Steve Au.

Steve, Jazz Pianist, composer and arranger and author resides from beautiful Northern Michigan and has performed in the area for over 20 years in clubs, resorts and in concerts. He performs often in a solo as well as a group setting. He has performed with many of his own Jazz trios and Jazz quartets and as a sideman in various settings. He achieved a Master of Music degree in Jazz studies from Western Michigan University on piano. He performs often on Mackinac Island, Michigan in the summer months for Jazz gigs, casuals and performance venues in this highly romantic setting depicted in the movie "Somewhere in Time." Currently Steve is performing in the Las Vegas, Nevada venues and casinos, as well as recording his 5th CD. In Las Vegas Steve has performed on piano at the Wynn, The Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, The Flamingo Resort, and Caesar's Palace, and Lake Las Vegas playing solo piano and in a group context.

In addition to performing Steve is a very active teacher and educator. His studio schedule is full with many aspiring pianists, musicians and those seeking greater musical understanding of the inner workings of music making. In June of 2002 Steve started the annual SUMMER JAZZ weekly workshop for Jazz Education teaching improvisation styles and techniques open to students of all levels. This workshop is open to all levels and all instruments in during the summer months. Watch for details on this workshop. Steve also currently lectures frequently on the topic of Jazz at various Colleges and institutions offering cultural enrichment activities. Teaching others to love and understand Jazz music has led to the "Jazz History Lecture" where and academic overview of the history of jazz is combined with live entertaining performances .

Steve August originally started his musical career early in his teens playing electric bass in Rock Bands with high school buddies. He played electric bass in power trios influenced by the Cream and Jimi Hendrix and the rock music of that period. This led to performing in Jazz trios after listening to music of Oscar Peterson. Steve started piano studies to enhance his bass playing and knowledge of music and quickly fell in the love with the instrument. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston studying both electric bass and piano early in his career. That led to various working situations on the road with many groups. Soon after that, through an association with the late great Jazz Pianist Eddie Russ, Steve attended Grand Valley State University studying Jazz and Classical Piano. After graduation from GVSC he played in numerous bands both as a soloist and as a sideman either on piano or electric bass. Later he earned a Master of Music degree in Jazz studies at Western Michigan University.


Steve has a very rich eclectic piano style drawing on the deep traditions of Classical music and reaching into the Blues, Ragtime, Boogie - Woogie and many Jazz Piano styles such as bebop to smooth jazz.

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