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BASSIST - ARTIST

Teacher . Clinician . Composer . Session Work

est. 1967...

Steve Varner was born and raised in Tennessee, where he entered the world of music playing electric bass. The musical ability of this primarily self taught musician soon gained the attention of touring musicians, who took Steve out on the road during the years when most young musical hopefuls were studying in college.

In 1980, Steve moved to the Harrisburg, PA area, where he soon became a local favorite. In addition to his extensive sideman duties as a bassist, Steve also led his own electric quartet, Modern Traffic, taking the role of "guitarist" in the band by playing the piccolo bass. The band recorded an album in 1990 of all Varner originals. Switching to acoustic bass in the early 1990's, he began to work, tour and record with a wider circle of improvisational musicians.

Now residing in northern New Jersey, Steve has performed with such jazz greats as: Pat Martino, Phil Woods, Dave Liebman, Billy Hart, J.D. Walter, Steve Rudolph, Tim Warfield, Eric Alexander, James Moody, Jim Ridl, Vic Juris, Ernie Watts, Bill Goodwin, Bob Dorough, Jean-Michel Pilc, Tom Rainey, Jeff Hirchfield, Jack Wilkins, Dennis DeBlasio, Tierney Sutton, Patty Austin, and Karrin Allyson.

 

 
 
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by Michael Stephans

Michael Stephans (drms); Zach Brock (vln); Jim Ridl (pno); Steve Varner (bs)