Stephen Anderson

STEPHEN ANDERSON is a critically acclaimed composer and pianist whose music has been published on eighteen compact discs through Summit, Albany, Nagel Heyer Records, and other labels. Four of Anderson’s recordings have appeared on the Grammy® Awards ballots representing Summit Records—Nation Degeneration (53rd), Believe (56th), 360˚ Jazz Initiative, Distracted Society (58th), and The Dominican Jazz Project (59th). The Dominican Jazz Project similarly represented the label at the 17th Annual Latin Grammy® Awards in the categories of “Best New Artist” and “Best Jazz CD.” Both the Stephen Anderson Trio Nation Degeneration and Forget Not CDs received 4½ stars (out of 5) from the All Music Guide, and Forget Not was nominated best jazz “Debut CD” (3rd Annual Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll 2008). Anderson’s work with the Dominican Jazz Project and Marimjazzia Latin jazz ensembles have led him to perform at multiple festivals in the Caribbean, as well as in Central and South America since 2014. Anderson was pianist with the Lynn Seaton Trio (2000-03), the North Texas One O’clock Lab Band (Lab 2000-01), was winner of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival piano competition (1997), and keyboardist for gold-recording country artist, Kevin Sharp (1996-97).

Anderson is currently a finalist for the 2021 American Prize in Composition in the Orchestra division for his symphonic work, Concerto for Puerto Rico. His works have been performed internationally, including performances at the Festival Internacional Musiquem Lleida! (Coral Shalom and string orchestra, Lleida, Spain), the Festival Internacional de Percusión Tamborimba (Orquesta Filarmónica de Cali, Colombia), the College Band Directors National Association, the International Tuba Euphonium Association, and the Australian Trumpet Guild, in addition to performances by the West Point Military Academy Band, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Montclair State Wind Symphony, Crested Butte Chamber Orchestra, the MIT Concert Band and other ensembles. Awards include semi-finalist, 2021 American Prize composer competition (orchestral division), two commissions from the Barlow Endowment (2005, 2010), finalist, West Point Jazz Knights Composers Forum competition (2011), Chapman Family Foundation Teaching Award (2014), Junior Faculty Development Award-UNC (2008), United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, the UNC Research Council, the “Village Pride, Hometown Hero Award” WCHL Chapel Hill Radio (2008), Endeavors magazine features (2013, 2008), and reviews in All About Jazz, Jazz Times, All Music Guide, and PAS.

Dr. Anderson is Professor of Composition and Jazz Studies at the University of North Carolina and serves as Director of Jazz Studies. He holds a D.M.A. degree from the University of North Texas (2005) and served as Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano at Western Illinois University (2003-2005).

PRESS QUOTES:

“Can you think of a better close [to the festival] than this? The Dominican Jazz Project is a national pride that delights us today.” —The Dominican Republic Jazz Festival (Sosúa, DR)

“In the area of harmony and rhythm [Anderson] is influenced by jazz. Inspired by the biblical texts of the prophet Isaiah, he speaks in a modern, contemporary language, and at the same time perfectly understandable.” —Lleida Diari (Lleida, Spain)

“The pocket he plays in is precise and intense, whether he imposes alien forms onto his pieces or simply thwarts the expectations of rhythm and harmony…there is no question of the beauty in Anderson’s playing…” —Jay Deshpande, All about Jazz

“Anderson…creates new music and improvisations that are full of life, energy and fresh ideas. Highly recommended.” —Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

…”Quest…composed by Stephen R. Anderson, establishes a method of creating a four-part texture by just two instruments. This, to my ears, is the most innovative work on the CD, and is really quite striking in its originality.” —David DeBoor Canfield, Fanfare Magazine (review of Quest, by Duo XXI, Albany Records)

…“an exemplar of the scholar-musician.” —Jay Deshpande, All about Jazz

…”one of the bright stars of the contemporary scene.” —It’s Just Jazz, KZFR 90.1 FM

“Isaiah is a powerful work, full of colors both vivid and, at times, pastel. The audience received this premiere performance with enthusiastic applause, with good reason.” —Geoffrey Simon, Classical Voice of North Carolina

…“freely exploratory, patiently detailed, deeply felt, entirely unsentimental, and continually surprising.” —Thomas Conrad, Jazz Times

…”full of creative energy and the joy of musical discovery.” —Mark Sullivan, All about Jazz (review of the Dominican Jazz Project, Summit Records)

Listed in 2016’s best Latin/Brazilian jazz recordings —Ken Frackling, Jazz Notes (Dominican jazz Project, Summit Records)

“Stephen Anderson punctuates his solos with a high degree of rhythmic diversity, demonstrating marvelous touch and interplay…” —Nicholas F. Mondello All About Jazz (Review of Jim Ketch, A Distant View)

“This [recording] by bassist Jason Foureman and pianist Stephen Anderson is a lyrical delight, conversant, swinging and thoughtfully melodic. Anderson’s touch sounds like he drank deep from the waters of Bill Evans.” —Gene W. Harris, Jazz Weekly

…Stephen’s fingers fly across the keys like wild birds… —Musical Memoirs (on Jason Foureman and Stephen Anderson, Duo Summit Records 2020)