Press and Reviews

Christmas Light is an instrumental CD that provides something for everybody. Canadian Steve Holt has enjoyed much acclaim for his jazz artistry, and he demonstrates that talent here. The CD, however, goes well beyond traditional jazz concepts. The artist injects a broad range of musical genres, peppering the CD with moments of pop, country, rock, folk, new age and, of course, jazz. In addition to putting together the varied arrangements, Steve plays all of the instruments himself, including synthesizers, piano, and percussion. It's an appealing package.

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The Bluebird Café, Nashville TN .

We've all been there. In every life there come those moments of such enormous truth and decision when the enlightenment of that experience reveals itself with such power and clarity that some small trigger will immediately transport us back there. JUNO award winning jazz pianist, Canadian Steve Holt, performed at Nashville's world-famous Bluebird Cafe on Wednesday evening with the harnessed intensity of someone who has truly lived and survived many such moments. His control over the keyboard obviously comes from a lifetime of devotion to his craft and the evidence is clear that he is truly a master.

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Inner Music and Trilogy Records International take great pleasure in announcing the release of a new CD single for radio, the award-winning song “Soon” by Canadian singer-songwriter Steve Holt. “Soon” won an Honorable Mention in this year's USA Songwriting Competition, the world's leading international songwriting competition featuring songwriters, composers, and recording artists from around the globe. Out of more than 32,000 entries, “Soon” was one of only 20 such awards. Judges include music representatives from Warner Music, Disney Music Publishing, Sony Music and other industry leaders.

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Here's proof that there is life after Bay Street.

Steve Holt, who used to be a top-ranked consumer products analyst for Scotia Capital, won an honourable mention this week in the USA Songwriting competition. The judges included executives from the major American record labels. Working with a producer who also works with the Barenaked Ladies and Jann Arden, Mr. Holt got the nod for a song called Soon,from a CD he's just cut called The Dream. Ten years ago, when Mr. Holt was still covering the likes of Seagram by day, he recorded a jazz album in his spare time. A reviewer at The Globe and Mail wrote that "Holt is an emphatic, bop-based pianist whose solos simply pop from one phrase to the next."
Spurred on by these favourable reviews, Mr. Holt decided three years ago to chase his musical dream full-time. The new CD marks his first effort as a vocalist. Every financier, lawyer or accountant who bangs away in a band -- and there are legions of these people -- should pause for a moment and consider Mr. Holt's success in his second career.

December 5, 2002

Canadian singer-songwriter Steve Holt has won an Honorable Mention in this year's USA Songwriting Competition. The USA Songwriting Competition is the world's leading international songwriting competition, featuring songwriters, composers, and recording artists from around the globe. Judges include music representatives from Warner Music, Disney Music Publishing, Sony Music and other industry leaders.

>> full story

December 1, 2002

When Steve Holt left his job on Bay Street in 1999, he was ranked the top equity analyst in Canada and many people thought he left a career of a lifetime.

However, what others thought was a crazy move was actually the beginning of a journey that led to the Scarborough resident realizing an important life goal. Recording and releasing a pop music album.

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November 27, 2002

Canadian singer-songwriter Steve Holt has been named as one of the finalists in the USA Songwriting Competition(R), it was announced today. Mr. Holt is among ten finalists in the Latin category with his song "Soon". Winners will be announced December 4.

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October, 2002

One of Canada's most acclaimed jazz pianists, Steve Holt has just released his first disc geared for a pop audience. The native of Montreal is a past Juno Award nominee and has recorded four discs prior, building a loyal following on the jazz circuit in Quebec and Ontario - performing both solo and with many of the businesses' best. Steve also has the distinction of being probably Canada's only recording artist to have worked in the stock markets for 15 years, specializing in entertainment and consumer related companies. He gave it up in 1999 after building his own recording studio to fulfill pop music full time.

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September 14, 2002

After 15 years as a top-ranked consumer products analyst, Steve Holt is hoping to claw his way to star status on a different kind of chart. Mr. Holt -- who used to cover beer, cigarettes and other staples for Scotia Capital -- has released his debut pop/rock CD, called The Dream.

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August 25, 2002

In life some paths are meant to cross. Like my path crossing with that of former Bay Streeter Steve Holt.

But ironically, it's not the world of stocks and investments that brought us together.

No, it's our dreams.

Steve dreams of making a better world through his music, and in his thought-provoking video for his new single We Need You - released in April - he makes a compelling plea for tolerance and love at a time when the globe is torn by so much suffering and strife.

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August 21, 2002

Hot on the heels of his successful first single "We Need You," Steve Holt is releasing "Just to Be With You", a pop song that reflects on the transforming power of love and which fits perfectly into the adult contemporary format.

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August 21, 2002

Trilogy Records and Inner Music announced today the long-awaited release of "The Dream", the new album by Steve Holt. It is the first album in the pop/rock genre by the artist who had previously been known as one of Canada’s great jazz pianists and composers. "The Dream" features Steve as a vocalist and songwriter, as well as pianist.

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May 22, 2002

Just two short years ago, Steve Holt was a man of numbers: a hardened Bay Street analyst, specializing in the music and entertainment industries, with over 15 years of experience. It was a rather daring and emboldened leap, then, when Holt left the security of the rigid digits of Bay Street to instead focus his energy on his own sweeping love of making music. This was, after all, a talent that he harboured for years prior to dedicating himself fulltime. But, despite being one of many career-hardened aspiring artist-wannabes, Holt actually holds some rock solid credentials to back up his vision of grandeur. He is a long-time, self-taught pianist, a past instructor of Jazz improvisation at McGill University, and has found national acclaim, including a Juno Nomination (for Best Jazz Album), with his 1983 release "The Lion's Eyes".

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March 7, 2002

Toronto, Canada - Trilogy Records announced today the release of "We Need You", the first single from the new CD "The Dream" by Steve Holt.

>> full press release

For further information, contact:

Laraine Deacon, Vice President, Public Relations
Inner Music (416) 929-8112

laraine@inner-music.com

Tel. (416) 929-8112 Fax (416) 929-0056