The music of bassist/composer, Keith DeStefano is mercurial. He combines the traditional with the avant-garde, taut arrangements with free jazz, classical influences with genre music, angular bitonality with gentle lyricism, far out grooves with driving swing.
In the words of Homer Jackson, director of the Philadelphia Jazz Project, “One of the studious legions of the great Charles Mingus is Philadelphia bassist/composer Keith DeStefano. With a lushness and rich, warm tonality, that can be sweet or dangerous. Puzzlebox shares music of great texture, depth, and voluptuousness”
Keith grew up in Red Bank, NJ. At three, he was introduced to classical music, listening to his mother play Bach and Chopin on the piano. He studied trumpet at age 6, then switched to bass in High School where he was introduced to jazz and the jazz greats John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis. Though he played all styles of music in local bands, jazz was his real love. But Keith, who was never content to confine himself to one art form, chose to get a Bachelors in Fine Arts in painting (his other passion) from the Philadelphia University of the Arts. All the time he still played music. He studied for eight years with Classical double bass with Robert Ricccardi, principal bassist for the Pennsylvania Ballet, and furthered his jazz studies with Tyrone Brown, Trudy Pitts, and Odean Pope. It was in Odean’s Collective Voices Workshop which performed in an eight sax choir format, balancing arranged with free jazz, that Keith was inspired to form his jazz octet Puzzlebox.
Keith has been featured in DownBeat, NPR, Channel 12 WHYY, 90.1 WRTI and radio stations across the country. He has performed with Puzzlebox at the Cape May Jazz Fest, West Oak Lane Jazz Festival, World Café Live, Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz, Trenton Grounds for Sculpture, Chris Jazz Café, West Oak lnae Jazz Festival, Twins, Ortleibs, World Café Live, Trenton Music Festival, Woodmere Art Museum, Khyber Pass, Club Medusa, Fertgies, Time, University of Pennsylvania Irvine Auditorium, Triumph Brewery, and numerous venues in the region.
He has been awarded two grants from the American Composers Forum in 2006 and 2010. A 2013 grant from the Philadelphia Jazz Project which will allow him to record a 3rd Puzzlebox CD this year. The music in his 2010 release , “A PLACE TO BE,” was described by Michael West of the Washington CityPaper as taut, edgy, and full of surprises…but surprisingly catchy and lyrical throughout,” and who Karl Stark of the Philadelphia Inquirer described as , “Ambitious writing often creating a sizzle that ignites his soloists.” In 2006 he released an EP with his avant groove trio, Yellowbrain. In addition to writing for his octet, Keith has composed chamber music, and music for solo mandolin and guitar.
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Fortunate to be exposed to the rich Philadelphia jazz tradition, Keith has shared the stage with Odean Pope, Bobby Zankel, Tyrone Hill of Sun Ra, Sid Simmons, Craig McGiver, Sonic liberation Front, and many other jazz luminaries.. In addition he’s performed with the Philadelphia Boys Choir, the children’s group the Cats Pajamas, and singer/song/writers Christine Havrilla and Amy Carr
Stan Slotter (trumpet/flute) has performed with Cecil Taylor at Carnegie Hall, Philly Joe Jones at Livingston College, Grover Washington Jr., Bobby Zankel, and Seamus Eagan. He has toured Europe multiple times with the Klingon Klezmer Band, and is a member of numerous local acts: Ronnie James and the Jez Hot Swing Club, City Rhythm Orchestra, Ed Wise’s New Orleans Jazz Band, Atzilut, Mnias, Orquestra Panama, Orquesta Lucena, and many others.
Stan studied trumpet with Sigmund Hering (Philadelphia Orchestra), Carmine Caruso (New York City), Mike Natale (Mike Douglas Show), Bob McCoy (Tonight Show) Laurie Frink (New York City). He studied trumpet with Carol Light (Toronto Symphony) Adeline Tomasone, Patricia Kendall (Philadelphia Opera Co. & PA Ballet) John Krell (Philadelphia Orchestra)
Joe Falcey (drums) is a New Jersey native. He has been performing music in the U.S. and internationally for the last 20 years. Joe holds a degree in Music from Kean University where he studied performance, composition, and music education. He also studied privately under master drummers Dave McGraw, Tony DeNicola (Harry James), Joe Morello (Dave Brubeck), and Ari Hoenig (Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano, and Mike Stern).
