Artist Detail

• Tell-a-friend

Steve Barta

Composer - Musician

About the artist:

Pianist Steve Barta is a composer, author, producer and recording artist. Lending his talent to symphonic orchestras, film scores, jazz ensembles, and classically influenced solo piano, his original compositions reflect a great diversity of style. Steve is perhaps best known for fusing Classical, Jazz and Brasilian influences to create a sound that is distinctly BARTA. Steve's orchestral works include: "Heritage Suite," "A Midwest Dream" (solo piano and orchestra) and several pieces for jazz quartet and orchestra. The debut performance of "Heritage Suite" was performed in the Czech Republic in 1991 with symphonic orchestra. Steve currently has 13 recorded works. After debut album Rossport, Steve teamed up with Jazz great Herbie Mann to create the Brazilian influenced Blue River. His latest Brasilian release, Another Life Brazil, features legends Hubert Laws, Herbie Mann, Dori Caymmi & Paulinho DaCosta. These recordings have received wide critical acclaim and radio airplay across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Canada. Steve's well-loved solo piano release, Moments in Movement, includes his symphonic arrangement of "A Midwest Dream" recorded on tour in Eastern Europe with symphonic orchestra. Each recording of original songs has its own striking sound yet captures Steve's distinctive style. His 5 successful Christmas recordings reveal his talent in interpreting and arranging classics.

All of Steve's recordings and books are available exclusively on the Steve Barta Music label. In 1986, Steve authored The Source (Hal Leonard Publishing), a multi-instrumental scale/chord dictionary, to wide critical acclaim. Now in its 20th printing and 2nd Edition, The Source teaches the basic tenets of jazz improvisation by educating the reader about the harmonic possibilities between scales and chords. Used by musicians and educational systems, The Source has become the standard scale/chord reference book in the music industry. Also published by Hal Leonard is Steve's transcription for piano titled Christmas Around the World.

In 1991, Steve joined a distinguished list of concert pianists when he was recognized as a Steinway Artist by the venerable piano maker Steinway & Sons. As a Steinway Artist, Steve is provided with a Steinway grand piano on any concert stage in the world.

Steve, a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado, spends most of his time composing. He accepts a limited number of private commissions each year, ranging from solo piano to full symphonic works.