I was born and raised in Oakland, California.
It all started when I was six and my parents bought an old upright piano. A few days later a man came and while I watched he took the whole piano apart and took the insides away just leaving the wood case. Then sometime later he showed up and with me as his sole audience he put the whole instrument with rebuilt parts back together. As soon as I played a few notes on it, I was sold. I got a special feeling every time I played it. I still do..
I loved my first teacher Mrs. Collins. She was a classical teacher. She soon realized I wanted to learn Jazz. So she made a deal with me: if I showed up to my lesson and had practiced my 3 B’s (Bach, Beethoven and Brahms), we could work on Boogie Woogies too. I learned all the basics from Mrs. Collins. After five years she helped my parents find a Jazz teacher since she knew that's where my heart was.
I started lessons with two fantastic Jazz teachers. First Don Burke, who moved away after a year, then Wilbur Barranco. In High School I could play a standard out of a fake book with block chords in my right hand and stride in the left.
In High School I got more into listening to Jazz and discovered Erroll Garner, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Charles Lloyd, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane.
But I still hadn’t played piano with anyone. I just played by myself at home. I was a freshman at UC Berkeley studying Engineering. On a whim I auditioned for the school Jazz Ensemble. Somehow I got in. I started taking classes in the music department and before long I was dropping all my Engineering classes and just studying music. I had the bug!
I transferred to Berklee College of Music in Boston and took lessons with the great Charlie Banacos, Jaki Byard and Ray Santisi.
After college I played in an R&B band for a couple of years and toured all over the western United States and Canada.
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, Will Kennedy, 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 (SF Chronicle , Oakland Tribune, East Bay Exprees, SJ Mercury News 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, Tony Lindsey, Charo, Don Cherry, Andy Narell, Benny Reitveld, 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 100 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?, La Mission featuring Benjamin Bratt, video games -Maxis’ Sim City, Pacha's Pajamas as well as writing songs that were recorded by Huey Lewis and The News, Irene Cara, Forrest Buchtel and many others.
In the early 2000's I was been a member of Los Mocosos- A Latin/Hip Hop band, who toured all over the world playing Jazz and World music festivals. We won a California Music Award for Best Alternative Latin Album. We have 3 CD's out on Six Degrees Records.
Lately have been performing with my own trio. Dennis Smith on Bass and Deszon Claiborne on Drums. We released 2 CD’s. Our second CD, Cosmopolis received top 10 CD's of the year honors from "All About Jazz" and reached 17 on the Roots Music Jazz Chart.
Recently I have been playing with a new band, “FIVE TEN”, with Dennis Smith, Marquinho Brasil, Jeff Narell and Billy Johnson. We just released our first CD “Cinco Um Zero”.
I have also played with guitarist Pascal Bokar, Mary Jenson, Greg Abate, John Faddis, Afro Blue Grazz, Dave Haskel, Chinese superstar Francis Yip and played on recordings with Mexican band Maldita Vecindad, Tom Scott, The Headhunters, George Clinton, Mos Def and Snoop Dog among others.
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; Birmingham, 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, California
Stern Grove Festival; San Francisco, California
Mile High Music Festival; Denver, Colorado
North Beach Jazz Festival; San Francisco, California
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; Medicine Hat, Canada
Telluride Blues and Brews Festival; Telluride, Colorado
Lake Tahoe Music Festival; Lake Tahoe, California
San Jose Jazz Festival; San Jose, 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
Montana Folk Festival; Butte, Montana;
American Folk Festival, Bangor, Maine
Sausalito Art Festival - Sausalito, Ca., and many more. . .
