The Steven Hobert Quartet will perform on December 1,2015 at Crooner’s Lounge in Minneapolis. He will be joined by Brian Gallagher on reeds, Yohannes Tona on bass and Peter Hennig on drums.

From his website: “Steven Hobert describes himself as a soul who plays, sings and dances while exploring life’s mysteries. His genre-blending piano, accordion and vocal music has been described as “delightful, innovative and viscerally inspiring” that “dazzles audiences with sincerity and playfulness to open up hearts and fire imaginations.”  

Based out of Minneapolis, he tours as a soloist, leads the world beat-driven ensemble FireFlyForest, performs with the chamber-jazz ensemble Lulu’s Playground (accordion, trumpet, guitar and cello), and works as a free-lance producer, composer and instrumentalist for countless shows with vocalists and ensembles doing jazz, klezmer, sacred music, Americana, classical, rock and Latin American music.

Steven grew up in a musical family of seven and took to the piano right when he started at the age of ten.  He practiced vigorously and joyously into the night each day until his parents would demand he stop so the family could sleep.  By the age of twelve he was composing pieces – most notably, “The Grand Procession” – a full concert band piece which he wrote out and conducted for the 6th grade Lakeside School Band concert in Hartland, WI. Steven Hobert continued to expand his musical palette through his studies at the University Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  

He graduated in 2006 with a bachelors in Music – Liberal Arts, and went on the road for a year in 2008 throughout the U.S., Canada and Japan as the pianist for the Glenn Miller Orchestra.  He has guested with a number of symphony orchestras including Calgary, Detroit & Buffalo, performed as a soloist in the 2014 Twin Cities Jazz Festival and been featured on Minnesota Public Radio as a member of the Adam Meckler Orchestra.

Recent commissions include the scoring and foley creation for the film “Know Your Rights” in 2014 (United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants), scoring and performing for the live radio drama broadcast of “Jazz Noir” on KBEM in Minneapolis in 2015.  He appeared playing the accordion in the feature film “Public Domain” (directed by Patrick Coyle).

Steven’s most recent release is the piano-driven album “Ocean Eyes,” –  a journey interweaving flowing improvisations, classical and folk melodies, jazz harmonies and hip-shaking grooves – featuring percussionist  Marc Anderson (performed with Steve Tibbets and Greg Brown) and Tony Axtell (Prairie Home Companion and Prince)

Currently Steven leads FireFly Forest, plays accordion in Lulu’s Playground and piano with the Adam Meckler Orchestra, works in duo with saxophonist/flautist James Kellerman and guitarist Dean Magrw, and generally works as a freelance musician and teacher of piano, accordion and woodwinds.”

Lulu’s Playground consists of a unique instrumentation including trumpet, cello, accordion, and guitar.The band was started by four old friends who go back to their school days at Lawrence University Music Conservatory. They’ve played together in jazz groups, salsa bands, orchestras, improvisation classes, and hallway jam sessions, and now they’ve joined forces in a unique band.

Crooners Lounge is located at 6161 Highway 65 in Fridley, just north of I-694 and about 15 minutes from downtown Minneapolis.

For further information on Lulu’s Playground: adammeckler@gmail.com
For further information on Steven Hobert: steventhobert@gmail.com