Home » Jazz Musicians » Curtis Stigers

Curtis Stigers

For the award-winning singer, songwriter, and saxophonist, the story keeps getting better. His string of hit singles, millions of albums sold, and a 28-year recording career aside, Stigers’ commitment to artistic growth, and to bringing new tunes to the Great American Songbook, has become unparalleled in modern music.

Barnstorming concert halls, festivals and clubs everywhere from Moscow to Manhattan, accompanied one night by his quartet, another by big band or orchestra, Stigers continues to release new work nearly every year, frequently collaborating with his musical heroes. Along the way, this musician who began his career playing standards in a Boise hotel lobby while moonlighting as drummer in a punk rock band has redefined the constitution of contemporary jazz singing.

“I was the kid who worshipped songs and the musicians who wrote and recorded them,” he remembers. “Back then, pop radio played everything from Aretha Franklin to Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye to Willie Nelson, Joni Mitchell to Elton John. I loved it all, and I studied it.” Often euphoric and always elegant, Stigers possesses a curator’s knack for hearing a song, framing its heart, and making it his own—be it the work of Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Wilco, or The Kinks.

Stigers’ repertoire is a reflection of his appreciation for the fundaments of tone and craft, and for quality—the progression of his work is both organic and practical. “Jazz songs used to be pop songs. Jazz has always been about reinvention,” Stigers notes.

Perhaps because he has penned so many notable songs himself, as well as writing with the likes of legends like Carole King and Barry Mann, Stigers has come to recognize the small, perfect things that are a great melody and lyric, and how to capture them. That songwriting talent also led to an Emmy nomination for co-writing and singing the theme song to the wildly successful TV series Sons Of Anarchy.

It is his rich singing voice, however—singular, balletic, and at turns both mournful and playful—that has landed him on records with the likes of Al Green, Shawn Colvin, in studios with venerated producers like Larry Klein, Danny Kortchmar, and Glen Ballard, and on stages and concert bills with a plethora of legends, including pop and rock greats Eric Clapton, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Prince, Rod Stewart and The Allman Brothers, and jazz giants Nancy Wilson, Al Jarreau, Gerry Mulligan, Randy and Michael Brecker, Chuck Mangione, Toots Thielmans, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Kurt Elling, Diana Krall, John Scofield, and many more.

Read more

Tags

Radio & Podcasts

Curtis Stigers on What It Means to Be a Gentleman

Read "Curtis Stigers on What It Means to Be a Gentleman" reviewed by Leo Sidran


In this episode, musician, singer, songwriter Curtis Stigers on promoting new music in the midst of a pandemic, what it means to be a gentleman, how hanging out in a hotel lobby in Boise changed his life, which lessons he learned from Michael Brecker and Gene Harris, and the difference between a tie and a cravat. ...

Album Review

Curtis Stigers with the Danish Radio Big Band: One More For The Road

Read "One More For The Road" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Curtis Stigers è un cantante pop che ha debuttato nel 1991 con brani di grande appeal commerciale come “I Wonder Why," “Never Saw a Miracle" e “You're All That Matters to Me." Per un decennio ha variato leggermente quel patinato blend di pop, soul, smooth jazz, folk e rock, fino ad abbracciare più decisamente il jazz all'inizio del nuovo millennio. Ha una voce gradevole e interpreta con buon gusto il classico songbook della canzone americana, sul percorso tracciato da Mel ...

182
Album Review

Curtis Stigers: I Think It's Going to Rain Today

Read "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Singing with a relaxed, everyman voice--Randy Newman-esque, with some Dr. John shadings--Curtis Stigers has come up with a dandy set with I Think It's Going To Rain Today. These are well-crafted interpretations of some very well-chosen recent pop songs, rather than the basic American Songbook stuff. Stigers covers blues great Willie Dixon's “My Babe"; Arthur Cradup's “That's All Right," Elvis's first hit on Sun Records; Willie Nelson's classic “Crazy"; Mose Allison's “Everybody's Cryin' Mercy"; Sting's “I Can't Stand Losing You"; ...

152
Album Review

Curtis Stigers: I Think It's Going to Rain Today

Read "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" reviewed by Bridget A. Arnwine


Some singers have it, but still more don't. On I Think It's Going to Rain Today, Curtis Stigers offers living proof that he clearly has it, crossing genres and performing songs by the likes of Randy Newman, Mose Allison, Willie Nelson, Sting, Tom Waits, and Willie Dixon, in addition to several original compositions. By doing so, the former pop vocalist acknowledges without question that his is more than one music. Stigers brings his own flavor to each of ...

298
Album Review

Curtis Stigers: You Inspire Me

Read "You Inspire Me" reviewed by Russell Moon


Curtis Stigers, a former rock singer, is probably most famous for having a song on the soundtrack album of The Bodyguard. You Inspire Me is his third album since he got a haircut and joined the Concord label. Upon first listen the record doesn't stand out, but after repeated play it's become a favorite.

Stigers' singing is similar to that of Lyle Lovett, with speaking occassionally interspersed in the stream. His is something of a whiskey voice, and he has ...

163
Album Review

Curtis Stigers: Baby Plays Around

Read "Baby Plays Around" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


A unique jazz voice from the frontier.

