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About Steve:
The title of Steve K's new album DOWN TO EARTH says a lot about his music. With plenty of “hot, intricate acoustic guitar work” and many
themes portraying a strong sense of place, Steve K's music firmly takes
root in the earthy field of contemporary folk music. Drawing on a palette
of flying fingers, funky rhythms, and colorful sounds, this Gibsons, BC
based musician's songs and instrumentals paint a broad musical
picture that balances his redneck roots and rat race training. The result?
He's like a west coast Chet Atkins shaking his booty down the
bohemian boulevard.
After growing up in Fishbowl, BC, Steve K's professional career began
at the age of 18 when he started playing in dance bands to pay his way
through university. In 1995, Mr. K (a.k.a. Steve Karagianis) graduated
with distinction as a classical guitar performance major and voice minor
from the UVic School of Music where “[he] set a new standard in guitar
excellence” (Dr. Alex Dunn). Through many years of forging a living
performing and touring on four continents at concert halls, festivals,
cruise ships, bars, pubs, coffee houses, TV and radio stations, Steve's
sound evolved into the intricate acoustic music heard on his first full
length album HEADSPACE (2003), acclaimed for its “excellent guitar
playing and songwriting” - (MONDAY MAGAZINE). In that same year,
outfitted with a dry-bagged guitar and his love of the wild, Steve
embarked on the State of the Strait Concert Kayak Tour - a 5 week,
420km concert tour in which he travelled via kayak.
Acclaimed guitar playing and songwriting aside, what really defines
Steve K's music is a sense of place. From DOWN TO EARTH's opening
strains of west coast ethnic fusion in the breathtaking acoustic guitar
instrumental “Ten Gallon Turban” to its symphonic conclusion with the
title track, Mr. K's adventurous fingers endeavour to depict the peaks
and valleys of his homeland. One of the album's strongest tunes,
“Where I Belong”, characterizes the sense of place in his music: it's an
anthemic tribute to Canada's westernmost province featuring K's earthy
baritone alongside the angelic voice of two time Juno winner and fellow
Howe Sounder Shari Ulrich. DOWN TO EARTH also features excellent
musicians Mr. K performs regularly with: percussionist Boyd Grealy
(Uzume Taiko, UVic School of Music grad - Grealy and K's musical
relationship goes back 17 years, when they paid their way through
university in a 50's dance band and then went broke in a progressive
rock band), upright bassist Paul Bergman (Slow Drag, Corcavado, Grant
McEwan School of Music grad), and Sunshine Coast fiddler Serena
Eades (Brandon University School of Music grad). With production
assistance by two time Juno winner Steve Dawson (of Zubot &
Dawson), drum kit by outstanding Vancouver session drummer Phil
Belanger, additional vocals by versatile Cap College voice instructor
Sylvia Zaradic, and engineering work by Juno nominated Sheldon
Zuharko and Liam May, it's an album fit for fans of fine acoustic music
and anyone who appreciates a sense of place.
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