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Rolf Sturm

GRolf’s guitar playing has earned the praise of Joe Pass, Jim Hall, John Abercrombie, and Bill Frisell. He appears on over 60 CDs. He has performed with or played on recordings that feature: Tony Trischka, Loudon Wainwright, Anthony Braxton, David Johansen, John Medeski, Billy Martin, Glen Velez, Maggie Roche, Jorma Kaukonen, Roswell Rudd, Dave Douglas, Ike Willis, Eddy Arnold, Pablo Aslan, Catherine Russell, Giora Feidman, and members of the Grateful Dead. He is a member of “Tomas Ulrich's Cargo Cult” and he co- leads the NYC trio “Tricycle”. Rolf is also a member of the “Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble” and the “Walter Thompson Orchestra”.

Rolf has toured the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, and the UK, performing at dozens of jazz, jam band/rock, folk, and blues festivals (including the World Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany, the JVC Jazz Festival, the Boston Folk Festival, the Syracuse Jazz Festival, Ripplefest, Music On The Mountain Festival, and the Toronto Jazz Festival.). He has performed at Lincoln Center, and Town Hall in NYC, and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He has appeared on soundtracks for both film and television and his music has been featured on National Public Radio’s All Songs Considered. His solo guitar recording, “Balance”, received rave reviews and was awarded 4 stars in DownBeat magazine.

“Rolf Sturm is an astounding fingerstyle player effortlessly alternating between swinging jazz chords and beautifully executed single note lines. His improvisational abilities are both impressive and expressive.”, wrote James Scott from his Minor 7th review of Rolf’s “Balance” CD. “..Sturm is a prodigious talent and is an unparalleled virtuoso of the nylon stringed guitar. ”Balance” is highly recommended and should be required listening for all fans of contemporary music.”

He has a new solo acoustic recording entitled, “Young”, release date: mid April 2016.

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1
Album Review

Rolf Sturm: Young

Read "Young" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Albums featuring a lone instrument are often the most difficult to review, especially if the writer is not a musician. After commenting on technique, sound and musical selections, what more is there to say? It is even more troublesome when said instrument is a guitar, as there are legions of virtuosos on the scene today, both here and abroad, the bulk of whom sound nearly identical to the untrained ear. And it is with these caveats in ...

2
Album Review

Rolf Sturm: Young

Read "Young" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Guitarist Rolf Sturm has found himself on two recent and exceptional recordings: Roswell Rudd and Heather Masse's August Love Song (Red House, 2016) and Jenna Mammina & Rolf Strum's Spark. He is a guitarist of expansive facility and a sense of humor, to boot. Take his present Young as an example. The release began conceptual life as a collection of Victor Young compositions. You know...the guy who wrote “When I Fall in Love," Moonlight Serenade," “Love Letters," My Foolish Heart," ...

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“ FOUR STARS... 10 solo acoustic performances that resonate with verve. Sturm’s style encompasses elements of classical, American roots music and flamenco, and he mixes them so seamlessly and constantly that they become their own anagram... each piece is suffused with tremendous energy and movement.” - DownBeat February, 2011 by James Hale

"Sturm is a prodigious talent and is an unparalleled virtuoso of the nylon stringed guitar. "Balance" is highly recommended and should be required listening for all fans of contemporary music." - Minor 7th Webzine Jan/Feb 2011 by James Scott

"Not since the likes of Charlie Byrd, Laurindo Almeda, Bola Sete, Eddie Duran, and Gene Bertoncini has the classic guitar made such a successful cross over into jazz..

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Young

Water Street Music
2016

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Balance

Water Street Music
2010

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Videos

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