Steve Beskrone

Versatility is the key to acoustic/electric bassist Steve Beskrone's musical achievements. It is this approach that has led him to a wide range of professional and creative settings.

He has worked and recorded with legends such as:

•Ray Charles (featuring David “Fathead” Newman, Hank Crawford, Marcus Belgrave, B.B.King, Milt Jackson, Jimmy Heath, Johnny Coles and others)

•jazz pianist-composer Horace Silver (with Miles Davis alumnus Bob Berg, trumpet great Tom Harrell and drummer Eddie Gladden)

•jazz guitar icon Pat Martino (with Jim Ridl, Gil Goldstein, Lenny White, Billy Hart)

•master jazz drummer Philly Joe Jones

Some of the other great musicians Steve has worked with include:

Billy Eckstine, Gloria Lynne, Jack Sheldon, Frank Gambale, Charlie Hunter, Tuck Andress, Jimmy Bruno, Dave Stryker, Bobby Watson, Steve Marcus, Kenny Werner, Diane Monroe, Terell Stafford, Ralph Peterson, Terri Lynne Carrington, Karrin Allyson, J.D. Walter, Sheryl Bailey, Uri Caine, John Swana, Todd Horton, Ralph Bowen, Frank Vicari, Michael Pedicin Jr., Arnold Steinhart, Seamus Egan, Elio Villafranca, Arturo Sandoval, Dave Valentin, Oscar Hernandez, Carlos Franzetti, Aaron Graves, Wilby Fletcher, Don Glanden, Siora, Shirley Scott, Ari Hoenig, Mickey Roker and Dorothy Donegan

He's toured, performed and/or recorded with R&B/pop acts like:

Michael Sembello, the 5th Dimension, Freda Payne, Mary Wilson, Maria Muldaur, Melba Moore, Essra Mohawk, Tom Scott, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, the O'Jays, the Three Degrees and the Soul Survivors

Steve's musical pursuits have taken him around the world. He has performed at many international festivals and venues as diverse as:

•Newport Jazz •Antibes Festival in France •North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland •Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy •Frankfurt Jazz Festival in Germany •Fiddlefest in N.Y.C •tours of Japan •Carnegie Hall •Alice Tully Hall •The Blue Note •Birdland •The Bottom Line in N.Y.C.

He has appeared on NBC's Saturday Night Live and PBS' Sesame Street with Ray Charles. He performed on ABC's Good Morning America and CBS' Day And Date show with Pat Martino. He also was part of a televised reunion concert of the original 5th Dimension with Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis on NBC's Today Show. Steve currently can be seen playing bass weekly on the new season of the PBS show, “Christina Cooks” with TV chef Christina Pirello. He can also be seen and heard on the BET network show, “Studio Jams”.

Steve Beskrone's involvement in the showroom and cabaret scene has connected him with a great variety of stars. Among these are:

Shirley Bassey, Leslie Uggams, Maureen McGovern, Jaye P. Morgan, Buddy Greco, Debbie Reynolds, George Burns, Joan Rivers, Chita Rivera, Perry Como, Dean Martin, Helen Reddy, Bobby Rydell, Nell Carter, Don Rickels and many others.

Steve toured the US with the Broadway production of “Dreamgirls” and played for the Walnut Street Theater production of the musicals “Blood Brothers” and “Anything Goes”. He is currently the house bassist at the innovative Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia. Also, Steve was a member of the Philadelphia 76er's HouseBand, playing for 20,000 basketball fans at every home game.

A native of Philadelphia, Steven grew up with the melting pot of musical influences that a city like Philly has to offer. He studied bass with Al Stauffer and attended the Philadelphia Musical Academy. He studied bass there with Neil Courtney of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Steve played in the PMA jazz band under the direction of Evan Solot as well as performing with the PMA orchestra under a variety of conductors. He is now on faculty at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where, for the past 6 years, he's been teaching bass, conducting clinics and coaching various ensembles. For the past 3 years, Steve has been an instructor at Gerald Veasley's Bass Bootcamp. He shares teaching duties there with many world class players including Doug Wimbish, Victor Wooten, Bakithi Kumalo, Gary Willis and Michael Manring.

Steve's bass style can be described as supportive, sensitive and soulful with a unique, melodic and singing solo voice.