University of Manitoba - Faculty of Music

Preparatory Studies

Steve Kirby

Our program has world-class teachers along with many top-level world guest artists. We have a weekly jam session and we take ensembles out into the community. The goal is to set the bar high and let everybody see what to shoot for. As an end result, the students every year come of out of high school at a higher and higher level. They’re seeing what we’re doing—and some of them can even top us.

Steve Kirby, Director of Jazz Studies

Before arriving in Winnipeg from New York in 2003, jazz bassist Steve Kirby had established an enviable career performing, recording, and touring with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut, Abbey Lincoln, Steve Turre, James Carter, Slide Hampton, Joe Lovano, Lester Bowie, John Hicks, and many others.

Now a fixture in Winnipeg's cultural scene, Kirby continues to perform, compose, and record; his newest CD, Stepchild (2012), features the incredible fire power of the U of M Jazz Faculty, AKA, The Northern Prairie Jazz Collective. In addition to his responsibilities as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Manitoba, Professor Kirby is also director of the U of M Summer Jazz Camp, artistic director of the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances, and editor of dig! magazine, Winnipeg’s bi-monthly jazz publication, creator and director of Jazz on Wheels (a mobile, inner city jazz education performance program) and The Bridge Program: Music Learning for Life.

Kirby’s gifts as a performer, clinician, and speaker have inspired audiences in concert halls, clubs, inner city street festivals, community centres, high school gyms, and university classrooms around the North America and beyond. He shares not just his deep passion for jazz, but the tenets of tolerance, self-expression, and community-building that are at its core.

U of M National Ad
Canada Council for the Advancement of Education Gold Medal Award Winning Photo
for 2013 University of Manitoba National ad campaign!

Education			B.Mus (Webster University, St. Louis, MO) M. Jazz Composition (Manhattan School of Music, NY)

Performance Highlights			2003 - present: performances as director of Oceanic Jazz Orchestra at 2009 TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival opening for LCJO and in 2010 for the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances, U of M Summer Jazz Camp concerts featuring Steve Turre, Miguel Zenon, Steve Wilson, Wycliffe Gordon, Avishi Cohen, Terreon Gully, Jimmy Greene, George Colligan, Gary Smulyun and Herlin Riley. Izzy Asper Jazz Performances: Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller, Steforn Harris, Houston Person, Marcus Printup, Victor Goines, Joe Lovano, Oliver Jones, Winard Harper, 1990 - 2003: performed, toured and/or recorded with: Abbey Lincoln, Wynton Marsalis, James Carter, Kathleen Battle, Stefon Harris, Joe Lovano, Benny Green, Joanne Brakeen, Jacky Terrason, Eddie Henderson, Wycliffe Gordon, Wess "Warm Daddy" Anderson, Miguel Zenon, Lester Bowie, John Hicks, Herlin Riley, Anat Cohen, Regina Carter, Greg Tardy, Steve Turre, Kenny Barron, 1999 - 2001: bass player for Elvin Jones & Jazz Machine 1993 - 1998: bass player for Cyrus Chestnut Trio.

Ongoing Research & Creative Activity			Artistic Director, Izzy Asper Jazz Performances Creator and Editor, dig! Magazine (Winnipeg's Jazz Magazine) Artistic Director, Jazz On Wheels (an inner city Jazz education program) Director, The Bridge Program: Music Learning For Life Board of Directors, TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival Director, U of M Summer Jazz Camp Director and Creator, Oceanic Jazz Orchestra Currently composing music for Longitude a Third Stream project involving University of Manitoba faculty members from both the jazz and classical programs
Select Discography			2013 - Farewell 274: Winnipeg's Jazz Community Celebrates Aqua Books - Know -A- Sad Music 2012 - The Skeptic and The Cynic - Curtis Nowosad 2012 - Stepchild - Steve Kirby and The Northern Prairie Jazz Collective 2007 - Wicked Grin - Steve Kirby & Larry Roy 2000 - Chasin' The Gypsy - James Carter - Atlantic Records 1998 - Live At The Village Vanguard - Wess "Warm Daddy" Anderson 1998 - In Carterian Fashion - James Carter - Atlantic Records 1997 - Shades Of Blue - Anna-Lisa Kirby - NJR Records 1995 - Earth Stories - Cyrus Chestnut - Atlantic Records 1994 - The Dark Before The Dawn - Cyrus Chestnut - Atlantic Records
Awards and Recognition			2010 University of Manitoba Creative Works Grant 2007 University of Manitoba Annual Outreach Award 2006 Xerox Jazz Winnipeg Jazz Educator of The Year Award

Steve Kirby Quartet at TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival 2012
w/ Winard Harper, Larry Roy & Derrick Gardner

B. Mus (Webster)
M. Jazz Composition (Manhattan School of Music)

Associate Professor
Director of Jazz Studies

Teaching Activites:
Jazz Double Bass
Jazz Pedagogy
Jazz Ensembles
Director, Jazz Lab Band

Watch:

Some vintage Steve Kirby during his tenure with Elvin Jones Jazz Machine in 2000. Check out Professor Kirby's solo on the Ellington classic "It Don't Mean A Thing" at 3:50

Listen:

Wicked Grin By Steve Kirby from 2012 release Stepchild featuring: Jimmy Green, Will Bonness, Quincy Davis and Larry Roy

T'elluride by Steve Kirby performed by Oceanic Jazz Orchestra in 2010 featuring Gwen Hoebig and Jimmy Greene. Recorded by CBC Radio

Articles and Interviews:

The Winnipeg Review: The Jazz Capital of Canada?
The Winnipeg Review: Steve Kirby's Northern Prairie
CBC Manitoba Scene: Steve Kirby brings dynamic energy to Winnipeg's Jazz Scene
CBC Manitoba Scene: Jazz On Wheels CBC Blog Post: Jazz On Wheels rolls through Winnipeg
CBC Blog Post: Top 5 Bass Players in Canada

Notable Editor's Letters written by dig! Magazine Editor, Professor Steve Kirby:

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