THREE WORLDS

Michael Stephans has led three distinct but interrelated lives. He holds a Ph.D. and two Master’s degrees, has taught at three prominent universities, and is Faculty Emeritus at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, where for seventeen years he taught professional writing and created over two dozen podcasts dealing with technical and professional composition. Before that, Stephans was in residence at Pasadena City College in the Los Angeles area, where he developed and taught two popular courses: a poetry writing workshop and a course called “The Jazz Experience.”

A prominent jazz musician, Michael has performed and recorded with a wide array of jazz artists, including Bob Brookmeyer, Bennie Maupin, Pharoah Sanders, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Greg Osby, Don Menza, Jim Ridl, Uri Caine,  Marc Copland, Alan Broadbent, Theo Saunders, Bob Florence, Drew Gress, Jay Anderson, Jerome Harris, John Patitucci, Buster Williams, Steve Varner, Cameron Brown, Vic Juris, Dave Stryker, Larry Koonse, Charlie Byrd, Steve Cardenas, Brad Shepik, Bobby Bradford, Buddy Colette, Bud Shank, Phil Woods, Frank Rosolino, Karl Berger, John Beasley, Larry Gelb, Jon Ballantyne, Chris Symer, Bob Dorough, and many others. 

Michael has also been active as an author. His two books, Experiencing Jazz: A Listener’s Companion and Experiencing Ornette Coleman: A Listener’s Companion (both published by Rowman & Littlefield), have been praised in publications such as Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and others. An award-winning poet, he has also authored three books of poetry and fiction: Bright Size Life, Mythematics, and The Color of Stones. 

Last year, as part of The University of North Texas Press’ - Lives of Musicians Series - published Michael’s third book about valve trombonist-pianist-composer/arranger and beloved educator Bob Brookmeyer, called On the Way to the Sky: Remembering Bob Brookmeyer, which is a multi-layered memoir, biography, and musical trajectory from a very young age in Kansas City to his death in 2011. Finally, On the Way to the Sky contains some lovely tributes and recollections to and about Brookmeyer penned by his many friends, colleagues, former students, and family members. All in all, it is a deeply personal book that is heartfelt by all who contributed to it.

In addition to his performance and literary activities, Michael was awarded commissions from the National Endowment for the Arts (Shapes and Visions, composed for vibraphonist Karl Berger) and the Percussive Arts Society (Downside-Up for solo drum set).

Michael has also appeared on a number of videos produced by Small’s Jazz Club in NYC, with such jazz luminaries as Liebman, Lovano, Maupin, Marc Copland, Drew Gress, Uri Caine, and Larry Gelb, among others. He toured and recorded with Brookmeyer and also with multi-instrumentalist Bennie Maupin. As a longtime member of the Bennie Maupin Ensemble, Michael appeared in a full-length documentary produced by Maupin and filmographer Sabu Rogers, called Jazz in The Rainforest, which includes a feature-length performance by the Ensemble at the Amazonas Jazz Festival in Manaus, Brasil. 

My new recording is forthcoming. It’s called co-al-escence, and features pianist Jim Ridl, Guitarist Steve Cardenas, and bassist JayAnderson. Stay tuned!