Steve Torok has performed with Stevie Wonder and The Temptations, Four Tops. Sheila E, Barry Manilow, Mary Wilson Of The Supremes. O’Jays. Pete Escovedo. Dan Siegel. Taj Mahal. Toni Tennille. Tony Orlando. Cybil Shepard. Bob Florence. His arrangements and playing of the saxophone have been featured on many national recordings, including American Idol and The Voice. Steve was Gerald Albright’s rehearsal substitute for the TV Land Awards. He also served as assistant conductor and music librarian. He has recorded and written commercial jingles for broadcast across the United States as well as worldwide audiences at CNN International. His arrangements have been performed by notable artists such as trombonist Fred Wesley and saxophonists Ernie Watts and Tom Scott, and Kenny G. Also, Brian Bromberg, bassist Brian Bromberg and Carmen Bradford were among those who recorded them. Yale Strom, klezmer violinist, and vocalist are some of his collaborators. Steve’s solo and compositional work is featured on the Contemporary Jazz CDs Point of View (1998) and This Is Gospel (2001). Steve composed original music for the concert-length dance piece A-Scent Between Consciousness and Stream, and also created soundscapes for a number of mediation apps. In June 2015, he released his latest CD, Eye to Eye. It was recorded in 2012 with Dan Siegel. This CD features a variety of Steve’s music: original tunes, arrangements and arrangements of standard songs, as well as new jazz arrangements of Star Wars music (originally created for Lucasfilm, Ltd.) and music featuring elephant percussionists. Eye to Eye is a Global Music Award Winner for both composition and originality/creativity. The recording was featured on San Diego’s Jazz 88.3, Star Wars podcast Coffee with Kenobi, as well as positively reviewed by JAZZed Magazine. Steve is a professor at MiraCosta College, Oceanside, CA. He teaches music theory and history and also directs the Jazz Collective and MOJO (MiraCosta Oceanside Jazz Orchestra). MOJO was awarded the 2015 Downbeat Student Music Award, for outstanding large jazz ensemble performance. Steve was chosen to be a clinician at the JEN 2015 Conference. MOJO was also selected to perform. The University of Alabama at Birmingham and Birmingham-Southern College were his previous teaching posts. Idyllwild Arts Academy was also included. Mount San Jacinto College (MSJC) is another example. Star Wars Celebration III was held in Indianapolis. Steve’s arrangements were also featured by the MSJC Menifee Jazz Ensemble. Steve has a BFA degree in saxophone performance, a MM in Jazz Studies, and ABD status in Boston University’s music education doctoral program. From www.stevetorok.com
