Take Five With Stephen Wood

Meet Stephen Wood: Stephen Wood is a composer and performer working out of Atlanta, Georgia and Columbus, Ohio. Stephen's main compositional vehicle is The Stephen Wood Ensemble, through which he just released its debut CD, Inaudible

Inaudible is an impressive, full-length record featuring an orchestrated nonet masterfully improvising over Stephen Wood's evocative compositions.

Wood's strengths lie in his versatility, attention to nuance, and thorough understanding of many styles and genres—from the classical to contemporary. Committed to expanding traditional forms, Wood continues to push the relationship between groove and soundscape in his compositions. His creative voice reveals a detailed attention to harmony and rhythm, and a great passion for the expressive power of sound.

Before relocating to Atlanta in 2007, Stephen led the band Postal in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to playing around the Midwest region, Stephen released the Postal CD, Theory of Chaconne, to critical acclaim. Currently, The Stephen Wood Ensemble operates with two satellite ensembles, a veteran group of Columbus, Ohio's nationally, and a newly formed group of Atlanta, Georgia's young lions.

Stephen is developing his fan base in the Southeast and Midwest by booking touring dates between Ohio and Georgia.

More information about past, present, and upcoming music can be found at www.stephenwood.biz and www.myspace.com/stephenwoodensemble.

CDs and MP3s by The Stephen Wood Ensemble and Postal are currently available through CD Baby, iTunes, MP3.com, Napster, Rhapsody and many other digital music sites, as well as at all shows and through contacting Stephen Wood personally.

Instrument(s):
Piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond Organ, Composer.

Teachers and/or influences?
A cold breeze at high noon while I'm nailing shingles on a roof.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when...
Solo Monk.

Your sound and approach to music:
Orchestration.

Favorite venue:
Dick's Den, in Columbus, Ohio.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why?
The Stephen Wood Ensemble, Inaudible. I wrote all the music. The musicians are phenomenal. I love my music. I don't listen to it every day, or very often really, but it is my favorite.

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically?
My compositions.

CDs you are listening to now:
I really only listen to records.

Desert Island picks:
If I lived on a desert island I wouldn't have electricity and wouldn't be able to listen to anything except the wind, the ocean, and maybe a few monkeys. So I guess I would have to continue what I'm doing now—get together a band of monkeys to play the music I write.

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?
Play!