Steve Gunn

Steve Gunn

Steve Gunn is a New York-based guitarist and songwriter whose work sits at the meeting point of folk, blues, free jazz and psych. He develops a deconstructed blues sound through solo, duo and ensemble recordings, and his songs and instrumental pieces often move between detailed composition and improvisation.

Background and style

Gunn draws on the playing of Robbie Basho, Sandy Bull, Michael Chapman and Sonny Sharrock, among others, shaping those influences into a distinctive guitar-led approach. His music also reflects Delta and Piedmont country blues, alongside free jazz and psychedelic elements. His writing is described through musical travelogues that move across city and wilderness settings, with rhythm and phrasing central to the impact of the songs.

Career and recordings

His career spans nearly fifteen years and includes a substantial body of critically acclaimed recordings. The 2009 solo album Boerum Palace marks a key point in his solo work and shows a fully developed approach to songcraft. Around this period he also begins singing more, developing a vocal style that matches his guitar playing.

Gunn’s instrumental duo recordings with Truscinski, Sand City (2010) and Ocean Parkway (2012), strengthen his reputation among his peers. These recordings emphasise his compositional method, with pieces that unfold through repeated improvisatory changes and subtle mechanical detail.

Collaborations and labels

His artistic development is shaped by friendships and collaborations with Jack Rose, Tom Carter, Meg Baird and Michael Chapman. He releases two solo albums on Three Lobed Recordings, and two albums as one half of Gunn-Truscinski Duo also appear on Three Lobed.

Musical approach

Gunn builds songs as exploratory structures, opening them up for further tinkering and performance variation. Across his solo and duo work, the balance between discipline and improvisation remains central to his sound.