Steven C. Anderson has recorded more than 2000 songs. I can’t even imagine listening to 2000 songs! His repertoire is wide, but the songs are always moving and evocative. His upcoming release, Echos of Ozzy, shines a new, instrumental and formal side to the music of Ozzy Osborne. In many ways Steven makes the music even more emotional that the originals. You can hear the music live on October 5, at the Aster House.
Please tell us about yourself and your expansive music.
I am a Twin cities-based composer and performer of A LOT of piano music. My catalog of recorded music recently topped 2000 tracks, and that was a significant milestone for me. I’ve always been drawn to an array of material, and I think that’s reflected in what the listener will find in my catalog. And although I draw from a range of genres, I work hard to preserve the signature sound that my fans have grown to love. So whether it’s a tender original composition or a rocking cover of a re-imagined classic, there’s enough of a cohesive element that tells them it’s me. And not AI!
It’s one thing to deliver that sound in my recordings and it’s another to do it playing live. And I’ve been developing an ever-growing audience for my live shows and concerts in some super fun spots – some old and some new – like the Cathedral of Saint Paul, the newly reopened Commodore, Crooners and now the Aster House.
What spurred you to create Echoes of Ozzy?
I’ve been a huge fan of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s music since my high school rock band days. I was especially moved by Ozzy’s resilience in recent months while dealing with health challenges and the poignancy of his final performances. Just weeks before his passing, a close friend and colleague suggested I cover Ozzy’s music through a fresh lens. That idea really resonated with me, and after his passing, “Echoes of Ozzy” became both a tribute and a way to honor the depth and humanity behind his legendary catalog.
So many of Ozzy’s songs have such a beautiful sentiment, you really make that beauty more palpable with the beauty of the piano, especially with Mama, I’m Coming Home. As I listen to your version, I hear the words in my head. How does playing an instrumental version of a well-known song with lyrics differ from playing a song without lyrics?
First, this is a great question – thank you for that! When I first approach a song whose original has lyrics, I am listening for certain things that I know will allow me to interpret an instrumental version. I’m listening for melodic ideas, harmonic progressions (both as they are and as they could be) and the overall soul of the song. And once I’ve done that, I take the same feeling that the songwriter put into the lyric and attempt to pull it out of the melody or harmony or expression of the song in my interpretations. Every song carries an essence, an emotional truth and often a hidden beauty waiting to be uncovered. With Ozzy’s catalog, I found that process especially moving. His music has been part of my life for so long, so exploring those songs on the piano—without words—was both deeply personal and incredibly thrilling.
Has creating the album changed your relationship to the songs? Or what I really want to know – did your favorites remain your favorites or has that changed?
Yes, it absolutely has. has! I discovered new favorites that I hadn’t connected with as deeply before, like “Mr. Crowley” and “Goodbye to Romance”. Back in high school, I played in a rock band called Ground Control, and we did everything we could to sound — and even look — just like the bands we covered. Revisiting Ozzy’s catalog now, from the perspective of a pianist and composer, feels completely different. The connection with the material is more artistic, more mature, more peaceful…while still honoring the energy of the originals that first drew me to the music.
Please tell us about the album release party.
I am beyond excited for this event — it feels like coming full circle. Over 30 years ago, I played my very first album release concert in this same historic building, and now I get to return for the Echoes of Ozzy release at the Aster House. I feel like my piano style is well-suited for the Aster House ambiance and vibe. For the first time ever, I’ll be performing my Ozzy Osbourne interpretations live, along with originals and some other classic covers that we’ve cracked open to shed new light on. I’ll be joined by some incredible musicians who have also become family (quite literally, in the case of my wife!): Grammy-winning guitarist Pat Donohue, and my wife Jillian Anderson, Kat Budzien and Jack Cassidy on vocals. We’ll even share some seasonal favorites like “Autumn Leaves” to celebrate fall. It’s going to be an intimate, one-of-a-kind concert experience that blends nostalgia, musicianship and the thrill of something new. And I get to do this in the very same space where I played my first CD release concert three decades ago!
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