The Steve Carter Group is taking the art of the jazz piano trio into
the 21st century. They are modern, fresh, edgy and dramatic.
They are edgy whether they are playing an up-tempo, hi-energy
groove tune or a beautiful ballad.
The members of the band have been at the forefront of Jazz, R&B, Rock, Latin, Smooth Jazz and World Music. They use these influences as a launching pad to create a modern, funky style all of their own.
“This group (the trio or trio-plus one setting) gives all of us a lot of room to play and challenges each of us to be as musical as we can be. We create music that is rhythmically exciting and harmonically hip. The level of musical exploration is definitely high in this group. We play music that’s fun to play and fun to hear!”
The Steve Carter Group is: Steve Carter, piano and electric piano; Dennis Smith, fretless electric bass; and Tommie Bradford, drums.
To download our new CD Cosmopolis click on the button.
"I LOVE IT AND PICKED IT AS A TOP 10 FOR 2008"- GLENN ASTARITA (ALL ABOUT JAZZ, DOWNBEAT)
STEVE CARTER GROUP CREDITS
Steve Carter: George Benson, Bobby Womack, Ray Obiedo, Sheila E., Pete Escovedo, Taj Mahal, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Coke Escovedo, Bill Summers and Summersheat, Samba Ngo, Billy Cobham, Mickey Hart, Don Cherry, Los Mocosos, Love and Rockets, Ledesi, Charo, Malo, Sapo, Maldita Vicindad, Andy Narell, Peter Apfelbaum, Dave Ellis, The Freaky Executives.
Dennis Smith: Jerry Garcia Band, Samba Ngo, Ze Manel, Ray Obiedo, Jorge Santana, Richard Bean, Harvey Fuqua, Leon Sylvers, David Murray, Avalon Allstars
In the early 80’s I became a first call piano player in the thriving Bay Area funky-Latin-Jazz scene. I was Pete Escovedo's piano player for several years. I also
worked with Pete's brother Coke's band, Sheila E., Ray
Obiedo's band, Linda Tillery, Bill Summers and Summers Heat, Andy Narell, Billy Cobham, Vicki Randle, Malo and many others. I also lived in Tokyo for 8 months and played with Japanese fusion artist Miyaura Kiyoshi.
In the late 80's I was a member of The Freaky Executives. The "Freakies" were picked as the best Bay Area band by every bay area publication (Chron, Trib, Exprees, SJ Mercury etc.) for 3 years straight. Joel Selvin (SF Chron) said we were "the hippest most innovative band to come out of the Bay Area in at least 15 years". The Oakland Tribune said we were" the best band to come out of the East Bay since the days of Sly Stone and Tower of Power". We were signed by Benny Medina to Warner Bros..
Warner Bros. spent 2 1/2 years recording an album that sounded nothing like the band, then never released
it. The band broke up . . .
In the 90's I returned to being a sideman. I worked with George Benson, Bobby Womack, Michael Franti and
Spearhead, Kenneth Nash, Samba Ngo, Nicolas Bearde, Charo, Don Cherry, Love and Rockets, Taj Mahal, Rebbe Soul as well as my old friends Ray Obiedo and Pete Escovedo and many others.
In this period of time I also honed my studio and song writing skills playing on over 50 CD’s, learning to engineer, writing music for TV (Third Watch, Nash Bridges), film (Wayne Wang’s “The Center of The World, Who Needs Sleep?), video games (Maxis’ Sim City) as well as writing songs that were recorded by Huey Lewis and The News, Irene Cara, Forrest Buchtel and many others.
In the 2000's I have been a member of Los Mocosos-
A Latin/Hip Hop band, who have toured all over the world playing Jazz and World music festivals. We won a
California Music Award for best Latin Album. We have 3 CD's out on Six Degrees Records.
Now my heart is totally into this trio. I have found musical soulmates in Dennis Smith and Tommie Bradford. This band is the most musical fun I have had in years (probably ever). I can’t wait to go play music with these guys. We have recently finished our second album (Cosmopolis). We have over 3 hours of original material and the band is smokin".
