Jazz Articles about Michael Jefry Stevens

Michael Jefry Stevens Quartet: For the Children

by AAJ Italy Staff
November 17, 2008

Benché inciso nel 1995, esce solo ora questo bel CD per la collana Historical Series della Cadence. Ne è leader Michael Jefry Stevens, pianista bravo e particolarmente attento sia all’aspetto compositivo che progettuale dei suoi dischi. È un documento dotato ancor oggi di un suo fascino, per il modo fluente e comunicativo in cui si sviluppa il flusso sonoro, senza rinunciare alla soluzione eterogenea ed astratta. Una seduta di registrazione chissà per qualche motivo dimenticata, ma sufficientemente interessante da meritare ...

Michael Jefry Stevens: For The Children & Moving Stills

by Wilbur MacKenzie
September 7, 2008

Michael Jefry Stevens For the Childen Cadence Jazz 2008 In Transit Moving Stills Unit Records 2008

The two newest releases by pianist Michael Jefry Stevens reveal two complementary facets of the pianist's musicianship. Though the instrumentation is similar in both, the records were made almost a decade apart, with the older ...

Michael Jefry Stevens: For The Children

by Budd Kopman
August 7, 2008

Pianist Michael Jefry Stevens has to be one of most under-appreciated composers and players around. His discography as a leader, going back to 1995, is slight, and he can be most easily heard in cooperative groups such as Conference Call (nominally led by Gebhard Ullmann) and the Fonda/Stevens group. Stevens is an intellectually stimulating player with eclectic tastes, an extremely sharp mind and fast reflexes, able to lead and follow in many a varied musical situation. For ...

Michael Jefry Stevens Quartet: For the Children

by Todd S. Jenkins
June 23, 2008

This release in the Cadence Jazz Historical Series (recorded in February 1995) is full of surprises, none greater than the successful intertwining of a former Jazz Messenger with one of the premier free-jazz rhythm teams. Saxophonist David Schnitter isn't the best-known of the Messengers tenormen, having joined the outfit during the comparative down-time of the 1970s. But since then he has built a reputation as a solid, reliable improviser. Dominic Duval and Jay Rosen often function as the “house rhythm ...

In Transit: Moving Stills

by Larry Taylor
March 2, 2008

With roots in Ornette Coleman's music, cultivated by Keith Jarrett at his most experimental, Moving Stills branches out into terra incognita.

The musicians here are Swiss, with the exception of well-traveled New York pianist Michael Jefry Stevens. Joining him to make up In Transit are the very talented Jurg Solothurnmann (alto and soprano sax), Daniel Struder (bass) and Dieter Ulrich (drums). The music here is definitely atonal and cutting edge, but, for adventurous listeners, very much worth the listen.

Stevens, Siegel & Ferguson: Get Out of Town

by Larry Taylor
January 8, 2008

Get Out of Town features one of many unheralded groups out there which begs to be heard--three relatively unknown musicians in a trio setting who have been working together for some 18 years.

Michael Jefry Stevens on piano, Jeff Siegel on drums and Tim Ferguson on bass--veterans of the New York scene--make up this cooperative trio. Their time as a unit shows in the cohesive arrangements, which give each ample solo time to show off their talent.

Get Out of ...

Michael Jefry Stevens: The Survivor's Suite

by Jerry D'Souza
October 10, 2003

Michael Jefry Stevens is a fluid player who finds his comfort level not only on the cool side but also through free jazz and instant improvisation. His touch is both delicate and hard hitting, stopping short of bombast when he ventures into the latter. The balance is visible on this solo record not only in his choice of material, but also in his treatment of the songs, particularly in his interpretation of 'Ask Me Now.' His phrasing has an elegance, ...