Home » Member Page

Michael Stephans

He is a multi-instrumentalist, writer, poet, author

About Me

ABOUT MICHAEL STEPHANS

Michael leads three distinct but interrelated lives. As a college professor, he holds a Ph.D. and two Master’s degrees, has taught at three prominent universities, and is currently Faculty Emeritus at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Before that, Stephans was in residence at Pasadena City College in the Los Angeles area, where he developed a popular course called “The Jazz Experience.”

A prominent jazz musician, Michael has performed and recorded with a wide array of jazz artists, including Bob Brookmeyer, Bennie Maupin, Pharoah Sanders, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Greg Osby, Don Menza, Marc Copland, Drew Gress, Tony Marino, John Patitucci, Chris Symer, Bob Sheppard, Vic Juris, Dave Stryker, Steve Cardenas, Henry Robinett, Charlie Byrd, Bobby Bradford, Phil Ranelin, Buddy Colette, Alan Broadbent, Bud Shank, Phil Woods, Karl Berger, John Beasley, Theo Saunders, and many others. In addition, h has also performed with personalities as wildly diverse as The Rolling Stones, Cher, David Bowie, Shirley MacLaine, Anthony Newley, and Natalie Cole, to name a few.

Michael has also been active as an award-winning poet, and author. His two books, “Experiencing Jazz: A Listener’s Companion” and “Experiencing Ornette Coleman: A Listener’s Companion” (both published by Rowman & Littlefield), have been praised by critics such as Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and others. Another book is on the way.

As a writer of liner notes, Stephans has contributed material to recordings for such jazz luminaries as Bennie Maupin, Bob Brookmeyer, Darek Oles, Dave Liebman, Quartette Oblique, and the Kaleidoscope Quintet. He has also authored three books of poetry and fiction: “Bright Size Life”, “Mythematics”, and “The Color of Stones.”

Michael has also appeared on an number of videos produced by Smalls Jazz Club in NYC, featuring Liebman, Lovano, Maupin, Marc Copland, Drew Gress, Tony Marino, Judi Silvano, and Uri Caine, among others. Finally, as a member of the Bennie Maupin Ensemble, Michael appeared in a documentary produced by Maupin and videographer Sabu Rogers, called “Jazz in he Rain Forest”, which includes a feature-length performance by the Ensemble at the Amazonas Jazz Festival in Manaus, Brasil.

In addition to his performance activities, Michael was awarded composition grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Percussive Arts Society. The former afforded him the opportunity of writing a large ensemble piece called “Shapes and Visions” for the vibraphonist Karl Berger, which was performed at the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.; and the latter gave him the opportunity to compose a solo work for drum set called “Downside-Up,” which has been performed frequently at regional and national competitions, recitals, and festivals. Additional information, including a discography (soon to be updated) may be found on Wikipedia at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Stephans

My Jazz Story

My advice to new listeners is to understand at the outset that for many jazz musicians, jazz is not a " hobby." Coin collecting is a hobby. Jazz is a way of life. If we are completely open to it, jazz has the power to help us connect with our emotions. It can reach deeply into our hearts and souls, and possibly transform the way we live our lives. Such is the power of all great music, regardless of genre. Such is the power of jazz.