| JAZZ PIANIST, COMPOSER and
FILMMAKER Steve Blanco has
been forging ahead with self-made creative
works for over a decade. Born in Nyack, New
York to a French-speaking Moroccan belly
dancer (mother) and film editor with a love
of music and art (father), Blanco was
exposed to artistic expressions from many
different cultures. Growing up he learned
the trumpet then drums and didn't arrive at
the piano until age 23. Blanco’s music has
been called "Progressive Jazz at its finest"
and his latest album Piano Warrior (Art Of
Life Records) is said to "Move like the
warrior of its title - FEROCIOUSLY and in an
ever-changing terrain."
Blanco was selected to serve as a music
composition grant panelist for the
prestigious New York Foundation for the Arts
(NYFA). He has released three critically
acclaimed CDs, produced a music video
(directed by Blanco) and currently leads a
piano trio with Adam Roberts and Sunny Jain,
but performs regularly in solo and duo
settings.
Steve also contributes to the
Munich-based Orkaan Orkestra led by composer
and bassist Juergen Reiter.
In addition to performing music on a
professional level, Blanco has directed
eight short films (many of which have been
official selections at festivals), written a
feature – length script, and scored several
of these films. He has served as writer,
editor and cinematographer either altogether
or in combinations on each of these films.
He has been producer on all.
Blanco accredits his father as a major
influence in bringing to the surface an
array of emotional experiences stemming from
creative masterpieces in music, cinema, art,
writings, and philosophy that he would have
otherwise not been exposed to as a young
child.
From his childhood music has always been
a driving force and ever present in his
existence. After teaching himself for a few
years Blanco privately studied piano before
receiving a B.F.A. from Purchase
Conservatory in New York. Blanco is the
CoFounder of Insomnia Creations with Louis
Cuffari and James Bartolozzi, and a
contributing editor for ic magazine.
TEACHING is an important part of Blanco's
musical life. Just as he remembers those
certain teachers that left a lasting
impression filled with positive energy and a
passion for music, he enjoys sharing his
enthusiasm and knowledge of music and art
with his students. Because of the nature of
his diverse career Blanco is able to teach
all levels and styles in music performance,
composition, and music theory.
Blanco resides in New York City.
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