On this brief episode we chat with Steinway & Songs artist, Esteban Alvarez. A native of Costa Rica, Esteban joins us from a massive fruit market in San Jose, and we have an “organic” conversation about music, its depth, and its current place in the world. 

Now residing in Austin, TX, with a Bachelors Degree in Classical Piano Performance and a Masters in Jazz Performance, Esteban is the founding member and Executive Director of Chorus Austin (a non-profit created to assist in humanitarian causes via music), and is an active world music concert pianist who has recorded and performed across the globe. For the past year he has been extensively traveling to record with an eclectic array of highly celebrated Latin American musicians in their respective native countries. After visiting Bolivia, Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Brazil, Peru and Argentina, Esteban is currently tracking the final piano parts in Costa Rica. The upcoming album, 'Roots of the World', will most certainly offer an authentic and culturally rich listening experience. Esteban has three diverse prior albums, Tico Groove, Austin for Peach and Piano meets Mariachi (Spotify YouTube).

Skunk met Esteban in 2013 at a Steinway showing and began a series of inspirational piano lessons. We got the same honesty and passion on the podcast that Esteban brings to his students, music and social justice endeavors. He talks about the deep fundamentals of Gregorian chant to the astonishing improvisation and harmony of Bach; the symmetry of classical giants such as Hayden and Mozart; the passion and drama of Beethoven and romantics like Chopin; and the expansive complexities by modern composers such as Debussy. We also touch on various jazz styles, analyze both the parallels and differences between the two broad genres, and iterate the vital relevance of the history and chronology of the “western” musical language. Esteban sites modern virtuosos such as Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and John Petrucci who have tirelessly studied this language and all reside at the highest level, regardless of genre they choose to play.

In a related topic, we discuss the quality of organic food verses processed fast food created for quick, cheap consumption. Esteban asks the question “Have we become desensitized to good things? We question the subjectivity of music, food, art, photography etc. and the relevance not only of various opinions, but the source of those opinions. Esteban argues, one has subjective credibility on a given subject based on one's education on that subject, and elaborates with fundamental neurological and mathematical principles. Despite the unfortunate onslaught of fast food "art" across the spectrum, Esteban notes there are still markets for those wishing to seek authentic artists and is hopeful for a mainstream return to a desire for artistic endeavors rooted in merit rather than ego. 

Intro music: A Lazy Night In San Francisco by Skunk Manhattan

Outro music: Has Amado A Una Mujer De Veras  arranged and performed by Esteban Alvarez with Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlan

Written by Adams, Kamen, Lange

For more great guests SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, FOLLOW

Thanks for listening!