Inside the mind of Steve Wiest
Multiple Grammy-Nominated Trombonist, Composer, Songwriter, Author, and Cartoonist
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Who is Steve Wiest?
Steve Wiest is a Grammy-nominated trombonist, composer, author, and cartoonist with multiple albums to his name as both a leader and sideman.
As a young soloist and composer for Maynard Ferguson, he later toured with Doc Severinsen and The Tonight Show Orchestra, performing alongside numerous renowned artists.
Steve is also a distinguished figure in jazz education, best known for his tenure as director of the One O’Clock Lab Band at the University of North Texas. Under his leadership, the ensemble earned two Grammy nominations—one for Best Large Jazz Ensemble and another for Best Instrumental Composition for his original work, Ice-Nine. He also received a Grammy nomination for his arrangement of Bésame Mucho, featured on Maynard Ferguson’s final album, The One and Only.
After UNT, Wiest served as Co-Chair of Jazz Studies at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music. Before that, he was Director of Jazz and Trombone at UW-Whitewater and began his teaching career as Assistant Director of Jazz at the University of Texas at Arlington.
A sought-after guest artist, clinician, composer, and conductor, Wiest has led numerous all-state ensembles and continues to perform and teach worldwide. Wiest is an artist for Edwards Instruments playing his custom “Excalibur” version of the Edwards T302 and the Griego-Steve Wiest Mouthpiece exclusively.
Steve makes his home in Chicago, Illinois with his wonderful wife Deborah and their golden retriever Phoebe, where Wiest can often be heard remarking “Ain’t life grand?!”
Hear some of Steve's music
Beginning with a lovely trombone choir with Wiest as soloist, this piece becomes a plaintive tale that features first the great James Pankow backed by a Daniel Pardo flute ensemble, then Wiest, with trombones, and finally climbing to a fierce ending with an epic guitar solo by Noel Johnston.
Introduction-The Neither Zone
Concerto for Folded Spaced
A rewrite by Wiest of Fred Roger’s beautiful song, A gorgeous ballad with beautiful orchestrations via Eric Gunnison on piano, Mike Abbott on guitar, and Art Bouton on EWI. Bijoux Barbosa’s gorgeous fretless bass sings throughout while Mike Marlier paints a bewitching picture using brushes on drums.
Please Don't Think It's Funny
from The High Road
A reimagining of the Stevie Wonder classic as only Wiest and Vinyl Hampdin can do. The spirit of the original is enhanced with clever reharms and voicings. With blazing horns, a solid groove, Lisa Dodd’s powerful voice, and a virtuoso solo by pianist Eric Gunnison, this track is an instant classic.
Superstition
from Vinyl Hampdin Red
From The New York Vid Drop Session:
Check out Steve’s Vinyl Hampdin version of the Rare Earth classic, “I Just Want to Celebrate.” He filmed this during his November 2017 Vinylian Soirée in New York—a lively rehearsal packed with great music and good vibes.
This one spotlights Steve Wiest on trombone, delivering some electrifying fireworks! As with all videos in the NY Vid Drop series, they had a blast cutting up, jamming, and letting the music take over.
Recorded at Atlantic Sound Studio in Brooklyn under the direction of Grammy Award-winning cinematographer Andy LaViolette—this is one you won’t want to miss.
Enjoy!