Steve Duke

'''Steve Duke''' (born 1954) is an American classical and jazz saxophonist noted for his performance of contemporary classical music, particularly computer music.

==Education and teaching career== Steve Duke earned both B.M. and M.M. degrees in performance at the University of North Texas. There he studied saxophone performance with Jim Riggs and Dennis F. Diemond. He studied flute with Ralph Johnson and Clare Johnson, oboe with Charles Veazey, and clarinet with Lee Gibson. He studied jazz with Joe Henderson and Joe Daley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.steveduke.net/about.shtml|title=Steve Duke : Saxophone - Feldenkrais Teacher|publisher=Steve Duke|accessdate=2014-06-12|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064535/http://www.steveduke.net/about.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> While at North Texas, he was awarded the Phi Kappa Lambda Outstanding Soloist Award, the highest award given for classical music performance. Duke also performed in the One O'Clock Lab Band playing lead alto saxophone.<ref name="Steve Duke - NIU - School of Music">[http://www.niu.edu/music/about/bios/sduke.shtml Steve Duke – NIU – School of Music] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216032742/http://www.niu.edu/music/about/bios/sduke.shtml |date=2008-02-16 }}</ref>

Duke joined the faculty of Northern Illinois University (NIU) in 1980 until his recent retirement in 2011. He was awarded the Presidential Research Professorship at NIU in 1999. In addition to teaching contemporary saxophone repertoire, techniques and performance, Duke also teaches using the Feldenkrais Method.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/144812/gain_without_pain_feldenkrais_therapy_shows_how_small_changes_in/ | title=Gain Without Pain Feldenkrais Therapy Shows How Small Changes in How You Move Can Have a Big Impact on How You Feel | publisher=redOrbit | work=Daily Herald; Arlington Heights, Ill. | date=April 18, 2005 | access-date=June 6, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522043043/http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/144812/gain_without_pain_feldenkrais_therapy_shows_how_small_changes_in/ | archive-date= May 22, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Repertoire== As a jazz saxophonist, Duke has worked with Joe Williams (jazz singer), Ella Fitzgerald, Zoot Sims, Nelson Riddle, Rosemary Clooney, and Louis Bellson among others. His first solo album "Monk by 2" featured saxophone and piano duo improvisations with Joe Pinzarrone on the music of Thelonious Monk and was released by Columbia Records in 1994.<ref name="Steve Duke - NIU - School of Music"/>

Beginning in 1993, he focused on solo contemporary classical music and computer music works. He has premiered and/or recorded more than 20 solo works. Composers who have written solo works for Duke include Larry Austin, William O. Smith, Jan Bach, Cort Lippe, James Phelps, Luigi Ceccarelli, Elainie Lillios, Les Thimmig, Rodney Waschka II, Robert Fleisher, and David Maki.

Of particular importance are ''BluesAx'' for alto and soprano saxophones and computer music, by Larry Austin, (for which Austin was the first American composer to receive the Magistere (Magisterium) Award in the 23rd International Electroacoustic Music Competition at Bourges in 1996) <ref>[http://www.imeb.net/ Institut International de Musique Electroacoustique de Bourges – France – IMEB – GMEB – FESTIVAL SYNTHESE]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.emfmedia.org/artists/austin.html |title=EMF Media Larry Austin |access-date=2008-01-17 |archive-date=2007-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928162442/http://www.emfmedia.org/artists/austin.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and "Veiled Resonance" for soprano saxophone and live interactive electronics, by Elainie Lillios (for which Lillios received a first prize in the 36e Concours Internationale de Bourges in 2009).<ref>[http://elillios.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=20&Itemid=24 elillios.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901075546/http://elillios.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=20&Itemid=24 |date=2011-09-01 }}</ref> ''Saint Ambrose'', an opera for soprano saxophonist/actor based on the life of Ambrose Bierce. ''Saint Ambrose'' has been widely praised<ref>[http://204.151.38.11/cmj/reviews/31-3/simoni-waschka.html CMJ Reviews]{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and excerpts have been performed by Duke and John Sampen throughout the United States.<ref>[http://www.ecu.edu/cs-cfac/music/newmusicfest/previous/2001.cfm 2001 New Music Festival @ ECU]</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120805193734/http://www.plu.edu/~music/events-artist.html Music]</ref> Duke recorded ''Saint Ambrose'' for Capstone Records.<ref name="SaintAmbroseRecording">[http://www.capstonerecords.org/CPS-8708.html Capstone Records: Saint Ambrose]</ref>

In 2005, he formed the Steve Duke Trio, which performs new jazz works.<ref name="Steve Duke - NIU - School of Music"/>

==Partial discography== "Monk by 2", New York: Sony/Columbia Records, 1994.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/release/775392 Steve Duke / Joe Pinzarrone - Monk By 2]</ref> *Works by Thelonious Monk

"The Computer in the Computer Age – VI", CDCM Computer Music Series, Volume 23, Baton Rouge: Centaur Records, 1994.<ref>[http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=32239 Cdcm Series Vol 23 – Composer In The Computer Age Vol 6 | ArkivMusic]</ref> *''Sax Houses'' by James Phelps

"Cultures Electroniques/9”, Bourges, France: Serie GMEB/UNESCO/CIME, 1996.<ref name="Steve Duke - NIU - School of Music"/> *''BluesAx'' by Larry Austin

“Dexter Morrill: Three Concertos”, Baton Rouge: Centaur Records, 1997.<ref>[http://www.centaurrecords.com/search_engine.php?session=962&category=saxophone Centaur Records – Centaur Records – Classical Record Label]</ref> *''Concerto for Saxophone & Orchestra'' by Dexter Morrill

"Saint Ambrose", Brooklyn, NY: Capstone Records, 2002.<ref name=SaintAmbroseRecording/> *''Saint Ambrose'' by Rodney Waschka II

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.steveduke.net/ Steve Duke official site]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Duke, Steve}} Category:1954 births Category:American classical saxophonists Category:American male saxophonists Category:American jazz musicians Category:American jazz saxophonists Category:American contemporary classical music performers Category:University of North Texas College of Music alumni Category:Living people Category:21st-century American saxophonists Category:21st-century American male musicians Category:American male jazz musicians