Natural Causes–Downbeat Review

“To call Natural Causes exotic would be to deny the labor of love that went into making it. You might say Steve Tibbetts has, in a sense, redefined the word ‘natural’ for all to hear.”

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Natural Causes

Natural Causes by Steve Tibbetts

“…it’s Tibbetts’ resonant 12-string—imbued in phrasing and serpentine linearity by the guitarist’s longstanding Far East interests in general, and the work, here, of Sultan Khan in particular—that’s Natural Causes’ defining voice.” -The Guardian

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Natural Causes–ECM Bio

Lycian Tomb, in the middle of a lake.

It has been eight years since Steve Tibbetts gave us the fiery electric guitar album “A Man About A Horse” (ECM 1814). Now he returns with a different kind of recording: an album of, primarily, acoustic sounds. The making of “Natural Causes” took place in a period when Tibbetts was reconsidering some fundamental aspects of his art and craft – in parallel with daily studies of Bach, Bartók, and music theory.

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Å–Rykodisc / Hannibal Bio

In 1976 I had a job in a record store in St. Paul. One of my co-workers was a guy named Morrey Nellis. He became director of intramural athletics at Macalester College where I used to go for a run every now and then. In 1990 or ’91 he gave me a tape of Hardingfele music saying, “Listen to this.” He got it from his wife who was director of the Hardingfele Society of America.

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A Man About A Horse–ECM bio pt. 1

Anton, Tibbetts, Anderson, Wise

Every piece in this new album is rich in color and landscape. There’s a plot, intention and meaning. Do I want anybody to know the specifics of plot, intention, and meaning? Definitely not.

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First Album–Cuneiform Bio

ElectroComp

By late summer of 1976 I had enough music for an album but little chance of getting a label to put it out. I did have something I could use for a cover from my work as an art major and a little money saved from my night shift job at Minnesota Public Radio, so I found a pressing plant in Arizona that would manufacture 200 albums for $600 and I sent them my stuff.

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Selwa–Tricycle Magazine

Chöying Drolma and Steve Tibbetts: Selwa

“On Selwa, a Tibetan nun and American guitarist grant each other the space to move freely through their respective disciplines, and the result is a lesson in listening for anyone who is fortunate enough to come across the album.”

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Gayatri / Kyamdro Semkye

Gayatri Kyamdro

Performance at the Walker Art Center April 17, 2005 · Chöying Drolma: voice; Steve Tibbetts:  guitar, guitar sampler; Marc Anderson:  percussion

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