Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Steve Melling was born on July 12, 1959 and brought up in Preston, Lancashire, UK and began classical piano lessons at age 9. Two years later he began teaching himself jazz at around 11 years old. His first introduction to professional jazz musicians was when he asked the members of the Stan Tracey Quartet to autograph one of their vinyl albums at a Preston gig when he was 17. This fortuitous encounter would eventually lead him back to playing with them, Stan, Art Themen, Bryan Spring and Dave Green later in his career and always learn from the experiences.

Steve went on to study at Goldsmiths’ College in London, joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra around that time and began playing professionally in the late Seventies, touring with Harry Beckett and Elton Dean. In 1986 received the first Pat Smythe Memorial Trust Award.

The Nineties had him playing regularly at Ronnie Scott’s with his trio and recording with Alan Skidmore, Claire Martin and Peter King. Melling recorded his own album Trio Duo Solo for Ronnie Scott’s Jazz House label. He was commissioned by the Appleby Jazz Festival and wrote and directed a set for an 11-piece group. He joined The New Couriers, worked with Georgie Fame and played with the European Jazz Ensemble.

Steve was commissioned by the National Youth Jazz Orchestra to arrange a piece by Stan Tracey for an album to mark their 50th Anniversary and the album was launched at Ronnie Scott’s in early 2016. The same year he moved to Derbyshire and has spent much time composing, working on his own original compositions. He is also teaching and working with local and national jazz musicians.

Pianist and composer Steve Melling remains in demand in Britain and Europe.

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