Michael Stephans (born June 9, 1945) is an American jazz drummer, writer, poet and college professor.[1]
Michael Stephans | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | June 9, 1945 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, avant-garde jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, author, poet, educator |
| Instrument(s) | Drums, percussion |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Labels | Challenge, iTi, itm, Endemik, Lunazure, Whaling City Sound, Cryptogramophone Sunnyside Records, Origin Records |
Biography and career
editAs a jazz drummer,[2] Stephans has performed and recorded with artists including Dave Liebman,[3] Bennie Maupin,[4] Joe Lovano, Bob Brookmeyer, Don Menza,[5] and Alan Broadbent.[6]
Stephans' first solo recording, Om ShalOM, was critically lauded in 2007 by UK critic Tom Barlow as an album of the year in the December 2007 – January 2008 issue of Jazzwise.[7]
Stephans has received multiple composition grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.[8] In 1974, this association afforded him the opportunity to write the large ensemble composition "Shapes and Visions" for vibraphonist Karl Berger, which was performed at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.[9]
His poetry has been published in The Note,[10] and Inscape.[11] In 2000, he was given the Rachael Sherwood Poetry Prize by the department of English at Cal State Northridge.[12] He is the author of Experiencing Jazz: A Listener's Companion,[13] published in 2013 by Scarecrow Press.[14] and Experiencing Ornette Coleman: A Listener's Companion, published in 2017 by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
He has taught at Pasadena City College, the University of Miami,[15] and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.[16]
Discography
editAs leader
edit| Year | Album | Personnel | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Om / ShalOM | Dave Liebman, Bennie Maupin, Munyungo Jackson, Scott Colley, Michael Stephans | Endemik |
| 2010 | Open Spaces | Zack Brock, Jim Ridl, Steve Varner, Michael Stephans | Lunazure |
| 2018 | Quartette Oblique | Michael Stephans, Dave Liebman, Marc Copland, Drew Gress | Sunnyside |
As a co-leader
edit| Year | Album | Personnel | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Heads Up! | Bob Ojeda, Bob Sheppard, John Patitucci, Michael Stephans | iTi |
| 2003 | Stay Out of the Sun | Bob Brookmeyer, Michael Stephans, Tom Warrington, Larry Koonse | Challenge |
| 2009 | Nomads | David Liebman, Michael Stephans | ITM/Jazzwerkstatt |
| 2013 | Lineage | Dave Liebman, Michael Stephans, Vic Juris, Matt Vashlishan, Bobby Avey, Evan Gregor | Whaling City Sound |
As sideman
editWith Bob Brookmeyer
- Oslo (Concord Jazz, 1987)
- Stay Out of the Sun (Challenge Records, 2003)
With Bob Dorough
- P Is for the People (DeesBees, 2012)
With Bennie Maupin
- Penumbra (Cryptogramophone, 2006)
With Matt Vashlishan
- No Such Thing (Origin Records, 2009)
With Don Menza
• Menza Lines (Jazzed Media, 2005)
With Larry Gelb
- The Love Song of Ian Opps (IAM Records, 2013)
With Frank Strazzeri Trio & Quartet
- Frank's Blues (Night Life, 1992)
With Julie Andrews
- Love, Julie (USA Music Group, 1987)
With Jack Jones
- I Am a Singer (USA Music Group, 1987)
With Bo Lozoff
- Eyes So Soft (Rockin' Monkey, 2006)
Bibliography
editWorks
edit| Title | Publication date | Pages | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experiencing Jazz: A Listener’s Companion | October 17, 2013 | 502 | Scarecrow Press |
| Brookmeyer and Me: An Odyssey of Friendship | 2014 | 5 | The Note, V. 24, No. 1, 2014 |
| Experiencing Ornette Coleman: A Listener's Companion | October 6, 2017 | 213 | Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |
References
edit- ^ Stephans, Michael. "Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians". jazz.com/encyclopedia. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- ^ "Artist Profile". Allmusic.com. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
- ^ Kelman, John (January 5, 2011). "CD Review: Nomads". AllAboutJazz. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
- ^ Obuchowski, Chuck (May 2, 2010). "Jazz Musician Bennie Maupin Performs at Wesleyan University". Hartford Courant. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
- ^ Blanco, Edward. "Don Menza: "Menza Lines"". Allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
- ^ Heckman, Don (October 19, 2002). "Broadbent's Piano is Front and center". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
- ^ Barlow, Tom. "Albums of the Year". Jazzwise. December 2007/January 2008 (115).
- ^ "Annual Report 1973" (PDF). arts.gov. National Council of the Arts. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
- ^ "New Music: Michael Stephans and Karl Berger". The Smithsonian Associate. 2 (5). January 1974.
- ^ Stephans, Michael (2014). "Brookmeyer and Me: An Odyssey of Friendship". The Note. 24 (1).
- ^ "Poet of the year". Inscape: An Anthology, Pasadena City College. 1994.
- ^ "Winner, The Rachel Sherwood Award". The Northridge Review (Fall, 2000): 50.
- ^ "A Q&A with jazz drummer Michael Stephans". frederickplaylist.com. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- ^ Akkerman, Gregg. "Experiencing Jazz: A Listener's Companion". Publishers Weekly.
- ^ "University of Miami (Florida)" (PDF). Score Magazine. Summer 2014: 24. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
- ^ "The University". Bloomsburg (Winter). 2014. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015.
External links
edit- Take Five with Michael Stephans at All About Jazz