Piano Jazz - Theory and Improvisation

Steve Rudolph has had an inspiring career in his 50+ years of professional music making. Jazz Improv magazine states, “Rudolph is a savvy, swinging, glimmering heavyweight… ...simply outstanding.”  With fourteen acclaimed CDs as a leader, he has served as producer, arranger and performer on many recordings with Johnny Coles, Bill Goodwin, Ali Ryerson, Matt Wilson, Drew Gress, Roger Humphries, Cal Collins, Drew Gress, Phil Haynes, and Vinny Valentino. His vast experience encompasses concert performances with jazz masters Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, Terry Gibbs, Al Grey, Buddy DeFranco, Denis DiBlasio, and the Mills Brothers. Steve has toured throughout the U.S., India, Europe, Canada, Russia and the Caribbean.  He is co-leader of the River City Big Band and pianist in the acoustic trio Day Dream with Phil Haynes and Drew Gress. Currently a Yamaha Keyboard Artist, he is in demand as a clinician and performer and has taught at Elizabethtown College, Bucknell University, Susquehanna University, and Penn State University among many others.

Steve was born in Evansville and was raised in Southern Indiana near Boonville where he began paying trumpet at age eight. He studied trumpet and composition under scholarship at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN, where he discovered an inspiring jazz community in the late 60's. He switched his main instrumental focus to the piano at age 22 and was hired by Buddy Morrow to tour with the legendary Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in 1977. Since moving to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1978, he has been largely responsible for the growth and development of the thriving jazz scene in Central PA. His devotion to the art of jazz inspired him to found the Central PA Friends of Jazz, now in its 40th successful year of monthly concerts, youth band, jazz camp, and annual Central PA Jazz Festival.  He served as the Executive Director of CPFJ from 2012 to 2019.  Steve was the recipient of the 2002 Harrisburg Arts Award for dedication to the arts and community service.  He received two Composition Fellowships from the PA Council on the Arts and his compositions have been performed by the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra and many jazz ensembles. Steve is well known in Central PA for his 22 year, 6 night a week job as jazz pianist at the Hilton Harrisburg.  His detailed recording and touring information may be found at www.steverudolph.com.