Curtis Stigers 

Live reviews

• Curtis Stigers’ music is like taking the most stylized parts of the sound defined by the yuppie generation, throwing it into a blender and putting it on puree. His sound features screeching sax solos the upbeat drive typical of Huey Lewis and at times silky smooth jazz departures in the vein of Kenny G.

  Curtis Stigers is a multitalented musician. He not only writes his music, he performs it as well. He is an accomplished saxophonist, guitarist and vocalist. He has even mastered several types of vocal styles, such as jazz and pop which are frequently heard throughout his catalogue. Stigers was initially trained as a jazz musician so it is no surprise that this style seeps into his current sound. Though his roots are in jazz music his goal was to become a rockstar. His drive towards this more extreme form of music is captured in the aggressive overtones in his sound and displayed on his more raw straightforward song structures evidenced in tracks like “Sleeping With the Lights On”. Despite Stigers’ dabbling in pop music he never strayed too far from jazz. During the beginning of his career he moonlighted in a jazz band when he wasn’t putting on rock shows. In 2001 he eventually made a return to jazz and performed standards and variations of pop songs in a caret-esque style.

  Though Stigers is known first and foremost for his 90s work (during this time period he had five hit records) there has been somewhat of a resurgent in his career. New generations discover his music year after year and in great part due to its placement in film. His classic soul rock sound can be heard on “The Bodygaurd”, “Dawson Creek” and “Sons of Anarchy” for which his song “This Life” has become the shows theme. Stigers’ shift in sound is captured in his live performances and offer the audience a great opportunity to experience the diversity of his career. He plays everything from his 1990s self-titled album to his latest Jazz recordings and blends them in his setlist as smoothly as steamed milk mixes in with chai tea.

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  by wjmcc

• Curtis Stigers at Manchester Opera House October 5 2014 Nothing beats live music, and I guess most reviews feel that way.

  I have been seeing Curtis Stigers perform for 20+ years and have never been disappointed by any show.

  This most recent album that is being toured is 'Hooray For Love', a collection of happy love songs - with one expection. Despite his penchant for sad and melancholy love songs (which I adore) Curtis Stigers is a very amusing, funny and self-deprecating guy, and his smile could melt the polar caps and cause global warming! He often calls himself a skinny little while kid, especially when he sings 'That's All Right Mama' as sung by Elvis Presley, written by the talented Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup.

  Curtis is also known for giving credit to not only the singer, but the song-writer and has sung material as diverse as Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Tom Waits and self-penned material. This is jazz-Stigers-style... one that he has made all his own. If you ever get chance to see this performer live, jump at it - you will not be disappointed. From his latest CD material to way back in the 1990's when there were hits like 'I Wonder Why' you always get the full Stigers treatment.

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  by eileen-charnley

• Seeing Curtis Stigers perform his jazz stylings live in the 90's was a unique experience in my concert going career. His shows are exciting, jazzy, poppy, and fun. Everyone cheers whenever they can be heard and shows him much love throughout. I Don't Want To Talk About It Now was a stand out of the evening. Not only were Curtis' vocals on point and spectacular but his band were on their game like no other. Jazz piano, trumpet, trombone, pretty much anything you could want out of a jazz band they played it and played it well.The audience clapped along and bounced back and forth like they were trained to do so, in time and in beat with the music perfectly. It was like being one whole being in that crowd, all moving together in perfect time and harmony without one limb having to ask what the other is doing. The jazz was intense, the voices smooth, and the song excellent. He loved his audience just as much as they loved him and everyone could feel it in the crowd. It was one of the most excellent jazz shows I have ever seen put on, and I highly recommend it.

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  By Anonymous