About: short bio, history, artist notes, highlights...
From Sugo Music Group: Stevan Pasero is recognized worldwide as one of the most important, influential and versatile guitarists of the past two decades. He has transcribed 30 major symphonic works, performed on over 300 CDs, produced 1000 masters for other artists, and composed over 1500 pieces for solo, duo and various ensembles. Mr. Pasero is noted for his creative arranging and orchestration style as well as in-depth transcription and improvisatory skills. He is one of a few guitarists to record in several music idioms successfully, bridging both classical, jazz and world markets. His music is found in 75 countries worldwide.
Fans and critics say that Stevan Pasero is one of the music world’s best kept secrets, even though his CDs have sold cumulatively more than 15 million copies around the globe. He is founder of 5 music companies: SUGO Music (record label - www.sugomusic.com), SOLEA Group (record label - www.soleagroup.com), Granada Studios (state-of-the-art recording facility - www.granadastudios.com), PaseroMusicGroup (production company) and NEN Music (publisher). Critics have consistently praised Pasero’s releases and performances for years: “Some of the greatest guitar music of all time” - KKHI/San Francisco,CA; “Amazing forte and musicianship” - GAVIN REPORT; “One of my favorite artists to listen to!" - CD REVIEW. In bending the classical form, he created a burgeoning cult following, with such albums as Guitar Heartsongs and Guitar Masterpieces, both of which were cited by NAIRD (National Association of Independent Record Distributors) as one of 1990’s Best U.S. Classical Releases. His groundbreaking transcription of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite for Guitarwas the first time such a feat had ever been documented. In fact, over a nine year stretch, Stevan transcribed approximately 30 major symphonic works for the guitar – a prolific number considering that for centuries, this category of orchestral masterworks was not even considered a possibility for the classical guitar repertoire. Stevan attended San Francisco State University where he studied musical analysis, harmony, and composition, which led to some postgraduate work in transcription. “Transcribing orchestra works for guitar presents challenges, yet opportunities,” he recounts. “Consolidating numerous orchestral instruments to six guitar strings is intriguing. Then, after transcribing the piece, many times it needs to be transposed to a more beneficial key on guitar. The process can be tedious, yet fun and exhilarating, as the work comes to life and takes form”. This process has greatly affected the way in which Mr. Pasero uses melody and harmony in composing the CD Seasons, which has sold over 1,000,000 copies in recent years, as well as numerous other CDs that soon followed. Seasons represented a departure in style for Pasero, relevant to transcribing classical works. On one of his more popular CD releases, Songs for the Wild - and one that he partnered with his best friend/percussionist/composer Christopher Bock - he combined contemporary acoustic guitar, Latin percussion, fretless bass, saxophone and oboe for a spirited collection of songs - spirited enough to land him on the Top 30 radio charts for 12 weeks and garner a whole new legion of fans including critics at the Gavin Report who said Songs for the Wild was a “sensual, energetic songfest”. Pasero's next CD was ZBRA - an urban, Latin-influenced collection of songs that put him and his six piece ensemble on the road once more. All three of these nouveau-flamenco CDs showcased Stevan's technique and melodies that are the hallmark of his compositions.
In January of 2009, Sugo Music released Jambossa, featuring the Stevan Pasero Trio. This CD highlights a new approach to guitar fro Stevan, in which he arranged some of his favorite standards and performed them live in the studio with his trio.
In 2011, Stevan's much anticipated recording of original ensemble works was realeased - Twelve Shades of Night. Twelve Shades of Night was written in 12 months, recorded in 12 weeks, mixed in 12 days, and was inspired by the 12 hours of night. This new album of original compositions integrates Stevan's love of Brazilian, Spanish & American music along with bossa nova, rhumba, flamenco, classical and jazz styles and featured the rhythmic cadences of Felix de Lola on cajon & palmas, the Latin syncopations of Colin Douglas on drums, and the lush string ensemble of the Musical Art Quintet.“Guitar virtuoso, Stevan Pasero releases another outstanding album, overflowing with brilliant compositions, intense precision; a spectacular collection of instrumental guitar music”! - RadioIndy.com
In addition to his own projects, Mr. Pasero is in high demand as a producer and has recorded numerous CDs for various artists worldwide including Michael Ludwig (Associate Concertmaster for the Philadelphia Sympony), Oleta Adams (acclaimed vocalist with over 4 million recordings sold) and, most recently, 20 CDs for the National Geographic Society.
GUESTBOOK & FEEDBACK FORM: Let us know if you would like to know more about Stevan's current works, companies, concerts, CDs, sheet music or more! Just fill out the short form below and we'll update you on Stevan's works. Thanks. We will not share this info with anyone.
