Sten Höstfält
Composer Guitarist
Producer Educator
Theorist Scholar
Sten Höstfält Biography
Sten Hostfalt is a leading innovative guitarist and composer working on the New York music scene of today. He performs with some of the most original, unique voices in modern music and has been called highly exceptional by legendary icons of American Music Jimmy Giuffre, and virtuosic by musical innovator Joe Maneri -Jon Damian, Fresh Music: Explorations with The Creative Workshop Ensemble for Musicians, Artists, and Teachers [2015].
Swedish-born American composer, guitarist, bandleader, producer, record label proprietor, educator, theorist, and research scholar Sten Hostfalt's four-decade innovative contribution to the international creative music scene encompasses jazz, contemporary classical, pop, folk, and beyond category formats.
From an initial experience as a musician, composer, co-leader, and producer when 1980's Scandinavian progressive improvised community gentrified into DIY, New Wave, and electronica. Hostfalt was introduced on the mid-90's New York jazz scene, as a member of contemporary Argentine composer Guillermo Klein's large ensemble. Peter Watrous of New York Times called the lineup one of the better continuing experiments in New York in a '95 live review at the then newly opened Smalls Jazz Club. Jazz Times reviewed the group's debut CD Big Van/El Minotauro (Beat '94/Candid '97) favorably, and David R. Adler of All Music Guide noted the band's brilliant soloists, that along with Hostfalt, included saxophonists Chris Cheek, and Mark Turner, and pianist Aaron Goldberg.
The transition, from the European to the American improvised music scene was notably facilitated by apprenticeship in large jazz ensembles led by Phil Wilson and Herb Pomeroy, at Berklee College of Music. Mentorship with legendary icons of American music Jimmy Giuffre, and Paul Bley, and tutelege by George Russell, Joe Maneri and Mick Goodrick at New England Conservatory. As well as, concert performances with masters of Jazz Gary Burton, Peter Erskine and Clare Fischer. In turn followed by late 90s sideman work in Europe, performing, touring, and recording with Rob McConnell, Deborah Brown, and Bobby Shew. And shared jazz festival events with James Moody, Phil Woods, Ray Brown, Woody Herman Big Band, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen, and Tower of Power.
The new millennium return to New York saw a focus on work as a solo performer, leading his own trios and quartets, and producing and releasing recordings on his own labels g-wOw and Sonus Rex. Sten Hostfalt's 2002 debut CD as a leader, the Paul Bley initiated Eternity Check was coupled with the live recorded solo concert CD 29 Pieces for the Microtonal Guitar Live at Knitting Factory New York. Described as among the most riveting explorations of the microtonal world ever recorded (Larry Cosentino, Signal to Noise, 2005), genuinely innovative, may be considered groundbreaking (Don Williamson, Jazz Review, 2005), taking you on a journey to a place where rules quite simply don't exist, and anything is possible (John Kelman, All About Jazz, 2004).
After a second live solo recorded album titled 'Macroscope' (Sonus Rex/2006), followed duo work with saxophonist Blaise Siwula, that generated the 2011 CD 'Now Matter'. As well as the live recorded quartet album G-Factor/MoneyTown, released same year. Meanwhile, sideman work on the new NYC electronica scene, as a bassist with Collin Palmer AKA Calmer, included shared events with MachineDrum (Travis Stewart), MOBY, and Keith Murray (DEF Squad). In 2014 Hostfalt composed, and staged his microtonal orchestra original work Dimensional States for 12 musicians and 2 dance artists at ShapeShifter Lab, Brooklyn NY. Before, later the same year, realizing the world premiere solo performance of his work Four Microtonal Pieces for Music for Guitar and Electronics at the XXXV Encontre Internacional de Compositors festival at Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. This program was released on CD in 2019, as 'Transformations'. In relation, 2018 saw a concert and recording with Italian trumpet player Johnny Lapio.
A four-decade veteran music educator, Mr. Hostfalt's current Columbia University Teachers College instructor appointment, that involves applied teaching of pre-service and experienced music teachers, reflects music educator service in internationally leading academic institutions in the United States and Europe for the past 25 years. Just like current appointments as a NY State K-12 certified music educator are preceded by, and represents public school teaching in American and European school systems since 1995. His contributions to music education are documented in a sub-chapter microtonal music lecture feature in Jon Damian's 2015 book publication 'Fresh Music'. Furthermore, by inclusion in Dictionnaire des musiques microtonales 1892-2013 by Franck Jedrzejewski (L'Harmattan Paris, 2014). As well as with citations in academic research articles on contemporary microtonal music. Along with features or mention in popular, commercial press/media publications such as Guitar Player Magazine (US), and TomaJazz (Spain).
