Stefan Lievestro

Stefan Lievestro, born in Apeldoorn in 1964, got his first piano lessons at the age of eight.

In high school, the focus of his attention shifted to the electric bass. At the age of 18, the double bass became his instrument of choice and he was admitted to the Arnhem Conservatory (currently called ArtEZ).

In 1989 he graduated Cum Laude at the Hilversum Conservatory (currently Amsterdam Conservatory, after its merger with the Sweelinck Conservatorium).

In 1990, he won a scholarship to study in New York with Marc Johnson.

In 1991 Stefan won first prize at the Karlovy Vary Jazz Festival (Czech Rep.)

In 2005, Stefan Lievestro won the Deloitte Jazz Prize in the Bimhuis in Amsterdam.

In addition to participating in numerous recordings with (mainly) Belgian and Dutch musicians, Stefan has performed with a number of international stars, including: Nat Adderley, Bob Berg, Deedee Bridgewater, Philip Catherine, Freddie Hubbard, Pat Metheny, Art Porter…Stefan continues to perform frequently with Dee Dee Bridgewater, when she tours Europe.

Currently Stefan has his own (recording and performing) bands – ‘Lievestro6’, with Guilermo Celano, Harmen Fraanje, Jasper Blom, Mete Erker and Schilders Mark; ‘Lievestros Mona Lisa Overdrive”, met Arno Krijger, Hans van Oosterhout, Reinier Baas and Jasper Blom – and is part of the Marzio Scholten band.

Stefan is founder of the Mainland label, an independent jazz record label, on which he releases his own and others’ CDs (www.mainlandmusic.nl).

In September 2007 Stefan was programmer of the International Jazz Festival Rotterdam.

Stefan teaches at the Conservatoria de Ghent (Haute Ecole de Ghent – guitar, double bass and bass) and Rotterdam (Codarts – double bass).