Sten Hostfalt

Sten Hostfalt

Musicians | Instrument: Guitar | Location: New York City

Sten Hostfalt is a leading innovative guitarist and composer working on the New York music scene of today. He performs with some of the most original and unique voices in modern music and has been called 'highly exceptional' by legendary American music icon Jimmy Giuffre and 'virtuosic' by musical innovator Joe Maneri.

—Jon Damian, Fresh Music

Updated: November 24, 2023

Born: December 14, 1962

Manifested in a four-decade innovative commitment to music, via exploration of the parameter of pitch, and self-invented instrumental techniques, contributing to the expansion of the vocabulary of the guitar, and to music of our time. Sten Höstfält (Hearst-felt) is a leading innovative guitarist and composer working on the New York music scene of today. He performs with some of the most original, unique voices in modern music, and has been called highly exceptional by legendary icon of American Music Jimmy Giuffre, and virtuosic by musical innovator Joe Maneri (Jon Damian, Fresh Music, 2015). His music has been labeled genuinely innovative, predicted as groundbreaking in the future (Jazz Review, 2005), and among the most riveting explorations of the microtonal world ever recorded (Signal to Noise, 2005).

This year, Hostfalt celebrates two decades of performances/recordings of original microtonal music since the 2002 recording of 29 Pieces for The Microtonal Guitar Live at Knitting Factory New York, an album critically regarded a seminal work for microtonal music in the improvised idiom. Documented by a re-release of 29 Pieces, along with 'Transformations' featuring compositions commissioned for a 2014 solo concert at the XXXV Encontre Internacional Compositors, at Pilar i Joan Miro' Palma de Mallorca. As well as a 2018 duo recording with Italian avant-garde trumpet player Johnny Lapio, and the compilation Microtonal Works Vol.1. All released on Sonus Rex.

Sten Höstfält was introduced on the New York jazz scene through early 1990's Berklee College of Music facilitated apprenticeships in orchestras led by Herb Pomeroy and Phil Wilson. Via Performances and collaborations with mentors Jimmy Giuffre and Paul Bley, the latter of whom initiated Hostfalt's debut recording as a leader. And concerts with masters of Jazz Gary Burton, Peter Erskine, Clare Fischer, Rob McConnell, and Bobby Shew. As well as, as one of the 'brilliant soloists' (David R. Adler, All Music Guide, 1995) in 'one of the better continuing experiments in New York', (Peter Watrous, NY Times, 1995), the first edition of Guillermo Klein's ensemble. In which he appeared with Mark Turner, Chris Cheek, Seamus Blake, Melvin Butler, Aaron Goldberg and Jeff Ballard weekly at the since influential Jazz Club, Smalls, during the inception of the venue, and on Klein's 'frenzied, passionate, interesting and finely executed' (Marcela Breton, Jazz Times 1997) album for Candid records 'El Minotauro'.

Initially self-taught as a musician and composer, Luleå-born, Swedish-American Hostfalt's early musical experiences combined non-formal and formal formats through activity on the 1980's Scandinavian Progressive/New Wave scene, in parallel with classical guitar studies. Hearing finger-style nine-string blues guitar legend Big Joe Williams solo live, and participating in a workshop with Jazz piano master Horace Parlan. As well as work as a street musician in Copenhagen and Paris was followed by a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, and membership in the institutions legendary 'Recording Band' led by Herb Pomeroy.

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282
Album Review

Sten Hostfalt: Eternity Check

Read "Eternity Check" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


A good deal of music that falls into the free jazz/improvised music category can sound like unstructured noise to the uninitiated listener, like the sounds made by a ensemble of adolescents without a year's worth of musical training between them noodling away on unfamiliar instruments.“Turn it up loud and listen again," a mentor once told me in answer to my question: “What the hell is Ornette Coleman doing on Free Jazz ?" I did; eventually things began to ...

559
Album Review

Sten Hostfalt: 29 Pieces for the Microtonal Guitar: Live at Knitting Factory New York

Read "29 Pieces for the Microtonal Guitar: Live at Knitting Factory New York" reviewed by John Kelman


Multi-instrumentalist Joe Maneri's recent release Angles of Repose demonstrated exactly how cogent his microtonal approach to improvisation has been, using extended techniques to expand on the sonic capabilities of more traditional instruments. Clearly inspired by Maneri, Sten Hostfalt takes the more rigid confines of the guitar and transforms it into an instrument equally capable of exploring the minute spaces between traditional notes by using altered tunings, mechanical preparations and electronically enhanced techniques. The result, 29 Pieces for the Microtonal Guitar ...

274
Album Review

The Sandviken Big Band: 30 Years in Business...

