Friday, September 24, 2010

Steven Strauss WOWS the UKULELE CLUB of SANTA CRUZ

When I saw Steven Strauss was performing and teaching in at the UCSC I knew I had to be there. Steven prepared a package of 4 songs in his usual masterful way. There was a chord part, melody part and fingerpicking part. About 25 people attending the class were in for a treat -- I have a binder specifically for his arrangements and I really cherish each one. There were a few minutes that I wondered how it was going to come together but the master came thru, he has a magic about him. His class was on (3) Duke Ellington tunes:
  • Creole Love Call
  • Caravan
  • Mood Indigo
  • Sweet & Slow (Bonus Arrangement, one of my favorites)
I have told many people about how Steven has a very unique sound, but he also has a very commanding stage presence and knows his crowd. He's also a great story teller. I don't know if Bocci's Cellar has ever been so quiet as last night when all ears were tuned in.




6 comments:

  1. As his sister, I can attest to the magic he spins.
    If you can make it, come and see him playing with a little combo called Friends of Old Puppy, (almost) every Saturday morning at Nabolom Bakery in Berkeley. 10am to 1pm. Always a treat. The little ones are welcome, too.

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  2. Hello Steven's Sis = Steven has been posted so much on my blog because he is the local ukulele Super Hero. We can't get enough of his magnificent arrangements. I just wish I weren't such a humble player. Steven is also quite the crowd pleaser you'd never know he was a shy guy. I have three of his albums including Old Puppy, Uke Box and Yule Tunes.

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  3. Jeff,
    I would love to see those arrangements. How?

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  4. Wow. He is awesome. Thanks for introducing me to him, Jeff!

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  5. You can see "Creole Love Call" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWZs749fEDc
    You can see "Caravan" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcHVKRxkBFU
    You can see "Sweet & Slow" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz2g73qevzU

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