From Accordion to Piano: The Musical Voyage of Steve Bach

Steve Bach photo by Yann Arnaud

A Journey Through Jazz: Influences, Inspirations, and Iconic Moments

Steve Bach’s musical journey began unexpectedly with the accordion at the tender age of four, thanks to a door-to-door salesman offering free lessons. “We were lower middle class, and that sounded like a great idea because I really loved music,” Steve recalls. His early mastery of the accordion proved useful, especially during his time in the circus—a story he shares with a laugh.

However, it was in high school that Steve discovered his true passion. “The serious colleges didn’t recognize the accordion as an actual instrument,” he explains. This realization led him to the piano, which he practiced with great diligence, driven by his newfound love for the instrument. His first piece was a challenging Chopin waltz, which he mastered despite the difficulties transitioning from the accordion. “When you play the accordion, the loudness and softness comes from pulling and pushing on the bellows with more or less force.” Steve explains, “The hardest part was figuring out how to use only my fingers to create the changes in volume needed to show the emotion of the music.”

Steve’s dedication paid off, allowing him to enroll as a Theory and Composition Major at the Crane School of Music. Reflecting on his journey, he says, “After thousands of hours of practice at University, I finally began to feel like a real piano player!”

When asked about the jazz artist who first captivated him, Steve fondly remembers listening to Ramsey Lewis at 14 and trying to mimic his licks in the basement. This was the beginning of his jazz & blues education, which was later fueled by Oscar Peterson’s trio. “My mind was completely blown! I thought to myself if this is what a normal jazz pianist sounds like I should probably give up now!” But instead of giving up, Steve dedicated himself to reaching his full potential as a pianist! Even after all of his continued success, reaching his highest potential is something that he is still working toward.

Steve has had the rare privilege of performing on stage with numerous renowned musicians, including Stanley Clarke, Sergio Mendez, Chick Corea, and Michael Brecker, among many others. Despite these incredible experiences, he remains humble and deeply grateful. Steve also highlights his current band in the 417 area, featuring Landon Rolfe on bass, John Anderson on drums, Paul Price on guitar, and Randy Hamm on saxophone, with special mentions for Will and Jacob Henderson on drums. He adds, “I have also had the extreme pleasure of making music with my three amazing children: S.A. Bach on bass, guitar, and drums; Allie Bach on vocals and bass; and Casey Bach on flute and piccolo. You can see some of that on my IG page.”

Steve’s admiration for Keith Jarrett shines through when he describes him as “the greatest pianist in the world.” His favorite jazz record label, ECM, is where most of Jarrett’s albums were recorded, and Steve’s own album, Yes and Know, was his way of capturing that ECM style. You can check out Yes and Know on spotify.

As for his musical style, Steve describes it as a mix of Jazz, Blues, neo-Jazz, Brazilian rhythm, and Funk. “My goal is first of all to enjoy listening to what I am creating in the moment. And always to play in my authentic voice and style so that I can recognize myself when I listen back to it. Finding and expressing my musical voice and creating a body of work that can live on has been one of the biggest challenges and joys in my life. ”

Steve is currently working with Cirque du Soleil on their new Christmas show but plans to return to performing with his band in 2025. Until then, fans can enjoy his music on Spotify and social media listed below

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/stevebachmusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bach1/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3D5yBvdAeYy4tUd7hHXCzS?si=0-9NprugSbiEZGzUnvnOMQ

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wayunderpar   

Tik Tok: @stevebachmusic

Website: https://stevebach.com/

Steve Bach photo by Yann Arnaud

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