So, where are you from Rambling Steve Gardner?

[Rambling Steve Gardner]

Rambling Steve Gardner-I was born in Mississippi in 1956. Music came into my life by way of an old phonograph, my cousin's Japanese transistor radio, our black and white television set and church on Sundays. And especially those great times when Daddy would play rhythm on four kitchen knives while Uncle Amos Parker played and sang. I picked up the guitar and harmonica later on and have never looked back.

I met and made friends with Sam Chatmon, of the Mississippi Sheiks in the 70's as I worked on a degree in photojournalism from the University of Southern Mississippi. After a few photos and a meal of fried chicken or catfish Sam would let me blow the harp with him a while saying, "Steve, everybody needs a chance to be told to sit down!" I learned to take that chance when it was offered...you may not get another one anytime soon.

The music and photography became my pass way to friendships with so many fine musicians like Jack Owens, Jessie Mae Hemphill, James Son Thomas, Booba Barnes and more who opened their homes and hearts to me. They all pointed out that you must find your own road into the blues, play your own songs and play them your own way. Usually they would say something like, "Steve, you ain't me and I ain't you so just git on with it!" I did too.

In 1980 I left my photography job at the Jackson (MS) Daily News and moved to Japan where I freelanced for Japanese magazines as well as Time and News week. I covered Asia and the US from here and still found time for the blues. This international interest in the blues led me to finish my best black and white picture book on Mississippi and the blues, Rambling Mind (1994). This book shows the Mississippi that I grew up and know with its-share croppers, good times and hard, its people and the musicians that treated me like both friend and family. My first CD, Rambling With The Blues (2002) is this books musical companion.

The music, the blues has continued to light my path as I ramble across the deep waters from Mississippi to Tokyo. The photography still counts but it has taken a back seat to the guitars and harmonicas. But I firmly believe:

“If life is like a bottle of whiskey, you better drink it all and not waste a drop.... Remember, you can't be afraid and live free...after all, everybody gets the blues...sometime.”


Still need more? Read on.

Mississippi Bluesman Steve Gardner, based in Tokyo, Japan, plays original, acoustic roots and country blues music, finger picking and slide on National guitars, with harmonica, banjo, washboard and a variety of hand made instruments. He combines his music with his intimate black and white photographs of the people and place of the blues.

Steve Gardner plays and tours Japan, where many of his tours have been sponsored by the Cultural Affairs section of the United States, State Department. Steve also plays regularly in Singapore and Indonesia as well as the South-eastern United States and Europe. Steve plays solo and with the Bottleneck Blues Band- his steady back up group since 1995. and recently he has been touring in the USA with the Jake Leg Stompers string band, based out of Nashville, TN. with whom he recorded his newest CD, Walking The Dog and JERICHO.

Steve Gardner recently returned from Vienna, Austria where he played for the Vienna Blues Spring Festival and Gala. He played solo and with the Mojo Blues band along with 78 year old special guest, Mojo Buford, former harmonica player for blues great, Muddy Waters.

Growing up down in Mississippi, Steve Gardner played with blues great Sam Chatmon, Booby Barnes, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Jack Owens and many more. He has also opened shows and played shows with Kim Wilson and The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mojo Bufford, Shemekia Copel, Gate Mouth Brown, Howard Tate, Jimmy and Eddie Burns, Jimmy Dawkins, Corey Harris, Harmonica Shaw, Washboard Chaz, Ben E. King, Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, and many others.

CDs to date by Steve Gardner include-WALKING’THE DOG, (release date 12/2009) recorded in New Orleans, LA. with Washboard Chaz, the Jake Leg Stompers and Friends from Tokyo. JERICHO (2007) recorded in Nashville, TN. - Big Delta Crossing (2005) -Rambling With The Blues (2002)
Steve is featured in the DVD/Double CD, Jessie Mae Hemphill and Friends, Dare You To Do It Again.

Steve Gardner has appeared or been featured on several television and radio programs. He recently appeared on Japan National Television (NHK) showing photographs and discussing the death of Emperor Hirohito, the end of the Showa Era. Steve does recording and studio session work as well as appearing in and occasionally even helping produce music and advertising promotions- ranging from the long running television, radio and print ads for Wild Turkey Whiskey (shot on location in Mississippi); Coke-a-cola; Banterin; D'Addario Acoustic Guitar Strings; Blanton’s Bourbon; Olympus Camera; Aim's pet food; Japan National RailRoad; and the fragrance brand, Sho Shu Riki- which was voted one of the top ten most popular television advertisements in Japan produced in 2007.

A musician and photographer, Steve Gardner has had numerous photographic exhibitions sponsored by Kodak, Nikon, Wild Turkey Whiskey, Heartland Beer, Gibson Guitars, His photographs are included in the collections of several private galleries. His work has been published in numerous magazines and books on the American South. Steve’s critically acclaimed volume, Rambling Mind (1994) is a collection of his black and white images of Mississippi and the blues and is a reflection of the music that he plays.

Contact Steve Gardner-
e-mail- [e-mail]
http://www.stevegardner.info/
Japan-Telephone-81-3-3325-8261

Steve Gardner playing Tokyo Mardi Gras

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu7Gxr54w0I

Steve Gardner and the Jake Leg Stompers
at Club Ebony, Indianola, Mississippi

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=rFNy6mmpmLI


Austrian Radio Interview by Elle Macchietto della Rossa

http://www.neubauerrundfunk.at/

CD preview: NEW CD "JERICHO" Now On Sale!http://cdbaby.com/cd/stevegardner2

Austrian Spring Blues Festival in Vienna, Austria: http://www.blues.at/vbs/bluesgala.html