Steve Duke

Steve Duke (born 1954) is an American classical and jazz saxophonist noted for his performance of contemporary classical music, particularly computer music.

Education and teaching career

Steve Duke earned both B.M. and M.M. degrees in performance at the University of North Texas. There he studied saxophone performance with James Riggs and Dennis Diamond. He studied flute with Ralph Johnson and Clare Johnson, oboe with Charles Veazey, and clarinet with Lee Gibson. While at North Texas, he was awarded the Phi Kappa Lambda Outstanding Soloist Award, the highest award given for classical music performance. Duke also performed in the One O'clock Lab Band playing lead alto saxophone. [ [http://www.niu.edu/music/about/bios/sduke.shtml Steve Duke - NIU - School of Music ] ]

Duke joined the faculty of Northern Illinois University (NIU) in 1980 where he continues to teach. He was awarded the Presidential Research Professorship at NIU in 1999. In addition to teaching contemporary saxophone repertoire, techniques and performance, Duke also teaches using the Feldenkrais Methods. [ [http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/144812/gain_without_pain_feldenkrais_therapy_shows_how_small_changes_in/ Gain Without Pain Feldenkrais Therapy Shows How Small Changes in How You Move Can Have a Big Impact on How You Feel - Health - redOrbit ] ]

Repertoire

As a jazz saxophonist, Duke has worked with Joe Williams (jazz singer), Ella Fitzgerald, Zoot Sims, Nelson Riddle, Rosemary Clooney, and Louis Bellison among others. His first solo album "Monk by 2" featured saxophone and piano duo improvisations with Joe Pinzarrone on the music of Thelonius Monk and was released by Columbia Records in 1994. [ [http://www.niu.edu/music/about/bios/sduke.shtml Steve Duke - NIU - School of Music ] ]

Beginning in 1993, he focused on solo contemporary classical music and computer music works. He has premiered and/or recorded more than 20 solo works. Composers who have written solo works for Duke include Larry Austin, William O. Smith, Jan Bach, Cort Lippe, James Phelps, Luigi Ceccarelli, Elainie Lillios, Les Thimmig, Rodney Waschka II, Robert Fleisher, and David Maki. Of particular importance are "BluesAx" for alto and soprano saxophones and computer music, by Larry Austin, (for which Austin was the first American composer to receive the Magistere (Magisterium) Award in the 23rd International Electroacoustic Music Competition at Bourges) [ [http://www.imeb.net/ Institut International de Musique Electroacoustique de Bourges - France - IMEB - GMEB - FESTIVAL SYNTHESE ] ] [ [http://www.emfmedia.org/artists/austin.html EMF Media Larry Austin ] ] and "Saint Ambrose", an opera for soprano saxophonist/actor based on the life of Ambrose Bierce. "Saint Ambrose" has been widely praised [ [http://204.151.38.11/cmj/reviews/31-3/simoni-waschka.html CMJ Reviews ] ] and excerpts have been performed by Duke and John Sampen throughout the United States. [ [http://www.ecu.edu/cs-cfac/music/newmusicfest/previous/2001.cfm 2001 New Music Festival @ ECU ] ] [ [http://www.plu.edu/~music/events-artist.html Music ] ] Duke recorded "Saint Ambrose" for Capstone Records. [http://www.capstonerecords.org/CPS-8708.html Capstone Records: Saint Ambrose ] ]

In 2005, he formed the Steve Duke Trio, which performs new jazz works. [ [http://www.niu.edu/music/about/bios/sduke.shtml Steve Duke - NIU - School of Music ] ]

Partial discography

"Monk by 2", New York: Sony/Columbia Records, 1994. [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/775392 Steve Duke / Joe Pinzarrone - Monk By 2 ] ]
*Works by Thelonius Monk

"The Computer in the Computer Age – VI", CDCM Computer Music Series, Volume 23, Baton Rouge: Centaur Records, 1994. [ [http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=32239 Cdcm Series Vol 23 - Composer In The Computer Age Vol 6 | ArkivMusic ] ]
*"Sax Houses" by James Phelps

"Cultures Electroniques/9”, Bourges, France: Serie GMEB/UNESCO/CIME, 1996. [ [http://www.niu.edu/music/about/bios/sduke.shtml Steve Duke - NIU - School of Music ] ]
*"BluesAx" by Larry Austin

“Dexter Morrill: Three Concertos”, Baton Rouge: Centaur Records, 1997. [ [http://www.centaurrecords.com/search_engine.php?session=962&category=saxophone Centaur Records - Centaur Records - Classical Record Label ] ]
*"Concerto for Saxophone & Orchestra" by Dexter Morrill

"Saint Ambrose", Brooklyn, NY: Capstone Records, 2002.
*"Saint Ambrose" by Rodney Waschka II

References

External links

* [http://www.steveduke.net/ Steve Duke official site]