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, 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. and Experiencing Ornette Coleman: A Listener's Companion, published in 2017 by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
He has taught at Pasadena City College, the University of Miami, and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.
Discography
As leader YearAlbumPersonnelLabel2007Om / ShalOMDave Liebman, Bennie Maupin, Munyungo Jackson, Scott Colley, Michael StephansEndemik2010Open SpacesZack Brock, Jim Ridl, Steve Varner, Michael StephansLunazure2018Quartette ObliqueMichael Stephans, Dave Liebman, Marc Copland, Drew GressSunnyside
As a co-leader YearAlbumPersonnelLabel1984Heads Up!Bob Ojeda, Bob Sheppard, John Patitucci, Michael StephansiTi 2003Stay Out of the SunBob Brookmeyer, Michael Stephans, Tom Warrington, Larry KoonseChallenge 2009NomadsDavid Liebman, Michael StephansITM/Jazzwerkstatt 2013LineageDave Liebman, Michael Stephans, Vic Juris, Matt Vashlishan, Bobby Avey, Evan GregorWhaling City Sound
As sideman With Bob Brookmeyer Oslo (Concord Jazz, 1987) Stay Out of the Sun (Challenge Records, 2003)
With Bob Dorough P Is for the People (DeesBees, 2012)
With Bennie Maupin Penumbra (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 Love, Julie (USA Music Group, 1987)
With Jack Jones I Am a Singer (USA Music Group, 1987)
With Bo Lozoff Eyes So Soft (Rockin' Monkey, 2006)
Bibliography
Works
Title Publication date Pages Publisher Experiencing Jazz: A Listener’s Companion October 17, 2013502Scarecrow PressBrookmeyer and Me: An Odyssey of Friendship 20145 The Note, V. 24, No. 1, 2014Experiencing Ornette Coleman: A Listener's CompanionOctober 6, 2017213Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
References
External links Take Five with Michael Stephans at All About Jazz