Curtis Stigers Talks New Album, Favourite Instruments And More

I moved to New York City in 1987 when I was 21 years old and I began writing songs soon after that. I’m still learning how to do it.

What is your earliest musical memory?

My mother always sang. She sang around the house, she sang in the car. I suppose my earliest memories of making music are singing along to the radio with my mom in the car. I grew up loving the radio particularly because you could hear so many different types of music on pop radio back then. That has a lot to do with my broad musical tastes and influences.

Your new album ‘Songs From My Kitchen, Volume 1’ is out now. How did you want to approach the making of the album? 

During the pandemic I created a livestream show called “Songs From My Kitchen” and I would just turn on a video camera and play my guitar and sing songs in my kitchen, while my dogs wandered around barking and making noise when they wanted to. I loved making music in such a simple way and when I started to make this record I wanted to do the same thing. So I’d wake up and drink my tea and have some breakfast and decide on a song to record that day, and I’d drive down the street to my friend’s house where he has a studio in the back of his garage, and I would record that song until I was happy with the version. Just guitar and vocal, all on my own. Once I got enough songs recorded to make up an album I invited some friends in to play. Acoustic Bass, electric guitar, percussion, Wurlitzer electric piano. Some of the songs are still basically just guitar/vocal, just me. Other songs were fleshed out to sound a bit more like a band, but the overall approach is definitely acoustic and intimate.

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

I produced the record and I recorded it at Cunningham audio, about a mile from my house. The album is a very local affair.

You have also released your new single ‘Good To Know’. What was the story/inspiration behind that track?

13 years ago, when I was 46, I finally met my father. It’s a long, amazing story best told over a bottle of wine but needless to say it was very interesting for both of us to have to learn how to navigate a new father/son relationship that late in life. Luckily my father is a wonderful man and we have become very close.

The single is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?

I asked my London-based filmmaker friend Rossana Masuello to simply make a “lyric video” for the song, which means she would just add text to the single cover photo and that would be the video. Instead she sent me the beginnings of a beautiful video made up mostly of stock clips that are clearly from someone’s home movies. When I saw that I was emotionally moved and I wanted more. I filmed myself lip-syncing the words into a camera and sent those to her and she created a very touching video in less than 36 hours.

Who played on the album with you? 

Everyone on the album except for one person lives here in Boise Idaho, the city where I grew up and where I now live again.

Bernie Reilly plays acoustic Bass.

Shaky Dave Manion plays electric guitar.

Casey Miller plays Percussion.

Andrew Cortens plays Wurlitzer electric piano.

Jens Kuross plays assorted Keyboards and Percussion.

Catherine Merrick added harmony vocals.

What two pieces of advice do you have for a novice saxophonist? 

Practice. A lot more than I do.

There are seven original songs and four cover songs. I wrote some of the original songs years ago and some of them recently. Somehow they all seem to fit together.

Who designed/created the album artwork?

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage? 

I hope to play music until I drop dead. I love communicating with an audience. Telling stories and connecting with humans. It’s a great way to make a living.

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

I’ve been loving this new acoustic guitar I recently got from Titanic Guitars, a new company out of Belfast. It’s gorgeous.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

I live in Boise Idaho, USA. Five words? Mountains, desert, skiing, cycling, heaven

How do you look after your voice? 

Rye Whiskey and steam baths

One of the tracks on the album is something I wrote called “The Song“ and it was inspired by the latest extraordinary epic novel by my friend, the Pulitzer Prize winning author Anthony Doerr. I suppose I wouldn’t mind taking a shot at a soundtrack score when they make that movie.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

Elton John, Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, John Hiatt, Joe Williams, B.B. King, Al Green, Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder and a million more.

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2025 to support the release?

I will be on the road with my band for much of 2025, mostly in the UK and Germany and Denmark. All my tour dates are listed at curtisstigerss.com/tour.