Festivals Steve has performed at:
Monterey Jazz Festival; Monterey, California-
Vancouver International Jazz Festival; Vancouver, Canada-
Blues and Roots Festival; Byron Bay, Australia-
Jazz Fest International; Victoria, Canada-
Festival du Jazz; San Javier, Spain-
Festival International de Jazz de Montreal; Montreal Canada-
San Francisco Jazz Festival; San Francisco, California-
Living Traditions Music Festival; Salt Lake City, Utah-
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival; New Orleans, Louisiana-
City Stages; Birhamham, Alabama-
Audi Jazz Festival; Brussels, Belgium-
Montreux Jazz Festival Atlanta; Atlanta, Georgia-
Jam in the ‘Dam; Amsterdam, Holland-
Houston International Music Festival; Houston, Texas-
Latin Alternative Music Conference; New York, New York-
Edmonton International Jazz Festival; Edmonton, Canada-
Midem; Cannes, France-
City Folk Festival; Dayton, Ohio-
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage; Washington, DC-
Taos Solar Music Festival; Taos, New Mexico-
Atlanta Jazz Festival; Atlanta, Georgia-
Sonoma Jazz Festival; Sonoma, Ca.-
Stern Grove Festival; San Francisco, Ca.-
Mile High Music Festival; Denver, Colorado-
North Beach Jazz Festival; San Francisco, Ca.-
Bumbershoot; Seattle, Washington-
Columbus Arts Festival; Columbus, Ohio-
Aspin Music Festival; Aspin, Colorado--
Belle Chere; Asheville, North Carolina-
Vail Jazz Festival; Vail, Colorado-
Beale Street Music Festival; Memphis, Tennessee-
Chicago Jazz Festival; Chicago, Illinois-
Worcester Music Festival; Worcester, Massachusetts-
Music in the Mountians; Durango, Colorado-
Oakland Art & Soul Festival; Oakland, California-
Festival d’ete International de Quebec; Quebec, Canada-
Ottawa International Jazz Festival; Ottawa, Canada-
JazzFest International; Victoria. Canada-
Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival; Sechelt, BC, Canada-
Toronto Downtown Jazz; Toronto, Canada-
Medicine Hat JazzFest; Midicine Hat, Canada-
Telluride Blues and Brews Festival; Telluride, Colorado-
Lake Tahoe Music Festival; Lake Tahoe, California-
Reggae On The River; Mateel, California-
Street Scene; San Diego, California-
River Rocks Music Festival; St. Paul, Minnesota-
Berkeley Jazz Festival; Berkeley, California-
MusicfestNW; Portland, Oregon-
and many more. . .
We used to be called "Mumrik" that was looking for a singer and now we finally found a singer and the band name became STM since we are working together at a distance of 6000miles from Leeds, UK to Kyoto, Japan. We have uploaded 3 songs now. Check out how it works.
Aloha Steve, Hope all is great . Willie K and I will be at Yoshi's in Oakland on Aug 19th Hope to see you there ! Have a nice Aloha day Your Bro :-) Joe Cano...Hawaii
Steve Carter is a musical genius, He can write, arrange, produce and play with an ability that is shared by only a few. Steve is also one of the nicest people on the planet. Steve, here's to you and your great music! George Cole and VLJ
I just listened to all the jamz and it left me wanting more. You sounded great on that Steinway today and Im happy to be nestled up between Herbie Hancock an Karl on your friends list :) ha ha
WOW YOU GUYS ROCK GOOD LOOKS ON THE ADD B.S.M THANKS YOU MAN I CAN REALLY SEE YOU GUYS BRINGING THAT TO HIP-HOP AND TAKING IT BY STORM LOVE THE ENERGY IN YOUR JAZZ MUSIC I AM A BIG FAN OF THE ART KEEP DOING WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING ITS A JOY TO LISTEN TO WHEN YOU GET A FEW CLICK ON THE BOX BELOW TO VOTE FOR US AND YOU SHOULD SET UP A PAGE OVER THEIR AND ENTER YOUR MUSIC INTO THE COMPETITION AS WELL
Hi Steve, I'm looking for songs for my next Cd. I want music from Oakland resident musicians and songwriters. What Cha Got? Hope you can make it to Yoshi's on Feb 18th. Did you know Kenny Nash is from LA like me? Love, Rhonda
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