About Steve Banks
Steve Banks is a UK guitarist, composer, bandleader, and session musician. Steve released his debut album, Emboldened, in 2023 on Stoney Lane Records to enthusiastic critical acclaim followed by performances across the UK.
“All the compositions are heartfelt and honest, as are the performances. A chronicle of hard-won optimism and hope. An elegant response to troubled times” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Jazz album of the month
BBC Music Magazine
“This excellent debut album as leader is well worth the wait and delivered with an original voice. Banks conveys an authenticity that brings a fresh voice to the world of jazz. An invigorating listening experience with clearly defined energy and character, there is a delight in its originality” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
UK Vibe
“Purposeful precision and smart invention . . . tightly written, long unfolding melodic structures weaving the musicians into braided soundscapes . . . deserving of a much wider audience” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jazzwise
“An excellent debut recording. Banks has developed a strong individual voice as an intelligent composer and distinctive guitar stylist. He plays with a controlled intensity; fluent, joyous and, at times, stratospheric” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Jazz Mann
“Emboldened is a truly distinctive and personal work that should leave you captivated from start to finish. Listening to these tunes feels like you’re experiencing the view of a breath-taking natural wonder; it makes you feel smaller as your world expands” 9/10
Blues and Soul Magazine
Steve’s music has been arranged for jazz orchestra with choir in collaboration with Jonathan Silk, with performances including WYJO, University of Birmingham Jazz Orchestra & Choir, Guildhall Jazz Orchestra & Choir and Leeds Contemporary Jazz Orchestra.
Steve’s captivating style and versatility have kept him much in demand for many successful music projects, most notably playing electric, acoustic, baritone and nylon string guitars on Sara Colman’s albums ‘What We’re Made Of’ and ‘Ink On A Pin’, with credits as composer, co-composer and arranger. Both albums feature jazz sextet with string quartet and received high UK/US critical acclaim including Jazzwise Magazine’s ‘Top 10 albums of 2018’, ‘Best of Jazz on Bandcamp’ and 5 stars by UK Vibe.
Steve is an enthusiastic and experienced educator. Alongside private tuition, he has designed and taught degree courses and workshops for individuals, groups and ensembles across the UK since 2007, also preparing jazz students for undergraduate and post-graduate study at UK conservatoires.