He has shared the stage with Glenn McClelland (Blood Sweat & Tears & Ween), Pete Kuzma (Jill Scott), B.D. Lenz, Richie Cole, Eric Alexander, Brian Trainor, Tom Pass, Steve Kramer, Doris Spears, John Swana, Rob Paparozzi, Steve Varner, Gary Mazzaroppi, and many others.
Maxfield Gast (soprano/alto saxophone) grew up studying jazz and classical music at Philadelphia's own Settlement Music School. He recieved a Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance at Temple University. Max has performed in a wide variety of venues and festivals across the country including New York's Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center; Philadelphia's Academy of Music; SXSW Festival in Austin, TX; Ottawa Bluesfest in Ontario; Creative Arts Center in New Orleans; and Milwaukee's Summerfest. Maxfield has performed with Sharon Little (CBS); Scot Sax (Wanderlust, Faith Hill); Grover Washington Jr.; Dana LeonG; Grammy nominated Ryan Shaw, Antonique Smith (Notorious), and Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens; Doodlebug (Digable Planets); Jaleel Shaw; Bilal; Tony Catastrophe (Kilo, Fathead); Chuck Treece (Billy Joel, Urge Overkill); Ziv Ravitz (Lee Konitz); Mike Boone's Bass Direct; Edgar Bateman's Truth; Terrell Stafford; Dick Oatts; Janek Gwizdala; Rodney Green; Derrick Hodge; Christian McBride; Kenny Barron; Betty Carter; and has toured with several acts including an American Music Award winning band, the Bomb Squad. Maxfield continues to compose and record his own music and performs regularly in New York and Philadelphia.
Mark Allen (baritone saxophonist/bass clarinet) hails from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, but has lived and worked in the Philadelphia area for the last four years. Mark currently attends the University of the Arts where he is completing a Bachelor's Degree in Woodwind Performance. He has had the privilege of studying with Joel Frahm, Ben Schachter, Chris Farr, and Ron Kerber. In addition to co-leading several ensembles such as "Bright Lights" and "Chordless Quartet," Mark is an active member of The Norman David Eleventet (members include Dick Oatts, John Swana, and Ben Schachter). He has shared the stage with jazz luminaries such as Marcus Belgrave, Wycliffe Gordon, and Tim Hagans, among others. Mark is also active in the Philadelphia theater scene as a woodwind player in theaters such as The Merriam Theater and The Media Theatre.
Steven Gokh is a young and talented Tenor Saxophonist from Philadelphia, PA. Steven graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Performance from Temple University in 2008 and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance from William Paterson University, concluding in the spring of 2010. Steven has studied with Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts, Ben Schachter, David Demsey, Rich Perry, and Mulgrew Miller, and has shared the stage with Frank Wess, Nicholas Payton, Branford Marsalis, Clark Terry, and The Vanguard Orchestra, among others. Steven also took part the 2008 Den Hague Jazz Festival and the 2008 Detroit Jazz Festival as lead tenor sax for the Temple University Big Band.
Anam Owili-Eger (piano) is one of the great undiscovered talents in Philadelphia. He studied jazz piano with William “Sonny” Hoxter and saxophonist Eileen Riley, and received his classical training from Eileen Liebowitz. Anam is able to adapt effortlessly to any musical style, including jazz, rhythm and blues, rock, soul, latin, drum and bass, and hip hop. He is the founding member of the jazz fusion group, “Blue Scheme,” and the avant groove band, “Yellowbrain.” Anam is a well known singer/songwriter in Philadelphia. His 2005 EP, “Reason To Be,” received international praise. He recently concluded a European tour.
Larry Toft (trombone) has a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Performance from Temple University. He studied with Tyrone Brueninger (Philadelphia Orchestra), Don Collins, and Luis Bonilla (Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra). He has performed with Jimmy Heath, Jon Faddis, Johnny Pacheco, Marty Ehrlich, Lalo Rodriguez, Johnny Rivera, and has been the principal trombonist for the last five years in Bobby Zankel’s avant big band, “The Warriors of Wonderful Sound.” For the last year and a half Larry has hosted a music series, “Avant Ascension,” dedicated to experimental jazz, electronica, and genre-defying music. Show less
