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Uffe Steen

Danish guitar-virtuoso and local hero, Uffe Steen, is slowly but surely making his presence felt on the internet with his absolutely breathtaking chops and imaginative playing.

As a lefty, growing up with only a right hand guitar around, Steen wasted no time – he just flipped it and got busy playing upside down. By the time he learned that the strings were supposed to go the other way, he was already neck-deep in developing his own style. This pragmatic approach to the instrument might be part of what makes his playing so unique.

As a young man, Steen actually studied the clarinet, not the guitar, at the Royal Academy of Music in Denmark.

Luckily for us, he chose to devote his attention to the guitar after finishing his studies. Though he sees himself as a musician first, Steen has taught guitar at the Royal Academy since 1982, where he is also an associate professor. He has authored several instructional books for the guitar on blues and jazz playing. It’s difficult to describe Steen’s playing style. It has the same feel as when David Gilmour plays, where nothing ever sounds rushed or difficult. His bends are wide and clear with an almost vocal-like phrasing a bit like the great Albert King. Even with those great masters in mind, Steen still doesn’t really sound like anybody else and no one else sounds quite like him – a hallmark of the truly great musicians. He uses different edges of the pick, picks in different positions along the pickups, and switches from pick to fingers for a plethora of tones. By using his volume and tone controls, he gets a wealth of dynamics and tones from his simple guitar-into-an-amp setup.

At the same time, Steen keeps impeccable timing, comping away in the background until it’s his time to shine. Sometimes he’ll even make up musical comments to a song on the spot. Like making the guitar cluck like a hen. Not just chicken picking – the actual way a chicken sounds!

With a busy touring schedule, Steen’s approach to playing is that it has to be fun. That’s why he keeps challenging himself by learning new material and new ways to play. His tireless work ethic and will to explore different genres has meant that Steen has evaded the pitfalls of falling into habits and staying in the comfort zone.

Since he started performing in 1966, he has fronted several jazz ensembles but also served as sideman extraordinaire, lending his skills to different artists in a wide range of genres from folk to jazz and blues. With four solo records under his belt and over 80 album appearances since he started recording in the early seventies, Steen is a veteran with a distinguished recording career. His last record, Twangs, from 2011 was an eclectic mix of jazz, country, americana and blues, showcasing his mastery of the guitar and deep knowledge of the genres.

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5
Album Review

Jens Jefsen: Music Between Gigs

Read "Music Between Gigs" reviewed by Mark Sullivan


Danish bassist Jens Jefsen returns with another bass-centric album which is definitely not “solo bass," a sequel to A Secret Sigh (Gateway Music, 2016). Like the previous album the music emphasizes melody--which Jefsen finds in standards, modern pop songs and his originals--and varied, colorful arrangements. Jefsen's “Esto Es Lo Mio" opens the set with a sprightly pizzicato double bass melody (accompanied by overdubbed bass and foot stomping). Guitarist Uffe Steen (a repeat guest from Sigh) contributes accompaniment and a comparably ...

21
Album Review

Uffe Steen: Retroscope

Read "Retroscope" reviewed by Jim Worsley


Every once in a while it happens. You never know when. You never who its going to be. Listening to a lot of music increases the odds. Still, one can go a stretch before experiencing that “moment." Hats off to Danish guitarist Uffe Steen for providing such a treat for the ear and for the human psyche. Retroscope is the latest project from the veteran blues/jazz/why put a label on it, left-handed guitarist (he plays a right-handed guitar ...

124
Album Review

Uffe Steen: Play

Read "Play" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Guitarist Uffe Steen is one unmelancholy Dane. If that sounds like a left--handed compliment, well, he does play left--handed. And does he ever Play! Bluesy cascades of sound, single--note or chordal, fly off his fretboard like squadrons of worker bees beaming in on one's verdant flower garden. This concert performance in Aarhus catches Steen's trio (bassist Lennart Ginman, American drummer Adam Nussbaum) on a very good night (not that they have any bad ones, but there's always that chance).

137
Album Review

Uffe Steen: Play

Read "Play" reviewed by David Adler


Uffe Steen, the 47-year-old Danish guitarist, rips it up on this new live record, culled from three European performances in mid-September of last year. Steen is joined by his countryman Lennart Ginman on double bass and none other than Adam Nussbaum on drums. Nussbaum, of course, has logged many hours backing major American axemen like Mike Stern, John Scofield, and John Abercrombie. While Steen has much in common with these rock-influenced heavy hitters, he really doesn’t sound like them at ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Music Between Gigs

Gateway Music
2021

buy

Retroscope

Uffe Steen-01
2020

buy

Doppler Effect

Self Produced
2018

buy

Play

Stunt Records/Sundance Music
2001

buy

Videos

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