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Steve Varner

Steve Varner was born and raised in Tennessee, where he entered the world of music playing electric bass. The musical ability of this primarily self taught musician soon gained the attention of touring musicians, who took Steve out on the road during the years when most young musical hopefuls were studying in college.

In 1980, Steve moved to the Harrisburg, PA area, where he soon became a local favorite. In addition to his extensive sideman duties as a bassist, Steve also led his own electric quartet, Modern Traffic, taking the role of "guitarist" in the band by playing the piccolo bass. The band recorded an album in 1990 of all Varner originals.

With the Creme de la creme of the PA Jazz scene calling on Steve to play, he decided to learn to play the acoustic bass. Within a ten year period of learning the "upright bass", Steve found himself playing, recording, and touring with some of world's top jazz musicians. Now residing in northern New Jersey, Steve performs in New York, Europe, and with such jazz greats as: Pat Martino, Phil Woods, Dave Liebman, Billy Hart, Rodney Green, Tim Warfield, Eric Alexander, James Moody, Ernie Watts, JD Walter, Bob Dorough, Jean-Michel Pilc, Tom Rainey, Jeff Hirchfield, Rick Margitza, Jack Wilkins, Dennis DeBlasio, Tierney Sutton, Patty Austin, Bill Goodwin, Karrin Allyson, and Jimmy Bruno.

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Album Review

JD Walter: What the World Needs Now

Read "What the World Needs Now" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


JD Walter beckons listeners into a soulful and captivating journey through modern jazz interpretations of non-jazz material. With his unique vocal stylings and innovative arrangements, he brings a fresh perspective to familiar popular tunes, and several jazz standards, while delivering thought-provoking original compositions. From the very first track--Stevie Wonder's “Golden Lady"--it is evident that Walter's vocal prowess is a force to be reckoned with. He dashes along in full flight and then effortlessly shifts into intricate ...

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