Calendar
Sunday July 18 4:00-6:00
Steve Carter Trio (Billy Johnson, Dennis Smith) with Special guest Jeff Narell
Happy Hour Jazz on the Lagoon
San Mateo, Ca
info@happyhourjazz.com
Saturday July 17, 2021 4:30-7:30
Steve Carter Trio with Billy Johnson and Dennis Smith
Sam's Anchor Cafe
27 Main St, Tiburon,Ca 415-435-4527
Thursday April 15, 2021
Steve Carter Trio
Yoshi's Lounge
510 Embarcadero
Oakland,Ca. 510-238-9200Thursday April 15
Thursday April 22, 2021
Steve Carter Trio
Yoshi's Lounge
510 Embarcadero
Oakland,Ca. 510-238-9200
Thursday April 29,2021
Steve Carter Trio
Yoshi's Lounge
510 Embarcadero
Oakland,Ca. 510-238-9200
Sunday September 8, 2019
Church of John Coltrane
Kennedy Center
Washington, D.C.
Saturday August 31
Five Ten
7 Mile House
2800 Bayshore Blvd
Brisbane Ca 415-467-2343
Saturday August 24
FIVE Ten
Empress Theatre
330 Virginia St
Vallejo Ca 707-552-2400
Satursday August 10, 7-9:00 pm
FIVE TEN
Music in the Courtyard
714 Main Street
Woodland, CA 95695
Sunday August 4
FIVE Ten
Portola Summer Jazz Fest
Portola Vinyards
850 Los Trancos Rd
Portola Valley Ca 94028
650-332-4959
Friday July 26, 8-11:30
Pascal Bokar Group
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070
415-624-4549
Thursday July 25 6:00
Chelle! and Friends
Fernandez Park
Pinole, Ca
Tuesday July 23, 6-9:00
Steve Carter Trio with Deszon Claiborne and Dennis Smith
Market Place San Pedro Square
San Jose, Ca.
Sunday July 21 6-8:00
Steve Carter Trio w/Al Marshal and Dennis Smith
Bardos's
3343 Lakeshore Ave.
Oakland Ca
Friday July 12, 2-5:00
Steve Carter Trio with Martin Johnson and Dennis Smith
Market Place San Pedro Square
San Jose, Ca.
Saturday July 6, 7-10 pm
Peter Welker, Sideman
Coyote Den
Healdsburg, Ca
Friday June 21,
Darlene Coleman
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070
415-624-4549
June 15, 7-11:00
Charged Particles
The Cellar
4926 El Camino,
Los Altos, Ca.
Friday June 14 6:45-7:45
Afro Blue Grazz
Point Richmond Summer Music Festival
Point Richmond, Ca
Sunday, June 9, 6-10:00 pm
Napata Mero
Geoffrey's Inner Circle
410 14th st, Oakland, Ca. 94621 510-839-4644
Friday June 7, 8-11:30 pm
Jules Rowell
Larkspur Landing
Larkspur., Ca.
