Chuck Loeb

Chuck Loeb (born December 7, 1955 in Nyack, New York) is an American jazz guitarist who has been a member of the groups Steps Ahead and Fourplay.

Early years and education

Chuck Loeb was born Dec. 7 1955 in Nyack, New York, near New York City. When he was a kid, he listened to rock musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Cream, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. According to a 2005 JazzTimes article, the first song he learned on guitar was Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone", which he would later play at a guest appearance with Dylan.^[1] It was not until he was 16 years old that he discovered jazz and guitarists Wes Montgomery, George Benson, John McLaughlin, and Pat Martino.^[2] It was then that Loeb chose to become musician and "never thought of doing anything else".^[3]

Loeb studied with local music teachers until he traveled to Philadelphia, where he was a student of jazz guitarist Dennis Sandole, and later to New York City, where he learned from Jim Hall.^[4] For two years he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, then left in 1976 to seek professional work in New York City.

Groups

In New York, Loeb played with Chico Hamilton, Ray Barreto, and Hubert Laws. Starting in 1979, he was a member of Stan Getz's group.^[5] Getz would later become Loeb's best man at his wedding to singer Carmen Cuesta.^[1]

In 1994 Loeb and Mitchel Forman, also in Getz's group, formed the jazz fusion band Metro.^[6] In the 1980s, he was a member of the group Steps Ahead, which included Michael Brecker, someone Loeb credits as an influence.^[7] In 2010 he replaced Larry Carlton as guitarist in Fourplay.^[8]

In 2014, he was featured on Brian Culbertson's project Another Long Night Out, providing guitar for track "Fullerton Ave.". Loeb and his wife have collaborated, with Cuesta providing vocals on his albums and Loeb playing on Cuesta's albums,^[9] and recently their daughters Lizzy and Christina have provided vocals as well.^[10]

Solo career

Loeb began a solo career in 1988 with his debut album My Shining Hour on the Japanese record label Pony Canyon. He released subsequent albums on DMP Digital Music Products until receiving commercial success with Shanachie Records on The Music Inside (1996). The title song from the album held the number one position on the jazz charts for six weeks.^[4] Later, he produced Moon, the Stars, & the Setting Sun (1998), Listen(1999) In a Heartbeat (2001), and All There Is (2002).

Loeb's music has appeared on TV shows, commercials,^[3] and movie soundtracks, including The Untouchables, You've Got Mail, and Hitch.

Discography

Studio albums

With the Fantasy Band

Compilations

Live albums

With Stan Getz

• Billy Highstreet Samba (EmArcy, 1981 [1990])

References

External links

• Official website