Idaho native and Gene Harris Protégé Curtis Stigers has a voice that is the love child of Harry Connick, Jr. and Betty Carter. His delivery has a rough humor not to be taken too seriously, but serious enough for jazz art. On Baby Plays Around, Stigers basically sings the Chet Baker Songbook in a most un-Chet Baker manner. Everything is here, except “My Funny Valentine." Where Baker sings as a wounded bird, Stigers ...

107
Album Review

Curtis Stigers: Baby Plays Around

Read "Baby Plays Around" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Sometimes it's tough for jazz enthusiasts to cast aside biases about pop music and listen to artists afresh, as if they were hearing a musician or a singer for the first time. And sometimes jazz enthusiasts--and jazz musicians--begrudge success condescendingly, as if the diminution of innate talent is a function of the increase in financial reward.In Curtis Stigers' case, he really does deserve a renewed interest in his jazz singing ability, which had been there all along. Moving ...

Read more articles
112

Radio

Rockwired.com's Jazzed and Blue Presents Multi-Instrumental Jazz Artist Kenny Love and His New Release'Case Sensitive'and Music from Red Hot and Red, Mozik, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Curtis Stigers

Source: Rockwired Media LLC

The latest edition of Jazzed and Blue: Profiles in Blues and Jazz is now available for download at Rockwired.com and features an exclusive interview with multi-instrumental jazz artist Kenny Love regarding his debut solo release Case Sensitive. In the opening segment, Love discusses the inspiration behind the tracks of his new CD, his return to music making after years of success as a music promoter and his ideas for a follow up release. The second half of this edition of ...

42

Radio

Rockwired.com's Latest Edition Of Jazzed And Blue Presents: Native American Jazz Combo Red Hot & Red And Music From Curtis Stigers, The Dangling Success And Hulon

Source: Rockwired Media LLC

The latest edition of Jazzed and Blue: Profiles in Blues and Jazz is now available for download at Rockwired.com and features music and an exclusive interview with drummer Louie Speaking Eagle of the New Mexico-based jazz combo Red Hot and Red. In this opening segment, Speaking Eagle discusses working with pianist Steve Figueroa and bassist Rob “Milo" Jaramillo of Red Hot and Red, connecting with the audience and their plans to cut an official release on their terms. The second ...

45

Radio

Rockwired.com’s Latest Edition Of Jazzed and Blue Presents: Broadway and Television Veteran Tom Wopat And Music From Curtis Stigers, Jane Badler And Marilyn Mcleod

Source: Rockwired Media LLC

The latest edition of Jazzed and Blue: Profiles in Blues and Jazz is now available for download at Rockwired.com and features music and an exclusive interview with Broadway and television veteran Tom Wopat (The Dukes of Hazard). In this opening segment, Wopat discusses his forthcoming release 'Consider it Swung,' working with producer and bassist David Finck and plans for future recordings. The second half of this edition of Jazzed and Blue will feature music from such jazz and blues artists ...

154

Radio

Rockwired.com's Latest Edition of Jazzed and Blue Features the Psychedelic Jazz Sound of Teddy Presberg and music from Curtis Stigers, Luba Mason, The Dangling Success and Barbara Martin

Rockwired.com's Latest Edition of Jazzed and Blue Features the Psychedelic Jazz Sound of Teddy Presberg and music from Curtis Stigers, Luba Mason, The Dangling Success and Barbara Martin

Source: Rockwired Media LLC

The latest edition of Jazzed and Blue: Profiles in Blues and Jazz is now available for download at Rockwired.com and features music and an exclusive interview with the psychedelic sound of jazz guitarist Teddy Presberg, In this opening segment, Presberg discusses the evolution of his sound from his debut CD “Blueprint of Soul" to his follow-up release “Outcries from a Sea of Red” and the recent release three volumes of remixes of his latter album. The second half of this ...

227

Recording

Curtis Stigers to Release New Album

Curtis Stigers to Release New Album

Source: On Target Media Group

Next week, Concord Jazz will release Lost in Dreams, the new album from vocalist-saxophonist Curtis Stigers. Lost in Dreams combines Stigers' signature brand of jazz, soul, pop, and blues along with his take on classic and contemporary standards. A couple members of the Lost in Dreams supporting cast include longtime keyboardist Matthew Fries and drummer Keith Hall along with newcomer bassist Cliff Schmitt. With help from this tight unit, Stigers mixes his own material with a ...

70

Recording

Curtis Stigers - 'Real Emotional' (Concord Records) out Now

Curtis Stigers - 'Real Emotional' (Concord Records) out Now

Source: On Target Media Group

The new album from leading contemporary jazz singer Curtis Stigers titled Real Emotional (Concord Jazz) is available in stores and online now! Real Emotional showcases Stigers' natural vocal ability and his talents as an interpreter of modern standards. The album features 12 tracks including three brand new originals in addition to some classic material including; Tom Waits' 'San Diego Serenade', Bob Dylan's 'I'll Be Your Baby Tonight' and Emmylou Harris' 'I don't Wanna Talk About It Now'. In addition to ...

99

Music Industry

Live Chat With Curtis Stigers

Live Chat With Curtis Stigers

Source: All About Jazz


Photos

Concerts

Apr 6 Sat
Jul 8 Mon
Curtis Stigers
Amager Bio
Copenhagen, Denmark

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

One More For The Road

Concord Music Group
2017

buy

Lost In Dreams

Prestige
2009

buy

Real Emotional

Prestige
2007

buy

I Think It's Going to...

Concord Music Group
2005

buy

You Inspire Me

Concord Music Group
2004

buy

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.