PROFILE
-En français-

Master blues guitarist Steve Rowe has earned his solid reputation with his own unique sound. Widely acknowledged as one of the finest blues guitarists playing today, Steve Rowe is set to record his fifth album in the fall of 2007. Montreal CHOM radio’s Randy Renaud called Rowe a “head-down, have-guitar-will-travel professional who derives his greatest satisfaction from songs and notes perfectly delivered.” He was right. As is Rowe’s style, every note is deliberate and each tone carries meaning.

Rowe and Composer/Bassman Alec McElcheran have already written a host of new originals, continually re-defining their distinctive sound. Many known artists will be joining them, so it’s already setting up to be a true musical adventure, no holds barred.

Steve Rowe's fourth CD, “Live à Montréal” has garnered four nominations at the 2007 LYS Blues Awards: Best CD for The Steve Rowe Band, Best Blues Performer (Male) for Steve, Best Performance for Saxman Eric Khayat, and Best Performance for Steve’s longtime drummer, Dominic Legrand. This recording of the band took place at the 2005 Montreal International Jazz Festival and Festiblues de Montréal.

And both Steve and Alec starred in the season premiere episode of the very popular teen show, Prank Patrol. The episode, entitled “The Blues Brothers” was aired on YTV in September  2007.

Since Steve played his first licks in his parents’ working-class Irish Montreal home, he’s gone on to open for Smokey Wilson, Bryon Lee, and Colin James, jam with the likes of Hubert Summlin, Buddy Guy and Dutch Mason, and regularly joins local stars including Jim Zeller, Jean Millaire, and Carl Tremblay.

Apparently, blues fans everywhere can thank Steve’s older brother who, hearing Steve as a teenager pluck away at a Led Zeppelin tune, threw him a classic Robert Johnson vinyl one day and told him it was the key to understanding the British invasion music he loved so much.

Steve never turned back. He played his dues through the 1980s, first with Skid Rowe, the band he co-founded with Bob Smith in 1981, then alongside the many headliners that defined the Montreal blues scene, learning a little something from each of them. Smokey Wilson’s advice to Steve was simple: “You’re an honest bluesman. Don’t ever change.”

After honing his skills on blues standards, Rowe decided to start writing his own lyrics and music. Following the 2000 release of his first CD of originals entitled “Driving the Blues Away”, it sparked his desire to continue writing the kind of music from which he derives the greatest pleasure.

It was in 2002 he met and starting working with Alec McElcheran and the pair released “No Refund, No Return”. A natural fit whose partnership continues to this day, with each musician pushing the other to higher levels and across traditional boundaries. Quality is paramount. In studio, the full band is recorded with vintage microphones creating a raw, organic sound reminiscent of the early rock bands that first inspired Steve. Producer/Engineer Kevin Komada of Hotel2Tango can take much of the credit for this alongside Mastering Engineer Andrew Heermans of New York’s Polywog Recording Company. Rowe’s recordings stay true to the man and his music.

Steve, acknowledged by the press as Quebec’s guitar hero, is a regular at Montreal’s International Jazz Festival, as well as cultural centers and Blues Fests from Ontario to the East coast. Career highlights include coaching actor Christian Kane for his guitar-playing role in MTV’s 2000 film “Love Song”, to his television premiere for Bravo Television’s 1997 series, “Café Campus en Blues”.

Steve lives in Montreal with film and music producer Kathy Wolf. He writes his songs on the couch in his living room with collaborator Alec, while Kathy inspires them with her culinary expertise. His four cats provide editorial comment. Nothing makes Steve happier than bending a string and hitting that perfect note.

PROFIL
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