Reviews & Interviews & Articles
STEVE OLIVER
By Brian Soergel
In 1999, as Smooth Jazz News' debut artist of the year, guitarist Steve Oliver was only four months removed from the release of his debut CD, First View, and its compelling mix of songs featuring guitar and voice. Smooth jazz audiences immediately took to such catchy instrumental songs as “West End” and “Highway One,” as well as vocal tracks like “I Know.” That affection continued with 2002's Positive Energy and the radio hits “High Noon” and “Positive Energy.” Oliver gained even more exposure as the Weather Channel added that CD's “Right Direction” into heavy rotation during its local weather breaks. Oliver has now also released 3D, Radiant, Snowfall and One Night Live.
So Oliver is celebrating 10 years of releasing music as Smooth Jazz News celebrates 10 years of publishing. And Oliver still remembers how excited he was when he found out he was to be in the magazine's first issue.
“It was so cool to get that honor,” he recalled. “I was doing a performance at Borders in San Diego to promote First View and Melanie Maxwell (Smooth Jazz News founder and publisher) introduced herself after the show. She said she was starting a smooth jazz magazine and wanted to make me is debut artist of the year. I was tickled pink. It was an honor. I was just learning how to be a solo artist and to have people say they love what you do was really cool.”
A decade later, the challenges Oliver faces as a musician with a changed landscape don't seem to bother him. He says 2009 has been his busiest touring year ever. He's toured the United States, Canada, Germany and Spain. In fact, Oliver doesn't like to use the word “challenge.”
“I never look at what's happening as a challenge. It's more of a good thing. The way things have changed, we're in control of our own destiny more. Before, it was always labels telling artists what to play, what to do, which producer to use, and these are the songs you're going to play. I never went down that road. The good thing is now it's come full circle since there aren't that many record labels. Now is the time for artists to write the music they want to write and make the records they want to record. They can become artists again. It's very liberating from 10 years ago to now.”
One way Oliver is growing is by trying to expose his music to diverse audiences. He recently performed on the famous Tiger Cruise aboard the USS Ronald Reagan Navy aircraft carrier. His four shows were heard by more than 7,000 people, including Navy officers, crew and their families.
“All the shows went well, and we made more fans,” he said. “I like to find other avenues to show this music to people. There were a lot of young sailors on the cruise, and they absolutely loved this kind of music. They really responded to it.”
Oliver, who lives in Southern California with his wife and tour manager, Gisela, is now in the studio working on a new CD titled Global Kiss. It's scheduled to have nine instrumentals and four vocal tunes. Of course, even the instrumentals may have some vocals, as Oliver is known for his scatting and other varied sounds he can make with his voice. Oliver uses a Carvin guitar he developed five years ago that can sound like other instruments––the piano and strings, for example––simply by plucking the strings.
“I'm more excited than ever, to tell the truth,” said Oliver, who adds that his love of touring has never waned. “It's about live performances to reach people now, to touch their lives. They feel the energy and power of the music. They then buy a CD and tell their friends, kind of like it used to be, more word of mouth.”
Ten years on, Oliver says smooth jazz fans still want the same thing, either live or on CD.
“They want to be inspired no matter how down the times are. And when they hear really good songs, they feel inspired.” For more information on Oliver, visit www.steveolivermusic.com.
Article from Smooth Jazz News
