubs such as NoSeNo, Pyramid, Danceteria, and others. Also in the 80s he was a CBS recording artist with releases in Europe and the US.
In Nashville, in addition to his solo guitar work, some of his projects and bands include, Actuals, Actuel, Nova Express, Mosaic. And it was in Nashville that Stephen met jazz guitarist Lenny Breau, an artist who was to become the most important influence on him as a guitarist, as well as a mentor and close friend. Anderson's approach to the guitar is greatly influenced by Breau, but his personal vision has taken him beyond mere emulation. Indeed, Lenny always encouraged him to explore and to develop his own voice, advice that Stephen clearly took to heart. They remained close until Breau's death in 1984. Around 2000, Stephen wrote a tribute to his mentor, titled, "Visions: A personal tribute to jazz guitarist Lenny Breau" which was published in Canada. It explores many of Lenny's concepts and techniques, as well as containing a good deal of narrative, with reflections and memories from his years with Lenny.
Stephen currently lives in Nashville, mostly composing and recording, and continuing to perform live on occasion, both here and in NYC. His music appears in several independent films and videos, and a new CD is in-progress, due for release on Art of Life Records, which has also rereleased many of Breau's recordings. Anderson's previous CD on the Art of Life label is titled, Remembering the Rain: the Music of Bill Evans, solo guitar interpretations of the great jazz pianist's original compositions.
Several of Stephen's earlier records are now out of print, including an extraordinary project titled, Distant Voices. This is a body of work consisting of songs based on poems by Rimbaud, Poe, Dylan Thomas, and several others. Hopefully this recording, on which Stephen played all instruments as well as vocals, will soon be rereleased. Stephen's wide range of experiences, including music, film and literature, have forged a highly original voice, that of a true visionary. His music defies genre and possesses qualities both intimate and bold, with a strength born of survival through many personal trials. His technical abilities are extensive, but rather than approaching music competitively, or to satisfy the ego, Anderson is interested in, "... using the creative process to extend an inspired concept or theme... to discover an 'essence' and develop it compositionally and through improvisation." Stephen continues to explore new concepts, as a composer, author, recording artist and performer.
J.M. Macapa
[Show More]
Artist info obtained from public profile, artist website or social media
Stephen began performing at the age of 4, playing piano and singing in recitals. Shortly thereafter, the guitar became a life-long passion after his mother taught him his first chords. He began playing professionally at age 13 and thus began a journey that has taken him on many roads.
Throughout a long career, Anderson has developed a highly original approach as a guitarist, composer and vocalist. While now composing and performing mostly as a solo guitarist, Stephen has been involved in many ensemble projects and collaborations with other artists through the years. During the 70s he lived in San Francisco, creating music for experimental film and performance art, and appearing at clubs and other events, along with artists/bands such as Tuxedomoon, Minimal Man, Snakefinger, and others.
In the early 80s Anderson lived in NYC, involved in jazz, music for film and other original music, performing in the Village and Lower East Side spaces and clubs such as NoSeNo, Pyramid, Danceteria, and others. Also in the 80s he was a CBS recording artist with releases in Europe and the US.
In Nashville, in addition to his solo guitar work, some of his projects and bands include, Actuals, Actuel, Nova Express, Mosaic. And it was in Nashville that Stephen met jazz guitarist Lenny Breau, an artist who was to become the most important influence on him as a guitarist, as well as a mentor and close friend. Anderson's approach to the guitar is greatly influenced by Breau, but his personal vision has taken him beyond mere emulation. Indeed, Lenny always encouraged him to explore and to develop his own voice, advice that Stephen clearly took to heart. They remained close until Breau's death in 1984. Around 2000, Stephen wrote a tribute to his mentor, titled, "Visions: A personal tribute to jazz guitarist Lenny Breau" which was published in Canada. It explores many of Lenny's concepts and techniques, as well as containing a good deal of narrative, with reflections and memories from his years with Lenny.
Stephen currently lives in Nashville, mostly composing and recording, and continuing to perform live on occasion, both here and in NYC. His music appears in several independent films and videos, and a new CD is in-progress, due for release on Art of Life Records, which has also rereleased many of Breau's recordings. Anderson's previous CD on the Art of Life label is titled, Remembering the Rain: the Music of Bill Evans, solo guitar interpretations of the great jazz pianist's original compositions.
Several of Stephen's earlier records are now out of print, including an extraordinary project titled, Distant Voices. This is a body of work consisting of songs based on poems by Rimbaud, Poe, Dylan Thomas, and several others. Hopefully this recording, on which Stephen played all instruments as well as vocals, will soon be rereleased. Stephen's wide range of experiences, including music, film and literature, have forged a highly original voice, that of a true visionary. His music defies genre and possesses qualities both intimate and bold, with a strength born of survival through many personal trials. His technical abilities are extensive, but rather than approaching music competitively, or to satisfy the ego, Anderson is interested in, "... using the creative process to extend an inspired concept or theme... to discover an 'essence' and develop it compositionally and through improvisation." Stephen continues to explore new concepts, as a composer, author, recording artist and performer.
J.M. Macapa
[Show Less]
Artist info obtained from public profile, artist website or social media
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