Trevor Babajack Steger (born 21 April 1963) is a British blues musician. He is best known for his work with his former band Babajack,[1] and his subsequent solo career. To date, Steger has released three solo albums, one live album and been nominated for numerous British Blues Awards, winning Best Acoustic Act in 2023.[2][3][4][5]
Trevor Babajack Steger | |
|---|---|
 Steger performing in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Trevor Steger |
| Also known as | Trevor Babajack |
| Born | 21 April 1963 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England |
| Genres | Blues, country blues, Delta blues, blues rock, folk, Americana |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, harmonica, slide guitar, lap slide guitar, Vocals |
| Members | Jesse Benns, Jo Chambers |
| Website | Trevorbabajacksteger.com |
Since the release of his third solo album Not Far To Go, Steger has been joined regularly at live shows by percussionist Jesse Benns as the Trevor Babajack Duo, or with Benns and violinist Jo Chambers as The Trevor Babajack Trio.[6]
Biography
editTrevor Babajack Steger was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, and raised listening to his mother, a club singer. He has stated there were only two records in his parents record collection, Johnny Cash and Rory Gallagher.In the late seventies he began his musical career by playing bass in a punk band.[7]
In 1981, a friend dragged him reluctantly along to see Nine Below Zero, the day after he bought himself a Sonny Boy Williamson II record and a harmonica.[8]
Living and working in the 1990s with the Shona people in Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe, Steger's first son, Jack was born. Shona custom is that the father takes his son's name, so Steger became known as 'Babajack' (the Father of Jack).[8]
His music is influenced by his acquired passion for early rural Blues, mixed with the sounds of rhythmic African roots, in what can only be described as his own genre of original and seemingly improvised music. His travels have taken him the length of the UK and across Europe, headlining blues and roots festivals and from little French cafés to The Royal Albert Hall.[9]
After the success and eventual disbanding of Babajack, his first solo album Sawdust Man received critical acclaim with international radio play and being playlisted by BBC Radio 2.[10]
This solo album was followed up by his second, The Solemn Truth and Barefaced Lies, which was nominated for the Blues and Roots Radio Best Album.[11]
In 2022, Steger released his third solo album Not Far To Go, and in doing so recruited Jesse Benns on percussion and Jo Chambers on violin, forming the Trevor Babajack Trio. This album was picked as Album of the Month in December 2022 by the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association and also reached number 2 in the British Blues Chart.[12]
In 2023 Steger received his first UK Blues Award as a solo artist, winning the UK Blues Acoustic Act of the Year. He also released a live album with Jesse Benns called Bootleg Blues: Live at Temperance as the Trevor Babajack Duo.[13]
In February 2024, Steger and percussionist Jesse Benns embarked on a European tour as The Trevor Babajack Duo, playing critically acclaimed shows in the UK, Belgium and Italy.[14] Steger was also once again nominated for the UK Blues Acoustic Act of the Year, as well as a new category, Traditional Blues Artist of the Year.[15]
Steger can be found regularly touring either as a duo with Jesse Benns or a trio with Jo Chambers, as well as continuing to play solo shows.[16]
Personal life
editSteger lives on a narrow boat with his wife Emma in Gloucestershire.[17] He is also an accomplished woodworker and has hand made several of his guitars that he uses at his live shows.[18]
Discography
editSolo
edit- Sawdust Man (2018)
- The Solemn Truth and Barefaced Lies (2020)
- Not Far To Go (2022)
- Bootleg Blues: Live at Temperance (2023)
With Babajack
edit- The Maker (2009)
- Rooster (2012)
- Running Man (2013)
References
edit- ^ "BBC Introducing Babajack". Bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Babajack Celebrating After Blues Award Win". Malvern Gazette. 3 December 2012.
- ^ "UK Blues Awards Finalists 2022". UK Blues.
- ^ "Babajack Win Three Blues Awards". UK Blues Awards.
- ^ "UK Blues Awards Finalists 2023". UK Blues.
- ^ "A Conversation With Trevor Babajack Steger". The Sound Cafe. 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Babajack Interview". Early Blues.
- ^ a b "Trevor Babajack Gives Us The Solemn Truth And Barefaced Lies". Sound Cafe. 17 September 2020.
- ^ "Bluesfest 2014 At The Royal Albert Hall". The Upcoming. November 2014.
- ^ "Trevor Babajack Steger Live At The Green Note". Green Note.
- ^ "Album Of The Year 2020". Blues and roots radio.
- ^ "Independent Blues Broadcasters Association Album Of The Month". Blues Broadcasters.
- ^ "UK Blues Awards Finalists 2023". UK Blues.
- ^ "Rootsville Review of Trevor Babajack Duo". Rootsville.
- ^ "UK Blues Awards Finalists 2024". UK Blues.
- ^ "Leeds Blues Club Presents Trevor Babajack Steger". Leeds Inspired.
- ^ "Bandfinder Page Of Trevor Babajack Steger". Bandinder.uk.
- ^ "A Blues Interview With Trevor Babajack Steger". Blues.gr.
External links
edit- Trevor Babajack Steger – official site