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Steve Baughman is a virtuoso guitarist inspired by Celtic and Appalachian traditions. Sing Out Magazine says that his “artistry and musicality are world-class, with dynamics, timing, and interpretation that always bring out the emotional essence of the song.” The website Digital Dream Door lists him as one of the 100 Best Acoustic Guitar Players in the world.
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A San Rafael resident who calls himself a professional guitarist and a part-time attorney, Steve has released a DVD and seven albums, including Farewell to Orkney, which has won raves from Acoustic Guitar Magazine: “Once in a while an album comes along that can alter your thinking about guitar music—Steve Baughman’s ‘Farewell to Orkney’ is one of those . . . A must for all lovers of guitar and especially Celtic music.” Steve has written several instructional books for Mel Bay Publications and is known for his deft, spirited fingerstyle technique, his innovative tunings, and the way he matches particular songs to particular guitars.
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Steve applies his inherent feel, sensitivity and use of dynamics to create a technique that translates into sheer musical elegance. Baughman transcends the ordinary, conveying a pure sense of joy with every tune.
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His latest CD: ‘O’er Quiet Lands Suspended’ was released in 2016. It is described as both wild and mellow: unaccompanied and unadulterated clawhammer banjo (mainly fretless). Old-time, Hungarian, German, Chinese, French and Celtic.
"Once in a while an album comes along that can alter your thinking about guitar music—Steve Baughman's ‘Farewell to Orkney’ is one of those....A must for all lovers of guitar and especially Celtic music." - Acoustic Guitar Magazine
"A star of fingerstyle guitar: very deft, thoughtful, quietly adventurous, deeply lyrical and playful."—Radio National, Australia
"Steve's artistry and musicality are world-class, with dynamics, timing and interpretation that always bring out the emotional essence of the song." - Sing Out Magazine
". . . technical innovation, virtuosity, and intensity." - Acoustic Guitar Magazine
"Incredible virtuosity ... showcases the quiet beauty of the open-tuned acoustic guitar." - Marin Independent Journal (Too bad it's not the Washington Post. But I'll take it.)
‘Farewell to Orkney’ listed as one of the "Best Albums of 2013" by Acoustic Guitar Magazine.
Steve Baughman & Robin Bullock’s ‘Celtic Guitar Summit’ was voted one of the best albums of 2003 by Acoustic Guitar Magazine!
“San Francisco guitarist Steve Baughman brings a unique voice to the guitar, giving new life to tunes traditionally played on fiddles, banjos, and bagpipes. Baughman's early recordings, ‘A Drop of the Pure’ and ‘The Angels' Portion’, and contributions to Mel Bay's popular Ramble to Cashel DVD, show a strong Celtic influence and a distinctive touch.”– Doug Young, Acoustic Guitar
“[Steve Baughman] A star of fingerstyle guitar: very deft, thoughtful, quietly adventurous, deeply lyrical and playful.” – Radio National, Australia
“This album [Groovemasters Vol. 9 - Celtic Guitar Summit] is remarkable not only for its bold venture into a new idiom. Simply put, it is also the loveliest guitar album I have heard. What the listener hears is a waterfall of cascading arpeggios and intricate guitar passages emanating from 10 fingers and 12 guitar strings, seemingly one musician with four hands and a guitar of enormous depth of sound. Steve Baughman and Robin Bullock have forged a new path and created a musical statement so strong that it will set a new standard for others to follow. This is the template for a new genre, the Celtic guitar duet.” – Art Edelstein, music journalist, author, guitarist
Listen to Steve Baughman samples or download tunes from iTunes.
