THE ST. LOUIS
STEADY GRINDERS
Low down vocal and piano blues
About
The St. Louis Steady Grinders are a piano/vocal duo that specialize in the low down blues of the 1920s and 30s. Featuring Valerie Kirchhoff (vocals) and Ethan Leinwand (piano), the pair have been entertaining audiences with their uniquely St. Louis style of blues since 2014.
They have performed across the United States and Europe, from an Alaskan saloon to a storied Viennese jazz club. They have headlined blues and boogie-woogie festivals in France, England and Austria, and are regulars of the ragtime and early jazz circuits in the US.
"Ethan and Valerie have a certain brash tenderness that is very much appealing... and even when they perform songs that are by today’s standards “ancient,” they seem full of emotion and fun." - Michael Steinman JAZZ LIVES
Valerie Kirchhoff (aka "Miss Jubilee") is a vocalist and bandleader born and raised in St. Louis. She has been performing professionally for over 15 years and is a beloved staple of the local music scene. Valerie grew up singing in church and choir, but her love of older music led her to want to start her own band. She champions the female blues singers of the 20s and 30s, with a particular focus on the lesser known singers from St. Louis.
www.miss-jubilee.com
Ethan Leinwand is a St. Louis based pianist and preservationist. Through performance and teaching he has gained recognition as one of the world's leading exponents of barrelhouse blues piano. A mainly self taught pianist, he was born and raised in Middletown, CT and has lived in New Orleans and New York City. He moved to St. Louis in 2014 to connect with the city's deep piano roots and thriving traditional music community.
www.ethanleinwand.com