Saturday June 1, 8-11:30 pm
Five Ten
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Sunday, May 26, 6:00 pm
MUSIC AND ART FOR THE SOUL SERIES featuring Michelle jacques
United Lutheran Church
8800 Fontaine st., Oakland
Saturday May 4,
Five Ten
7 Mile Jazz Fest
2800 Bayshore Blvd
Brisbane Ca 415-467-2343
Sunday April 21 6:00
Steve Carter Trio w/Al Marshal and Dennis Smith
Bardos's
3343 Lakeshore Ave.
Oakland Ca
Friday April19 7:00
Michelle jacques
Oakland Museum
1000 Oak st
Oakland Ca
Wednesday April 17
Afrobluegrazz
Empress Theatre Lounge
330 Virginia St
Vallejo Ca 707-552-2400
Saturday April 13,
Afro Blue Grazz
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070
415-624-4549
Friday April 12, 7-10 pm
Peter Welker, Sideman
Red Brick
101 2nd Street #190,
Petaluma CA 94952
707 559 5133
Friday, April 5,
FIVE Ten
The Sound Room
2147 Broadway.,
Oakland 510-496-4180
Saturday April 13, 8-11:30
Thursday April 4, 8-11pm
Charged Particles
Blue Door Cafe
1502 Saratoga Ave,
San Jose, Ca. 95129
Saturday March 23
Steve Carter Trio with Deszon Clainborne and Dennis Smith
Albatross Pub
1822 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley Ca. 94702 510-843-2473
Friday March 15, 8-11:30 pm
Pascal Bokar Group
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Thursday, March 14, 7:30-10:30 pm
Steve Carter Trio with Deszon Claiborne and Dennis Smith
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Saturday March 9, 8:00-9:30 pm
Five Ten
Impulse Room
1501 N.Broadway #138
Walnut Creek, Ca. 94596
925-476-5040
Thursday March 7, 7:30-9:30
Steve Carter Trio with Deszon Claiborne and Dennis Smith
The Jazz Club-Cloverdale Arts Allience
204 N Cloverdale blvd
Cloverdale Ca 95425
707-894-4410
Friday, February 22, 8-11:30
Afro Blue Grazz
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070
415-624-4549
Thursday February 21, 8:00-9:30 pm
Steve Carter Trio with Deszon Claiborne and Dennis Smith
Impulse Room
1501 N.Broadway #138
Walnut Creek, Ca. 94596
925-476-5040
Tuesday February 19 7-9:00
Church of John Coltrane
Performance of Live of Birdland
2097 Turk st, San Francisco, Ca 415-624-4549
Friday February 2, 8 pm
Chelle! and Friends
Rendon Hall
California Jazz Conservatory
20140 Addison St,
Berkeley CA 94704
Friday, January 25, 8-11:30
Afro Blue Grazz
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Saturday February 9, 8-11:30 pm
Pascal Bokar Group
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Friday January 18 5:30-8:00
Steve Carter Trio with Alcide Marshal and Dennis Smith
Sam's Anchor Cafe
27 main St, Tiburon,Ca 415-435-4527
Thursday, January 10, 7:30-10:30 pm
Steve Carter Trio with Deszon Claiborne and Dennis Smith
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
December 31, 9:30-12:30 pm
Steve Carter Trio with Mark Williams and Paul Smith
Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay
1 Miramontes Rd,
Half Moon Bay, Ca. 94019
650-712-7000
Friday, December 21, 8:00-9:30 pm
Five Ten
Impulse Room
1501 N.Broadway #138
Walnut Creek, Ca. 94596
925-476-5040
Thursday, December 13, 7:30-10:30 pm
Steve Carter Trio with Deszon Claiborne and Dennis Smith
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Thursday December 6, 8-11pm
Charged Particles
Blue Door Cafe
1502 Saratoga Ave,
San Jose, Ca. 95129
Friday, November 30, 8-9:30
Afro Blue Grazz
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Saturday Nov 24, 8-11:30 pm
Five Ten
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Saturday November 17, 8-11:30 pm
Pascal Bokar Group
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Nov 3, 9:30-12:30 pm
Steve Carter Trio with Brian Andres and Dennis Smith
Albatross Pub
1822 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley Ca. 94702 510-843-2473
Saturday Oct 27, 8-11:30 pm
Pascal Bokar Group
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Friday, October 26, 8-9:30
Afro Blue Grazz
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Thursday, October 25, 8:00-9:30 pm
Steve Carter Trio with Deszon Claiborne and Dennis Smith -Plus- Special Gueat Marquinho Brasil
Impulse Room
1501 N.Broadway #138
Walnut Creek, Ca. 94596
925-476-5040
Wednesday October 24, 6:00
Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church Special Performance of A LOVE SUPREME
Daniel Pearl World Music Days Concert
Stanford University- Bing Concert Hall
Saturday Oct 20, 8-11:30 pm
Pascal Bokar Group
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Sunday Oct 14 1:00
Ann Mack & Trio
Silicone Valley Jazz fest
Burton Park, San Carlos, Ca. 94070
Sunday Oct 14 4:00
Pascal Bokar Afro Blue Grazz
Silicone Valley Jazz fest
Burton Park, San Carlos, Ca. 94070
Saturday Oct 13, 8-11:30 pm
Pascal Bokar Group w Jon Faddis
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Thursday, October 11, 7:30-10:30 pm
Steve Carter Trio with Deszon Claiborne and Dennis Smith
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Saturday October,6, 8-11pm
Peter Welker, Sideman
Sonoma Speakeasy
452 1st st E unit G,
Sonoma Ca. 94476
707-996-1364
Friday October 5:30-8:00
Steve Carter Trio with Alcide Marshal and Dennis Smith
Sam's Anchor Cafe
27 main St, Tiburon,Ca 415-435-4527
Friday September28, 8-11:30 pm
Pascal Bokar Group
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Friday, September 21, 8-9:30
Afro Blue Grazz
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Saturday, September 15 1-4:00 pm
Steve Carter Trio w/ Dennis Smith, Deszon Claiborne
Sam's Chowder House
4210 Cabrillo hwy N
Half Moon Bay, Ca
Saturday September 1, 1-3:00
FIVE TEN
Sausalito Art Festival
Mainship Wy.
