Steve Newcomb Biography
stevenewcomb.net
SHORTEST (195)
Steve Newcomb is an Australian pianist, composer, and arranger known for his distinctive touch on the piano and intricate compositions that merge jazz and contemporary music. Equally at home as a soloist and collaborator, he performs across a range of genres, making “music in a knotty zone where Thelonious Monk meets classical music” (Sydney Morning Herald).
Steve has written for artists spanning pop and classical music, from Ben Folds, Augie March, and The Panics to the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras. He leads the Steve Newcomb Orchestra, a chamber jazz project blending jazz trio with strings, winds, harp, and voice.
Based in Brisbane, Steve is Senior Lecturer and Head of Jazz at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. He holds a Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied under Kenny Barron and Jim McNeely.
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SHORT (262)
Steve Newcomb is an Australian pianist, composer, and arranger celebrated for his nuanced pianism and intricate compositions that bridge jazz and contemporary music. Performing internationally as a soloist and collaborator, his work has been described as “music in a knotty zone where Thelonious Monk meets classical music” (Sydney Morning Herald).
Steve’s compositions span genres, from pop artists such as Ben Folds, Augie March, and The Panics to major classical ensembles including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras. He leads the Steve Newcomb Orchestra, a chamber jazz ensemble merging jazz trio with strings, winds, harp, and voice, releasing Caterpillar Chronicles in 2013.
As an arranger, Steve has worked with numerous artists and organizations, known for his exploratory and “lavish” style (Sydney Morning Herald). His long-standing collaboration with Katie Noonan includes the ARIA award-winning First Seed Ripening (2011) and With Love and Fury (2016) with the Brodsky Quartet.
Based in Brisbane, Steve is Senior Lecturer and Head of Jazz at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. He holds a Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Kenny Barron, Jim McNeely, and others.
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LONG (456)
Steve Newcomb is an Australian pianist, composer, and arranger renowned for his distinctive touch on the piano and detailed compositions that blend jazz with contemporary classical influences. Equally at home as a soloist and collaborator, he has performed worldwide, from Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House to Berlin’s A-Train and the Wangaratta Jazz Festival. His work has been described as “music in a knotty zone where Thelonious Monk meets classical music” (Sydney Morning Herald).
Steve’s compositions have been commissioned by a broad range of artists and ensembles, from pop acts like Ben Folds, Augie March, and The Panics to leading classical institutions such as the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras. He leads the Steve Newcomb Orchestra, a chamber jazz ensemble fusing jazz trio with strings, winds, harp, and voice. His debut album, Caterpillar Chronicles, was released in 2013.
As an arranger, Steve is sought after for his exploratory and “lavish” style (Sydney Morning Herald). His long-standing collaboration with Katie Noonan includes the ARIA award-winning First Seed Ripening (2011), the acclaimed LOVE SONG CIRCUS (2012), Transmutant (2015), and With Love and Fury (2016) featuring the Brodsky Quartet. His work on Chris McNulty’s ETERNAL (2015) received a 4.5-star Downbeat review.
Steve’s commissions span jazz, orchestral, and experimental projects, including works for jazz philharmonic with Stefon Harris at the Manhattan School of Music, big band and choir for the Queensland Music Festival, and a toy piano concerto for the Perth International Arts Festival. He has arranged for large ensembles such as the Metropole Orkest, Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra, and the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra.
Based in Brisbane, Steve is Senior Lecturer and Head of Jazz at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. He regularly teaches in workshops and masterclasses worldwide, mentoring emerging musicians. Steve holds a Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Kenny Barron, Jim McNeely, Dave Liebman, and others.
