“I became familiarized with the Steinway and Sons name in Costa Rica during my formal training in music. Years later, I learned much more about it when I moved to the U.S.A. to continue my academic education. Steinway means to me elegance and quality. No other piano gives the richness of sound of a Steinway. No other piano can track in history every step taken to achieve the excellence of a name that has exceeded all expectations.”
Esteban Alvarez Calvo
Born and raised in Costa Rica, Steinway Artist Esteban Alvarez' music making is described as a confluence of pop hits, classical standards, Latin music, and the alternative and experimental music of his youth.
Esteban began music lessons at the age of 10, and music became his passion ever since. His natural talent and his discipline opened the doors to the USA, where he pursued his bachelors and master’s degree in piano and jazz studies at Baylor University and University of North Texas with full scholarships. With a very sophisticated academic music training, Esteban has become a popular and world-music pianist who has mastered the art of blending music styles in the piano; his first album Tico Groove (link) includes a mix of jazz and world music, featuring internationally renown drummer Ignacio Berroa (Dizzy Gillespie’s drummer) and bassist Lynn Seaton (Count’s Basie’s bass player). The album is a compilation of music from his home country Costa Rica and has been featured in numerous magazines and radio shows in Europe and North America.
His second album “Piano Meets Mariachi” is another example of this blend of styles. Featuring Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán this album portraits the most beloved music from Mexico. The Mariachi is his orchestra while the piano “sings” the everlasting melodies that have given some of the music identity to Latin America (link)
Esteban has performed and recorded as a solo artist in multiple festivals in Israel, Hong Kong, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Cuba, Czech Republic, Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica, Serbia and Bolivia. Esteban is currently working on his third solo album called “Roots Of The World”, which features artists such as Los Kjarkas (Bolivia), Divina Banda (Cuba), Luis Enrique Mejía (Nicaragua), Trío Los Panchos (México), and other artists from Costa Rica. The release will be in March 2021.
Besides the magic Alvarez brings to the piano with his music and touch, Esteban has created a culture around his music and art, and he is an inspiration for youngsters eager to learn how to play the piano, and how to build a fan base who loves it.
Esteban is currently the Executive Director of Chorus Austin and is an active world music concert pianist. His most recent projects include compilation of world music from Cuba, Bolivia, and Serbia.