Michael Stephans (born June 9, 1945) is an American jazz drummer, writer, poet and college professor.
Biography and career
As a jazz drummer, Stephans has performed and recorded with artists including
Dave Liebman,
Bennie Maupin
Bennie Maupin (born August 29, 1940) is an American jazz multireedist who performs on various saxophones, flute, and bass clarinet.
Maupin was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States. He is known for his participation in Herbie Hancock's Mwandi ...
,
Joe Lovano,
Bob Brookmeyer,
Don Menza, and
Alan Broadbent.
Stephans' first solo recording, ''Om ShalOM'', was critically lauded in 2007 by UK critic Tom Barlow as an album of the year in the December 2007 – January 2008 issue of ''
Jazzwise''.
Stephans has received multiple composition grants from the
National Endowment for the Arts. In 1974, this association afforded him the opportunity to write the large ensemble composition "Shapes and Visions" for vibraphonist
Karl Berger, which was performed at the
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
His poetry has been published in ''The Note'', and ''Inscape''. In 2000, he was given the Rachael Sherwood Poetry Prize by the department of English at
Cal State Northridge. He is the author of ''Experiencing Jazz: A Listener's Companion'', published in 2013 by
Scarecrow Press
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group is an independent publishing house founded in 1949. Under several imprints, the company offers scholarly books for the academic market, as well as trade books. The company also owns the book distributing compa ...
. and ''Experiencing Ornette Coleman: A Listener's Companion,'' published in 2017 by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
He has taught at
Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College (PCC) is a Public college, public community college in Pasadena, California.
History
Pasadena, California, Pasadena City College was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College. From 1928 to 1953, it operated as a four- ...
, the
University of Miami, and
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.
Discography
As leader
As a co-leader
As sideman
With Bob Brookmeyer
*''Oslo'' (Concord Jazz, 1987)
*''Stay Out of the Sun'' (Challenge Records, 2003)
With
Bob Dorough
Robert Lrod Dorough (December 12, 1923 – April 23, 2018) was an American bebop and cool jazz vocalist, pianist, composer, songwriter, arranger, and producer. Dorough became famous as the composer and performer of songs in the TV series ''School ...
*''P Is for the People'' (DeesBees, 2012)
With Bennie Maupin
*''
Penumbra
The umbra, penumbra and antumbra are three distinct parts of a shadow, created by any light source after impinging on an opaque object. Assuming no diffraction, for a collimated beam (such as a point source) of light, only the umbra is cast.
Th ...
'' (Cryptogramophone, 2006)
With Matt Vashlishan
* ''No Such Thing'' (Origin Records, 2009)
With Don Menza
• Menza Lines (Jazzed Media, 2005)
With Larry Gelb
* ''The Love Song of Ian Opps'' (IAM Records, 2013)
With
Frank Strazzeri Trio & Quartet
*''Frank's Blues'' (Night Life, 1992)
With
Julie Andrews
Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells; 1 October 1935) is an English actress, singer, and author. She has garnered numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over seven decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Fi ...
*''Love, Julie'' (USA Music Group, 1987)
With
Jack Jones Jack Jones may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
*Jack Jones (American singer) (born 1938), American jazz and pop singer
*Jack Jones, stage name of Australian singer Irwin Thomas (born 1971)
*Jack Jones (Welsh musician) (born 1992), Welsh mu ...
*''
I Am a Singer'' (USA Music Group, 1987)
With
Bo Lozoff
*''Eyes So Soft'' (Rockin' Monkey, 2006)
Bibliography
Works
References
External links
Take Five with Michael Stephansat All About Jazz
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephans, Michael
1945 births
Living people
American jazz drummers
Musicians from Miami
American male poets
20th-century American drummers
American male drummers
20th-century American male musicians
American male jazz musicians