Read "30 Years in Business..." reviewed by Jack Bowers


I've heard and reviewed a great number of marvelous big'band albums from Europe, but none that surpasses this dynamic concert date by Sweden's superb Sandviken Big Band which has 'desert island candidate' written all over it. One can present nothing beyond an acclamatory appraisal, as Sandviken simply provides no credible reason for censure ' nor do its superb guest artists, trumpeter Bobby Shew and organist / composer Kjell 'hman. Shew, whose stylish horn has embellished big bands all over the ...

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Articles Across the Web

...or were mentioned in an All About Jazz article.

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Performance / Tour

Dimensional States For Orchestra: The Microtonal Music Of Sten Hostfalt At Shapeshifter Lab on June 19

Dimensional States For Orchestra: The Microtonal Music Of Sten Hostfalt At Shapeshifter Lab  on June 19

Source: Sten Hostfalt

After the successful March 13 2014 debut concert performance of composer/guitarist Sten Hostfalts large microtonal ensemble Dimensional States (a 15-piece featuring 2 dancers) at ShapeShifter Lab Brooklyn NY, follows the second (11-piece) June 19 2014 incarnation of the unique orchestra exclusively performing Sten Hostfalt compositions. Constance Cooper - voice Robyn Siwula - viola Takuya Nakamura - trumpet Ole Mathisen - tenor saxophone Claire de Brunner - bassoon Stan Nishimura - ...

Performance / Tour

Dimensional States: The Microtonal Music Of Sten Hostfalt At Shapeshifter Lab

Dimensional States: The Microtonal Music Of Sten Hostfalt At Shapeshifter Lab

Source: Sten Hostfalt

March 13 2014, sets at 8.30pm + 9.30pm ShapeShifter Lab 18 Whitwell Place Brooklyn NY 11215 TRIO ( 8.30 pm ) Sten Hostfalt guitar, Shayna Dulberger bass, Dave Miller drums ORCHESTRA ( 9.30 pm ) Liliana Santon voice Constance Cooper voice Robyn Siwula viola Takuya Nakamura trumpet Noah Preminger tenor saxophone Claire de Brunner bassoon Stan Nishimura trombone ...

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Performance / Tour

Sten Hostfalt Solo Performance at ABC No Rio NYC

Sten Hostfalt Solo Performance at ABC No Rio NYC

Source: Sten Hostfalt

Award-winning New York City composer and virtuoso guitarist Sten Hostfalt is known for over two decades of documented innovative contribution to the international creative music scene, and for he past decade mainly for his critically acclaimed work as a leader using original groundbreaking instrumental techniques for interpreting former mentor Joe Maneri's ET 72 note system to the traditional 6 string / 12 fret guitar. This year, with his 7th album as a leader due out on the Sonus Rex NYC ...

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Performance / Tour

Sten Hostfalt Solo Standards at Symphony Space NYC August 25 2011

Sten Hostfalt Solo Standards at Symphony Space NYC August 25 2011

Source: Sten Hostfalt

Sten Hostfalt Standards Solo @ Symphony Space's Thalia Cafe' NYC August 25 2011 (at 7pm / no cover) presenting music by a genuinely innovative musician, reflecting the 80's spent in creative improvised music, the 90's as an apprentice in noted traditional jazz orchestras on tour in Europe, South America and USA and the recent decade as a celebrated solo performer and bandleader developing an original musical expression, through the legacy of mentors legendary Icons of American Music and Jazz Jimmy ...

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Performance / Tour

Sten Hostfalt Trio featuring Dave Miller, Blaise Siwula Live at National Underground (NYC) May 21, 2011

Sten Hostfalt Trio featuring Dave Miller, Blaise Siwula Live at National Underground (NYC) May 21, 2011

Source: Sten Hostfalt

Celebrating the two Spring 2011 Sonus Rex NYC CD releases Now Matter and Moneytown Sonus Rex NYC proudly presents Sten Hostfalt Trio featuring Dave Miller and Blaise Siwula in concert at National Underground, Saturday May 21 2011. National Underground 159 E Houston Street New York NY 10002 9pm / $11 Dave Miller—drums Blaise Siwula—alto/tenor saxophone Sten Hostfalt—guitar Award-Winning, critically acclaimed guitar virtuoso phenom, composer and bandleader Sten Hostfalt's unique original artistry carries ...

54

Performance / Tour

Blaise Siwula and Sten Hostfalt at University Of The Streets Thursday Feb 24

Blaise Siwula and Sten Hostfalt at University Of The Streets Thursday Feb 24

Source: Sten Hostfalt

Blaise Siwula—saxophone and Sten Hostfalt—guitar live in concert at The University Of The Streets NYC Thursday February 24 2011 at 8pm / $10 This Feb. 24 2011 concert performance, originally scheduled with guitarist Dom Minasi, was due to illness, switched to guitarist colleague, and Siwula's regular duo companion for the past three years, Sten Hostfalt. Sten Hostfalt / Blaise Siwula's duo CD 'Now Matter,' released on the Sonus Rex label, Jan. 30 2011, is available worldwide ...

