Steve is a classically trained jazz musician whose work in music parallels his work in dance. After studying with Doctor Edwin LaBounty at Memphis State University, and Walter Cook at the Univ. of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music, Steve met Composer/Saxophonist Gil Melle.

Melle had just finished his electronic score to Universal's "Andromeda Strain". In 1971, Steve played the Kansas City Jazz Festival and toured with Melle's band throughout the Midwest and
Eastern U.S. Steve was struck with Melle's ground breaking approach to jazz and electronic music. Still in the Midwest, he decided to form his own group and settled in Minneapolis Minn.

There in 1974, while working with the Nancy Hauser Dance Company in the NEA's Artist in the Schools program, he met and performed with dance/theater pioneer, choreographer and vocalist, Meredith Monk. By 1976 he was living in New York and touring and recording in the U.S., Europe, and Asia with Meredith and her group, "The House". He
appears on three of her albums for ECM records, including the award winning "Dolmen Music" (1980), "Turtle Dreams"(1982), and Atlas: An Opera in Three Acts (1991). With Meredith, he performed at La Biennale, The Mickery Theater (Amsterdam), Paris' Autumn Festival, and major venues in New York, including La Mama Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music Next Wave Series, City Center, Joyce Theater, and many others. Working with Melle and Ms. Monk shaped Steve's ideas about music and dance and gave birth to a lifetime of interest in the visual arts as well as improvised music.

While in New York, Steve also played jazz and improvised music with Sheila Jordan, Harvie Swartz, Gerry Niewood, Paul McCandless, and Collin Wolcott (the latter two from the band, "Oregon"). Steve
also continued to lead his own group, as well as composing for Off-Broadway theater and film.

In 1983, Steve moved to Germany where he recorded with the Frankfurt Radio/TV Jazz Ensemble as "house" pianist. In Germany, Steve recorded or played with, Gunter Lenz, Ralph Huebner, AACM's George Lewis, vocalist Lauren Newton and many others.

Steve moved to Los Angeles in 1990, graduated from Dick Grove's course in Composition, and proceeded to form his own group with local wiz kids, (CalArts own) Vinny Golia, Billy Mintz, and Steuart Liebig. He has released 2 cd's as a leader and continues to perform in mainstream and avant-garde venues in L.A. to this day.

Steve started to play modern dance classes at New York Univ. in 1976 and later in many other schools throughout New York. This work continued in Germany and in Los Angeles. Steve began accompanying ballet classes here in L.A. in 1994. After playing at many professional dance schools in L.A. Steve was happy to come to CalArts in 2004.

Steve has recently composed and recorded a jazz score for a dance/theater piece he has entitled, "New Orleans Lowdown." His scenario and score is dedicated to New Orleans and is a fervent wish for
it's recovery to premier status as one of America's greatest cultural centers.

For more info go to: www.stevelockwood.org