Steve has been a semi professional musician from about 1983 becoming professional from 1992....He has been involved with recording all of that time..more out of nescessity rather than design. It's much easier and cheaper to experiment with new sounds and songs with a home studio set up.....In the last few years he has invested in a fully professional recording set up see; www.nelsonvillage.com/services.
Some of his performing work has included;
touring solo artist/performer with electric guitar/acoustic guitar and voice,
guitarist with jazz trio 'impressions',
founding member/guitarist for signed christian rock band 'Triumph',
saxophonist for the New Scottish Big Band,
session bassist for pro club band 'Nitefly' in Algarve for procelebrity golf celebration,
also played lead saxophone for jazz quartet in Algarve playing mainly hotels,
session keyboardist for Irish/celtic pub band,
solo saxophonist for wedding function receptions/special events,
various sessions including a chart success in the Spanish charts,
live stage opening on saxophone for the Wild Wild Jungle Show at the Gaiety,
guitar support for Carluke arts open day (pics above)..April 2007 in Carluke High Street.
saxophone for 'children of amal'/NGO in Balata refugee camp Nablus, West Bank/Middle East.
various tv and radio appearances
Teaching music is an important part of Steve's work. He sees this as equipping others with the nesessary tools to become creative and original by learning from the actual music of others. Reading music is very important and something a lot of rock musicians ignore.....reading simply makes you a lot faster at picking things up! very important if someone else is paying expensive studio time....or you only have 10 minutes to learn 3 songs! For a full list of subjects taught visit the link above.
It seems to me that the music we are being presented with by the large record companies is in crisis....image and the pop video has become at least as important as the music....and new sounds are in short supply. There are plenty of creative musicians out there but they don't get a look in. With the advent of cheap musical instruments and equipment and access to the world wide web, there has never been a better opportunity to create and market your own music and manage yourself....
Of all the career choices music is one of the most difficult to survive in, coupled with the fact that hundreds of kids are coming out of college or university with music qualifications but hardly any jobs! And over hyping an educational institution at the expense of their unrealistic expectations doesn't help. Local Authorities are keen to 'focus on the positive' and tell how great music education in Ayrshire is...the schools are in crisis but no one is saying so.....
So if you are considering a career in music.....have a backup plan and find a way to pay your way! and eat!.... some of the greatest musicians that ever lived made very little money or died in poverty! (Mozart was buried in an unmarked grave).
Though Steve loves many different styles of music, the one that offers the most creative opportunity is in the world of modern jazz....and has a creative urge to compose/record and perform his own original material.