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Performance / Tour

Sten Hostfalt's K*MOD at Shrine NYC Friday Jan 14, 2011

Sten Hostfalt's K*MOD at Shrine NYC Friday Jan 14, 2011

Source: Sten Hostfalt

Sten Hostfalt's K*MOD Live at Shrine NYC Friday January 14 2011at 6pm (2 sets) / $10 suggested Described as Genuinely Innovative and Groundbreaking by Don Williamson of Jazz Review, Impressive by Time Out NY, Inimitable by Paper Magazine as well as Virtuosic, Original and Highly Exceptional by legendary icons of American music Joe Maneri, George Russell and Jimmy Giuffre respectively. And with three decades spent in creative music and two of them on the NYC and international scene alongside some ...

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Performance / Tour

Guitarist Sten Hostfalt with NYJA at Carnegie Hall Dec 26 2010

Guitarist Sten Hostfalt with NYJA at Carnegie Hall Dec 26 2010

Source: Sten Hostfalt

Guitarist Sten Hostfalt appears in NY Jazz Academy's Faculty and Student concert at Carnegie Hall's Isaac Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage Sunday December 26 at 7.30 Arranged & staged by NYJA founder/director Javier Arau The N Y J A big band ensemble also features among other faculty members tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, vocalist Carolyn Leonhart and guitarist Tom Dempsey NYJA ticket donations can be made online at nyjazzacademy.com The event is part of the USA-Japan goodwill series more info at carnegiehall.org Carnegie ...

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Performance / Tour

Sten Hostfalt 3 or 4 at Nublu NYC Feat. Ole Mathisen & Marko Djordjevic

Sten Hostfalt 3 or 4 at Nublu NYC Feat. Ole Mathisen & Marko Djordjevic

Source: Michael Ricci


'The total immersion of a miniverse of finely etched detail taken to glorious extremes, 29 Pieces for The Microtonal Guitar is among the most riveting explorations of the microtonal world ever recorded. It's fine focus and beauty of detail puts the cycle in a class with John Cage's exquisite 'Sonatas and Preludes for Prepared Piano' - Larry Cosentino, SIGNAL TO NOISE MAGAZINE Genuinely Innovative-May Be Considered Groundbreaking Don Williamson JAZZ REVIEW Inimitable PM NYC / PAPER MAGAZINE Impressive, Intense TIME OUT NY Sten Hostfalt Takes The More Rigid Confines Of The Guitar and Transforms it, Showing Just How Far an Instrument Can Be Bent and Altered to Meet a More Experimental and Adventurous Need - Taking You On A Journey To A Place Where Anything is Possible John Kelman ALL ABOUT JAZZ Another Angle On Exploring Tone Colors That You Will Not Want To Miss Grego Applegate Edwards CADENCE MAGAZINE Highly Logical in A Completely Different Way JAZZ NOW Virtuosic For Sure Joe Maneri Highly Exceptional Jimmy Giuffre

Primary Instrument

Guitar

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Sten Hostfalt (b. Lulea, Sweden 1962) is an internationally acclaimed musician, composer, guitar virtuoso, bassist, producer, independent record label proprietor, and music educator with three decades of documented innovative contribution to the international music scene, alongside leading names in jazz and contemporary improvised music. 

A former instructor at The Royal College of Music in Stockholm, and since 2009, and an invited lecturer at New World School of The Arts, at the University of Florida, Miami FL, Mr. Hostfalt has served as an instructor in Classical and Jazz Guitar, Bass, Piano, and Electronic Music at Columbia University's Teachers College, and via the Office of Continuing Education at Queensborough Community College, City University of New York CUNY*. Disclaimer: Sten Hostfalt's NYC Guitar Studio is not affiliated with Queensborough Community College or The City University of New York.

He holds a Master's Degree in Music Education from Columbia University's Teacher's College, with a NY State K-12 teaching certificate via CUNY at Brooklyn College, a Master of Music Degree in jazz Composition, and a Graduate Diploma in Jazz Performance from New England Conservatory, as an honors emissary, as well as a Bachelor of Music Degree in Professional Music from Berklee College of Music with honors and as an Outstanding Musicianship Recipient.

With numerous students active as professional musicians and educators in their own right. Since 2006, Sten Hostfalt has conducted his own New York City creative music of all ages, multi-genre music instruction studio, also known as one of few facilities anywhere offering systematic studies of the application and interpretation of microtonal music.

As a natural development of an innovative contribution to the New York City music scene during the past three decades (since 1994) alongside leading jazz musicians of our time. Academically formalized via education studies at Columbia University, and CUNY and through an internship at Fordham University at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Mr. Hostfalt currently implements instrumental music programs for the NYC Department of Education at P.S.189K and P.S./I.S. 295Q, where he teaches general music, including theory/composition, ensemble, piano, guitar, percussion, and wind instruments.

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Paul Bley
piano
Eric Dolphy
woodwinds
Jimmy Giuffre
clarinet
Joe Maneri
saxophone