James Steeber was born in Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, in 1962. His piano studies began, rather informally, at the age of 5, with a local cocktail pianist during off hours at the restaurant. Since then, Mr. Steeber received another 15 years of training with private teachers, but it was his ear which gave him the skills to branch out into different forms of composition.

In 1982 he began a long association with the world of modern dance, accompanying and composing for such luminaries of the movement world as Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and Alvin Ailey. He accompanied dance at the Juilliard School for eight years, and in 1994 debuted a dance score entitled Rachel for solo piano at the Danny Kaye Playhouse for, among others, Bertram Ross, a Graham leading man of twenty-five years. A recording of the work is in the collection of New York Public Library.

Currently, Mr. Steeber is currently a professional, working in Midtown Manhattan. Mr. Steeber enjoys playing the "stride" style of swing piano -- which uses all the recources of the keyboard.

James Steeber