Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Steve grew up in a very musical family. Early on, his parents exposed him to classic recordings by such greats as The Irish Rovers, Sha Na Na, and Willie Nelson. Somehow this led him to the music of Duran Duran, and eventually the tenor saxophone, and the music of John Coltrane. After 7 years with the world famous Regina Lions Junior Band, Steve left high school with a General Motors Award of Excellence to attend McGill University, where he studied with trumpet great Kevin Dean and Montreal bebop legend pianist/drummer André White, graduating with high distinction in 1994. That same year, Steve spent a month at the Banff Jazz Workshop with Kenny Wheeler, Mick Goodrick, Pat LaBarbera and John Clayton.
After spending 1995 in Toronto, Steve set up in Montreal again, recording a television special with singer Denzal Sinclaire as part of the 1996 Montreal Jazz Festival, and performing a concert with Maria Schneider at la Salle Gésu in 1997. He then spent a year in New York, taking lessons with jazz legend Lee Konitz and playing afternoon sessions with many great New York musicians. Steve returned to Montreal in summer 1998 and enrolled in McGill University’s Masters Degree in Jazz Performance, this time studying with composer/pianist Jan Jarczyk. A highlight of this period would be when Steve was joined by guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel for a weekend at Upstairs Jazz Club. In May of 2000, Steve recorded an album of original music with fellow McGill alumni Tilden Webb, Dave Laing, Mike Downs, and Dave Mossing.
Steve moved to London, England in September 2000, where he played with many of the UK’s finest musicians, like Humphrey Lyttelton, Steve Fishwick, Mike Carr, Jim Mullen, Geoff Gascoyne, Sebastiaan DeKrom, Matt Wates, Tommy Whittle, Steve Brown, Colin Oxley, John Pearce, Dave Cliff, Kate Williams, to name more than a few. In April 2008, he made the big move back to Canada, and is now happily settled in beautiful Vancouver, BC, where he leads his own quartet and plays with the Jodi Proznick Quartet (winners of the 2008 National Jazz Award for best acoustic jazz group).
Steve can also be heard on the upcoming Karl Jannuska CD release, "Thinking in Colours", on Effendi Records.
Dear Steve Kaldestad, I saw you play with Jodi Proznick when you were in Montreal. And after seeing you those 2 nights at the Upstairs and finding your myspace page, I must say I'm soo happy to here a sax player like yourself. You having one of the most refreshing sounds and approaches to your music. I really truly dig your playing, among my favorite living sax players. I look forward to hearing you again, those 2 nights were magical and find myself transported to that feeling everytime I hear a track that you play on. Thank you for enriching the music with your sound. Take care and happy holidays. Mike De Masi Montreal, QC, Canada
Hi Steve !
Just come back from the Swiss tour.
thanks again for your great playing.
it's been a great pleasure and i hope to stay together again on tour !
hey up steve, long time no speak. be great to do some playing with you and robbie soon, im going to do some arm-twisting. are you very busy at the moment?
Hey Stevieeee...you sound so burnin'! in Stockholm thinking that we should chitchat soon...hi to b-u-t ful Alice! going to watch swedish hockey now...back in frozenland soon...xocj
xocj
Hey stranger, I can't remember the last time that I saw you! Perhaps it was at Summer Jazz camp at Fort San?!? Sounds like you are still a mad sax player, there was never any doubt in my mind!
Bummer - sorry I'll miss you. No, I've never been there before. I'm starting a new gig at Humber in April, and we are likely buying an SSL console. So a few of us are going to Oxford to test drive one before purchasing. Sorry I won't see you. Hopefully you'll play in Toronto or Montreal sometime!
s
ha ha ha!!
i only remember that NOW that you mention it actually.
the funny thing is, i never really tried to be weird, it just came naturally (still does) ha ha! i really want to set up a bunch of photo shoots in england (i know a few actors and musicians there etc) so maybe i will come on a working vacation sometime.
i'd LOVE to hear you play. Are you giging all the time mate?
can't wait to hang out.
you get that video sorted ok?
talk to you soonly...
Gp
my blog
HA!!!! we caved. me before you, although, you've got music up, i haven't gotten around to doing that yet... oh well, enjoy. and "thanks for the add" (i'll let you punch me in the face for that wen you see me next). oh here's some of the other ones i adore... 'hey steve' see you at our gig tomorrow', or 'hey steve, you sounded great on my gig last night, i've added clips on my page', or my personal favorite, 'nice page, but mine's nice too, come buy my cd' oh that's enough. (okay, two punches)
HEY STEVE!
this is crazy!
it's been TOOO long!
You're sounding great!
i was so excited to say i didn't even check out where you are living now!
i'm in TO!
read my blog and catch up a bit
let's talk soon!
Gp
STEEEEEEVIE!!! It's great to hear from you. Remember the days of the 99 cent pizza and the $1.01 snapple......good times. Sounds great, hopefully we can play again sometime.
