Steve Rochinski
| Steve Rochinski | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
20 January 1954 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Labels | Jardis, LineOut, Heavy Hitters |
| Associated acts | Tony Tillman, Tim Hagans, Greg Hopkins |
Stephen Rochinski (born 20 January 1954) is a self-taught bebop jazz guitarist and educator.
He has worked and performed with Tal Farlow, Attila Zoller, Jimmy Raney, Pete and Conte Candoli, Tim Hagans, Joe Lovano, Greg Hopkins, Gary Foster, Pat Harbison, Jeff Sherman, Hal Melia, Chip Stephens, Hank Marr, Brad Goode, Joe Hunt, Scott Lee, Chuck Redd, Richard Evans, Bob Freedman, Tony Tillman, as well as numerous studio, concert, club date, and international clinic appearances.
Biography
Rochinski has received numerous grants and awards including a 1993 Jazz Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts for private study with Tal Farlow. In 1984, after leaving the road as the music director, guitarist, and arranger for the Tony Tillman Show, he became a professor at his alma mater, the Berklee College of Music, where, in addition to curriculum development and consulting, he teaches all levels of harmony. He is the author of Harmony 4, the last in a series of Core harmony curriculum text books. He also teaches arranging, ear training, ensembles, and improvisation. He is the author of The Jazz Style of Tal Farlow: The Elements of Bebop Guitar and The Motivic Basis for Jazz Guitar Improvisation.
One of the highlights of his performance career was his selection as one of a handful of guitarists to perform at the 1996 JVC Jazz Festival 75th birthday tribute concert for Tal Farlow at Merkin Hall in New York City. He teamed up with Attila Zoller and Andrei Ryabov to perform Zoller's "Homage to O.P.". Other guitarists who appeared at this historic concert event were Johnny Smith, Howard Alden, Herb Ellis, John Abercrombie, Gene Bertoncini, and Sal Salvador.
In 1995, he released his debut album, Until Further Notice, with Grammy-winning producer Richard Evans. He currently records for Jardis Records. His releases include A Bird in the Hand, Otherwise, and Jazz Guitar Highlights Vol. 1.
In November 2001, he was featured in Just Jazz Guitar (November 2001).
In January 2014, he was honored with Berklee's Distinguished Professor Award.
External links
- Rochinski's page at Jardis record label at the Wayback Machine (archived September 22, 2007)
References
- Just Jazz Guitar (November 2001)
- Who's Who in America 2005–2009 (Marquis Publishing)
- The Jazz Style of Tal Farlow: The Elements of Bebop Guitar (Hal Leonard Corporation)
- The Motivic Basis for Jazz Guitar Improvisation (Hal Leonard Corporation)