Sten Hostfalt is a leading innovative guitarist and composer working on the New York music scene of today. He performs with some of the most original, unique voices in modern music and has been called highly exceptional by legendary icons of American Music Jimmy Giuffre, and virtuosic by musical innovator Joe Maneri -Jon Damian, Fresh Music: Explorations with The Creative Workshop Ensemble for Musicians, Artists, and Teachers [2015].
Swedish-born American composer, guitarist, bandleader, producer, record label proprietor, educator, theorist, and research scholar Sten Hostfalt's four-decade innovative contribution to the international creative music scene encompasses jazz, contemporary classical, pop, folk, and beyond category formats.
From an initial experience as a musician, composer, co-leader, and producer when 1980's Scandinavian progressive improvised community gentrified into DIY, New Wave, and electronica. Hostfalt was introduced on the mid-90's New York jazz scene, as a member of contemporary Argentine composer Guillermo Klein's large ensemble. Peter Watrous of New York Times called the lineup one of the better continuing experiments in New York in a '95 live review at the then newly opened Smalls Jazz Club. Jazz Times reviewed the group's debut CD Big Van/El Minotauro (Beat '94/Candid '97) favorably, and David R. Adler of All Music Guide noted the band's brilliant soloists, that along with Hostfalt, included saxophonists Chris Cheek, and Mark Turner, and pianist Aaron Goldberg.
The transition, from the European to the American improvised music scene was notably facilitated by apprenticeship in large jazz ensembles led by Phil Wilson and Herb Pomeroy, at Berklee College of Music. Mentorship with legendary icons of American music Jimmy Giuffre, and Paul Bley, and tutelege by George Russell, Joe Maneri and Mick Goodrick at New England Conservatory. As well as, concert performances with masters of Jazz Gary Burton, Peter Erskine and Clare Fischer. In turn followed by late 90s sideman work in Europe, performing, touring, and recording with Rob McConnell, Deborah Brown, and Bobby Shew. And shared jazz festival events with James Moody, Phil Woods, Ray Brown, Woody Herman Big Band, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen, and Tower of Power.
The new millennium return to New York saw a focus on work as a solo performer, leading his own trios and quartets, and producing and releasing recordings on his own labels g-wOw and Sonus Rex. Sten Hostfalt's 2002 debut CD as a leader, the Paul Bley initiated Eternity Check was coupled with the live recorded solo concert CD 29 Pieces for the Microtonal Guitar Live at Knitting Factory New York. Described as among the most riveting explorations of the microtonal world ever recorded (Larry Cosentino, Signal to Noise, 2005), genuinely innovative, may be considered groundbreaking (Don Williamson, Jazz Review, 2005), taking you on a journey to a place where rules quite simply don't exist, and anything is possible (John Kelman, All About Jazz, 2004).
After a second live solo recorded album titled 'Macroscope' (Sonus Rex/2006), followed duo work with saxophonist Blaise Siwula, that generated the 2011 CD 'Now Matter'. As well as the live recorded quartet album G-Factor/MoneyTown, released same year. Meanwhile, sideman work on the new NYC electronica scene, as a bassist with Collin Palmer AKA Calmer, included shared events with MachineDrum (Travis Stewart), MOBY, and Keith Murray (DEF Squad). In 2014 Hostfalt composed, and staged his microtonal orchestra original work Dimensional States for 12 musicians and 2 dance artists at ShapeShifter Lab, Brooklyn NY. Before, later the same year, realizing the world premiere solo performance of his work Four Microtonal Pieces for Music for Guitar and Electronics at the XXXV Encontre Internacional de Compositors festival at Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. This program was released on CD in 2019, as 'Transformations'. In relation, 2018 saw a concert and recording with Italian trumpet player Johnny Lapio.
A four-decade veteran music educator, Mr. Hostfalt's current Columbia University Teachers College instructor appointment, that involves applied teaching of pre-service and experienced music teachers, reflects music educator service in internationally leading academic institutions in the United States and Europe for the past 25 years. Just like current appointments as a NY State K-12 certified music educator are preceded by, and represents public school teaching in American and European school systems since 1995. His contributions to music education are documented in a sub-chapter microtonal music lecture feature in Jon Damian's 2015 book publication 'Fresh Music'. Furthermore, by inclusion in Dictionnaire des musiques microtonales 1892-2013 by Franck Jedrzejewski (L'Harmattan Paris, 2014). As well as with citations in academic research articles on contemporary microtonal music. Along with features or mention in popular, commercial press/media publications such as Guitar Player Magazine (US), and TomaJazz (Spain).
Photo by Jose' Luis Luna Rocafort
© All Rights Reserved 2014-2025.
XXXV Encontres de Compositors
Sten Hostfalt solo concert 2014,
Pilar i Joan Miro, Palma de Mallorca,
Islas Baleares, Spain
© All Rights Reserved 2014-2025.
XXXV Encontres de Compositors
Sten Hostfalt solo concert 2014,
Pilar i Joan Miro, Palma de Mallorca,
Islas Baleares, Spain