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Montreal guitar slinger reinvents the blues…
Master blues guitarist Steve Rowe has earned his solid reputation. Acknowledged as one of the best, Steve has just released his fifth original album, FIVE, to rave reviews.
Montreal CHOM radio’s Randy Renaud called Rowe a “head-down, have-guitar-will-travel professional who derives his greatest satisfaction from songs and notes perfectly delivered”. He was right. As is Rowe’s style, every note is deliberate and each tone carries meaning.
Steve Rowe’s fourth CD, Live à Montréal, earned him a spot in the Top 20 CDs of 2006 in Living Blues and Maple Blues magazines, and was a four-time nominee at the 2007 Quebec Lys Blues Awards, including Best CD and Best Performer. This recording captured the raw essence of a highly skilled band recorded straight off-the-board at the 2005 Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Steve and his music have made its was into television and film, including the popular YTV teen series Prank Patrol for their season premiere. Feature film releases Teddy Bear and Seven Days have also chosen numerous songs from Steve’s large original repertoire for their sound tracks. CBC’s Homerun has given Rowe’s work a permanent home.
Highlights from Steve’s third studio recording, Front Rowe Center, included a nationwide broadcast on Rogers TV, live from the Ottawa Bluesfest and earned another four nominations at the prestigious Lys Blues Awards, including Best Original CD.
Among his favorite experiences, coaching actor Christian Kane for his blues guitar-playing role in MTV’s feature Love Song, stands out. Others include Steve’s television premiere for Bravo Television’s Café Campus en Blues in ‘97 and opening for Colin James at one of the Montreal Spectrum’s last concerts.
Steve, acknowledged by the local press as a “Guitar Hero”, has firmly established himself as an original Canadian Bluesman.
Upon hearing a teenage Steve play Led Zeppelin, older brother David threw him a classic Robert Johnson vinyl, telling him that this was the key to understanding the blues.
Steve never turned back, forming his first band Skid Rowe with Bob Smith in 1981. He mastered his craft while backing up many headliners on the Montreal blues scene. Smokey Wilson’s advice to Steve was simple: “You’re an honest bluesman. Don’t ever change.”
Steve’s approach to blues comes from 1950s Chicago and 60s British blues, largely self-taught, with influences from Michael Bloomfield, all the Kings (Freddie, Albert, and B.B.), Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton.
After honing his skills on blues standards, Rowe decided to start writing his own lyrics and music, releasing his first CD in 2000 entitled Driving the Blues Away. This is when he first met Sound Engineer Kevin Komada, Hotel2Tango’s Recording Studio, and Mastering Artist Andrew Heermans of Polywog Recording Company (NYC). Or Lord Polywog, as he has been righteously dubbed. This team can take much of the credit for the rich and pure tones of each instrument, with four microphones on guitar, naturally. Staying true to his roots, Steve and the band record live off the floor straight to two inch analogue tape, including guitar solos. In 2002, Steve released his second original album, No Refund, No Return.
Steve has opened for Bryan Lee and jammed with blues legends Hubert Summlin and Buddy Guy. Canada’s Prime Minister of the Blues Dutch Mason had a young Steve once play with his band, inviting him to “Take it away, son” on the evening’s first solo. Today, as a bluesman in his own right, Steve continues to shine as part of this rich musical tradition.
Photo: James St-Laurent