Graeme Stephen Guitarist

Graeme Stephen was born in Aberdeen, Scotland.Now residing in Edinburgh, he performs with numerous projects playing a wide array of styles from free Improvisation to folk music.

Having recorded with various groups Graeme released his first CD with his trio in 2006. This recording was funded with a grant from the Scottish Arts Council and features New York based musician Eivind Opsvik on bass and London based drummer Stuart Ritchie.

Graeme leads a sextet of Violin, Soprano Sax, Alto Sax, Guitar, Double bass and drums. This group was formed early 2005 perfoming throughout Scotland including concerts at Aberdeen Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Celidh Culture and featured broadcasts on Radio Scotland. Graemes compositions for this group take influence from the different styles of players involved, which include folk, jazz and classical disciplines.

The “Graeme Stephen Sextet” was selected for the Jazz Services Promoters Choice Award 2006 and performed at the London Jazz Festival and Manchester Jazz Festival.
In 2007 Graeme was chosen to be one of the eight musicians from Britain to be part of Jerwood and Serious Music’s “ Take Five “ initiative.

Another collective group that Graeme performs and writes with is “Newt”. This is a trio of Trombone, Guitar and Drums and plays music with a heavy lean towards free Improvisation.

Graeme also performs regularly with the Fraser Fifield band playing the wonderfully eclectic music of Fraser in various combinations.

“Graeme Stephen has absorbed a whole range of influences from the classic pre-bop of Charlie Christian through to contemporary icons like Bill Frisell but is finding his own way to make use of that legacy”………The Scotsman

“One of the finest guitar trio records of recent years.... brimful of ideas and sensitivity”..... Mike Butler -Newcastle metro

“Stephen’s music speaks loudly of ambition, imagination, nous, and harmonic adventure yet teemed with the sort of tuneful realisation that swells the heart”...Rob Adams .. The Herald