Sausalito Ca.
Friday August 31, 7:30-10:00 pm
Steve Carter Trio with Alcide Marshal and Dennis Smith
Sam's Tiburon Street Festival
Wednesday, August 29, 8:00-9:30 pm
Steve Carter Trio with Deszon Claiborne and Dennis Smith
Impulse Room
1501 N.Broadway #138
Walnut Creek, Ca. 94596
925-476-5040
Satursday August 25, 7-9:00 pm
FIVE TEN
Music in the Courtyard
714 Main Street
Woodland, CA 95695
Friday August 24, 8-11:30 pm
Pascal Bokar Group
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Thursday, August 23, 7:30-10:30 pm
Steve Carter Trio with Deszon Claiborne and Dennis Smith
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Saturday August 18, 8-11:30 pm
Pascal Bokar Group
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Saturday August 11, pm
Charged Particles
Los Gatos Lounge
Los Gatos, Ca
Friday, August 10
Afro Blue Grazz
San Jose Jazz Festival
San Jose, Ca.
Friday July13, 8:00-9:30 pm
Five Ten
Impulse Room
1501 N.Broadway #138
Walnut Creek, Ca. 94596
925-476-5040
Wednesday, July 4th
Mary Jenson-Beyond Standard Jazz
Festival
El Cerrito, Ca.
Saturday June 30, 8-11:30 pm
Pascal Bokar Group
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Saturday June 23, 8-11:30 pm
Pascal Bokar Group
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Sunday, June 10, 6:00 pm
MUSIC AND ART FOR THE SOUL SERIES featuring FIVE TEN
United Lutheran Church
8800 Fontaine st., Oakland
Saturday June 8, 7-9pm
Peter Welker, Sideman
Funky Fridays
Santa Rosa
Saturday June 2, 8-11pm
Peter Welker, Sideman
Sonoma Speakeasy
452 1st st E unit G,
Sonoma Ca. 94476
707-996-1364
Friday, June 1, 8-11:30 pm
Pascal Bokar Group
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Sunday, May 27 5:30-8:30 pm
Charged Particles
Sam's Chowder House
4210 Cabrillo hwy N
Half Moon Bay, Ca
Thursday, May 24, 7:30-10:30 pm
Steve Carter Trio with Deszon Claiborne and Dennis Smith
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
Saturday, May 23, 7-10:00 pm
Darlene Coleman
Broadway Grill
1400 Broadway,
Burlingame, Ca
Sunday, May 20, 6-10:00 pm
Michelle Jacques
Geoffrey's Inner Circle
410 14th st, Oakland, Ca. 94621 510-839-4644
May 11,12
Five Ten
Virginia International Panfest
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Sunday, May 6 10:30-11:30 am
United Lutheran Church
8800 Fontaine st., Oakland
Saturday May 5, 8-11 pm
Peter Welker, Sideman
Sonoma Speakeasy
452 1st st E unit G,
Sonoma Ca. 94476
707-996-1364
Thursday May 3 8:00-9:30 pm
Five Ten
Impulse Room
1501 N.Broadway #138
Walnut Creek, Ca. 94596
925-476-5040
Saturday, April 28, 8-11:30 pm
Pascal Bokar Group
Savanna Jazz
1189 Laurel st., San Carlos, Ca. 94070 415-624-4549
