This Article Appeared in the Red Deer Express on Sept. 23, 2009
BY MARK WEBER
MASTER MUSICIAN Singer/songwriter Steve Bell
Singer/songwriter Steve Bell continues to introduce folks to his finely-crafted new tunes and treasury of older classics. Promoting his latest worship-oriented disc Devotion, Bell plays St. Mary’s Catholic Church Oct. 3. Performance time for `an intimate solo performance of music, story and song’ is 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
“Solo concerts really are the place where I feel most at home,” says Bell of the format of the Red Deer show. “Maybe it’s because I’ve done literally thousands of them, maybe it’s because I can do the songs in any key or tempo I feel like, or maybe it’s just the most natural way for a singer/songwriter to perform. “More likely, it’s because of the intimacy you can build with the audience. A good solo concert feels like making music with a group of friends it feels like something communal happens, something of the tri-unity of God reflected in a communion of persons. That can happen in a larger concert as well, but there is a unique way it is facilitated by the transparency and vulnerability that are possible in a solo concert.”
The Winnipeg-based Bell has spent the past 15 years churning out top-notch tunes as an indie artist, and more than 20 years trekking around North America and beyond sharing what it means to be a person of authentic Christian spirituality. Bell’s career began with a music-making family, grew into a fascination with playing guitar, evolved into the lifestyle of a musician and found its fruition in the musical niche of singer/songwriter. He describes his faith as the “governing feature of my life, so that’s what I draw on most often.
Fifteen albums and relentless touring has resulted in a bevy of awards (including Junos in 1997 and 2000), impressive sales of more than 300,000 units and a loyal following of fans around the world. Meanwhile, Devotion, is entirely made up of songs written in the context of and for the purpose of community worship. Bell has described Devotion as “a wonderful, accessible and fresh collection of simple song-prayers offered with respect to the same liturgical arc of worship that feeds us week after week, year after year, century after century.”
Songs about transcendence sit next to tunes about sorrow, and stories of healing are situated next to stories of unrequited longing to be whole. The record’s style has been described as `bayou taize’ by some a blend of roots and southern folk idioms. Lyrics draw on scripture and other ancient texts, offer ing a unique combination of depth and sing-ability for worship. Besides his musical pursuits, Bell is also always looking for new ground to explore.
He has added his voice to organizations calling for an end to extreme poverty, and has brought a renewed energy to several `in house’ projects directed to caring for those in need. He has also been impacted by his collaboration with symphony orchestras over the past several years. “My first thought was that perhaps they didn’t know what kind of music I did. As it turned out, they were familiar with my music, and following the recommendation of some of the orchestra members they had concluded that doing a concert together would be a good idea.” The collaboration proved an excellent one
(Symphony Sessions was released in 2007).
Bell has since continued to perform concerts with various orchestras within and beyond Canada. Other recording highlights include The Symphony Sessions (2007), Solace (2005), Sons and Daughters (2003), Simple Songs (2000) and Romantics & Mystics (1997).
mweber@reddeer.greatwest.ca (403-309-5459)
