Teachers

Steve Kaldestad – Saxophone, Saxophone Ensemble

Steve left high school with a General Motors Award of Excellence to attend McGill University, where he studied with trumpet great Kevin Dean and Montreal bebop legend pianist/drummer André White, graduating with high distinction in 1994. That same year, Steve spent a month at the Banff Jazz Workshop with Kenny Wheeler, Mick Goodrick, Pat LaBarbera and John Clayton.

After spending 1995 in Toronto, Steve set up in Montreal again, recording a television special with singer Denzal Sinclaire as part of the 1996 Montreal Jazz Festival, and performing a concert with Maria Schneider at la Salle Gésu in 1997. He then spent a year in New York, taking lessons with jazz legend Lee Konitz and playing afternoon sessions with many great New York musicians.

Steve returned to Montreal in summer 1998 and enrolled in McGill University's Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance, this time studying with composer/pianist Jan Jarczyk. A highlight of this period was when Steve was joined by guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel for a weekend at Upstairs Jazz Club. In May of 2000, Steve recorded an album of original music with fellow McGill alumni Tilden Webb, Dave Laing, Mike Downs, and Dave Mossing.

Steve moved to London, England in September 2000 where he played with many of the UK's finest musicians, like Jamie Cullum, Humphrey Lyttelton, Steve Fishwick, Mike Carr, Jim Mullen, Geoff Gascoyne, Sebastiaan DeKrom, Matt Wates, Tommy Whittle, Steve Brown, Colin Oxley, John Pearce, Dave Cliff, Kate Williams, to name more than a few. Steve was also a member of the renowned Pasadena Roof Orchestra for six years.

Steve is now based in Vancouver, British Columbia where he is actively involved with the Jodi Proznick Quartet. The quartet was named Best Acoustic Jazz Group at the 2008 Canadian National Jazz Awards, and their album Foundations on the Cellar Live label won Album of the Year. Foundations was also nominated for Best Traditional Jazz Album at the 2008 Juno Awards.

In December 2009, Steve released his first CD as a leader, recorded over three nights at the Vancouver Jazz Cellar in May 2009. The CD features Montrealers André White on piano and Kevin Dean on trumpet and Vancouver talents Jesse Cahill and Jodi Proznick on drums and bass respectively.