Steve Bach (musician)

Steve Bach (Steven Bach) is an American keyboardist, accordionist, composer, and musical director. Bach has performed and worked with many well-known musical artists from a wide variety of genres, most notably Stanley Clarke, Robby Krieger,^[1] Kitarō, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, and Sergio Mendes. He is currently a Cirque de Soleil band director and is the founder of 8 Keys Records, a self-release label record company.^[2]

Steve Bach (born Steven Victor Bach) was born in New York City and raised in East Meadow, Long Island, New York.^[3] Since the age of five, he has been playing the accordion and piano, and was drawn to jazz in addition to folk music.^[4][5]

After studying music theory at SUNY Potsdam and Hofstra University, Bach worked as a jazz pianist in New York City.^[4] Bach moved to California in 1978, and in 1979 became a keyboardist playing with Stanley Clarke, a well-known American jazz bassist, and was eventually featured in Clarkes' 1980 album Rocks, Pebbles and Sand. Bach also performed and toured with Japanese-American new-age music artist Kitarō during the mid 1980s. In the late 1980s, Bach went on international tours playing Brazilian jazz with a famed Brazilian duo consisting of percussionist Airto Moreira and vocalist Flora Purim.^[3] Bach has also collaborated with Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes, who crosses bossa nova with jazz and funk. He has also served as a music director for Andy Williams, and also performed on keyboards with Bill Henderson.^[6]

In addition, Bach has performed as a pianist with American guitarist Robby Krieger.^[7][8]

With Empire Of The Sun, Bach co-wrote the 2013 hit single "Alive" as part of the album Ice on the Dune.^[9] The song ranked #79 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s 100 Best Songs of 2013 list.^[10]

In 2014, Bach was nominated for the APRA Music Awards (Dance Work of the Year).^[11]

Since 2007, Bach has been a Cirque de Soleil band leader.^[12] He continues to play the accordion and keyboards, and still serves as a musical director with Cirque de Soleil.^[4]

Below is a list of selected works by Steve Bach, including songs and albums that he had produced.^[13][14][15]

Album credits

• 1980 – Rocks, Pebbles and Sand (keyboardist; with Stanley Clarke)^[3]
• 1988 – The Midnight Sun (with Flora Purim)
• 1990 – What’s Inside (with Richard Elliot)
• 2001 – Ballads (with Richard Elliot)
• 2013 – Ice on the Dune (with Empire Of The Sun)
• 2016 – Two Vines (with Empire Of The Sun)

Albums (as primary artist and producer)

• 1985 – Child’s Play
• 1985 – Holiday
• 1987 – Zero Gravity
• 1988 – More Than A Dream
• 1990 – Nice Moves
• 1992 – City Magic
• 1997 – Now And Then
• 2016 – 8 Keys (8 Keys Records)
• 2017 – Bach Solo (8 Keys Records)
• 2018 – Yes and Know (8 Keys Records)

Songs

• "Fast Break (Soundwings)"^[16]
• "Microwave Popcorn"
• "The F Song"
• "Cassie"
• "Rain Dance"
• "In My Dreams"
• "Sweet Magnolia"
• "I Must Be Dreaming"
• "Hometown Girl"
• "For a Long Time"
• "Three Quarters"
• "This Is Not Goodbye"
• "Star Gazer"
• "Samba School"
• "Pearl's Baiao"
• "Alive" (co-written with Empire Of The Sun)
• "Keep a Watch" (co-written with Empire Of The Sun)
• "Just Me and You" (co-written with Richard Elliot)

Books authored

• Strictly Strings, Pop-Style Solos and Yamaha Pop-Style Solos book series^[17]

• Steve Bach official site