Jazz guitarist, equally adept on acoustic and electric as well as percussive instruments like the kendang and kalimba, Steve Tibbetts is also much admired for his ambitious approach, drawing influences from all over the world. Describing his own music as post modern neo-primitivism, he has created a thoroughly modern and original style alternating between ambient soundscapes and distorted electric experiments.
Born in Madison, Wisconsin he took up guitar at the age of 12 after hearing the Blind Joe Mendelbaum Blues Band and took his jazz influences from Bill Connors and Harvey Mandel, adopting Mandel's finger style. Going to college at St Paul, Minnesota he met his long-term collaborator Marc Anderson and began his trademark sonic experiments. In 1976 he self-released his self-titled debut album, which received some radio play to raise awareness before achieving something of a breakthrough with 'Yr', his first collaborative album with Anderson. He blended folk traditions with virtuoso guitar and sonic soundwaves and he was signed to the ECM label after sending them negative reviews of his performances. Continuing to experiment with sound, he collaborated with other left field musicians including Norwegian hardingfele player Knut Hamre and Tibetan Buddhist nun Chöying Drolma. Showing no signs of slowing retiring, he was back in 2018 with Anderson and Michelle Kenny releasing the album 'Life Of', with Tibbetts also playing piano and 12-string guitar.
