Steve Hunter’s Dig My Garden Band

One of the country’s most potent musical acts and this studio album’s very live sound captures that visceral excitement – John Shand, SMH.

Since the launch of Steve Hunter’s acclaimed Dig My Garden recording eight months ago for SIMA, the album has remained Birdland’s top selling CD. The influence of flamenco is part of the thrill of this jazz band – best heard live.

Steve Hunter is a virtuoso bassist, prolific composer and band leader. While living extensively overseas, including Spain and USA, Hunter established an enviable international career playing with Billy Cobham, Chick Corea and others and has appeared on around 50 albums.

In Australia, Hunter has played and recorded with many of the countries greatest musicians and has won several major Australian music awards for his work.

Dig My Garden is Steve Hunter’s eighth album as leader. Much of the music was written over a ten month period spent living in Andalusia, Spain. Joining Hunter are James Muller (electric, acoustic guitar) and Matt McMahon (keys) both of whom have both been in Steve’s bands for the last eight years, and James Hauptman (drums, percussion, cajon) who has been in the band for the last three years.

Dig My Garden features 8 new Hunter compositions, reflecting the playing styles of the band. Consequently the music is carried on the strength of the ‘voices’ of the players rather than on a singular idiomatic compositional style. All players make outstanding contributions to Steve’s music with a particularly amazing guitar solo on Cazador from James Muller.

To all this Hunter provides cohesion, his warm, full and authoritative bass providing a clear voice of direction, giving foundation and grounding for the adventurous music that has grown from the roots and influences of Miles Davis, Weather Report and Chick Corea.