Michael Jefry Stevens
Born March 13, 1951 (NYC)

Undoubtedly, one of the most creative and energetic jazz musicians working today, pianist/composer Michael Jefry Stevens is becoming a highly respected name on the U.S. music scene and increasingly in international music circles.
His quartet, the Fonda/Stevens Group, released their fourth CD, Evolution on Leo Records in 1998 and has performed live radio concerts for BRTN (Belgium), Saarbrucken Rundfunk (Germany), WDR Radio (Germany), Radio Bremen (Germany), Radio Zurich (Switzerland), VPRO Radio Amsterdam (Holland) and Radio Nurnberg (Germany). The Fonda/Stevens Group, has received critical acclaim in Europe and Canada with festival performances at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival (Canada), Halo Jazz Days (Brugge, Belgium), Jazzmeille Thuringen (Weimer, Germany), Jazzkroe Gent (Belgium, and Westfalisches Musikfest 1998 (Munster Germany). As the pianist for The Lily White Group Michael has also performed at the Kaunus Jazz Festival and the San Sebastian International Festival and is also a member of the Danish based Jazzic Trio.

On this side of the Atlantic Ocean, Michael's musical activity continues to ignite his innovation, impressing his audiences and fellow musicians. A member of the ensemble Stevens, Siegel and Ferguson, Michael's aggressive piano stylings provide the hard driving force that identifies their sound and, for ten years, has contributed unselfishly to the trio's cohesiveness and creativity. Earlier this year, SSF released its third CD, Panorama.
Featuring trumpeter Valery Ponomarev, this most recent offering by SSF is receiving strong radio support throughout the east coast as did two previous SSF releases, One of A Kind and Points of View, all on Imaginary Records.
Stevens, Siegel and Ferguson tours regularly throughout the United States and Europe to great critical review and warm audience reception.

In addition to his work with SSF, Michael is the co-leader of the Sorgen-Rust-Stevens Trio, co-founder of "Conference Call" featuring Gebhard Ullmann and Matt Wilson, and a working member of the New York based Equinox Trio featuring bassist Dominic Duval. The Equinox Trio released its debut CD in March 1999. In additional projects, Michael has performed with a broad variety of stellar musicians over the years that include Billy Martin (Martin-Medeski-Wood), Steve Turre, Cecil Bridgewater, Dave Douglas, Potato Valdez, Dakota Staton, Gerry Hemingway, Thomas Chapin, Pheeron Aklaff and Leo Smith. He has been described as "a monster player...a composite of styles....busy, powerful" (Harrisburg Sunday Patriot News).

Sharing his passion and knowledge as an educator, Michael has provided residencies, workshops and clinics around the globe for institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music in Arhus (Denmark), the Escuela Superior de Musica, I.N.B.A. (Mexico City), and most recently the Lichtenstein Big Band. In 1996, his skills as a composer were recognized when he received second prize in the prestigious Monaco International Jazz Composition Contest.

Composer in residence at Virginia Intermont College in 1999, Michael's composing skills were tapped as he provided new music for a collaboration with the college's Dance Department. The result--a captivating presentation featuring student dancers and live music that was richly received by the college community and the participating students. A 1991 Eubie Blake Scholar, Michael Jefry Stevens holds a Masters of Music degree in Jazz from Queens College where he studied with Jimmy Heath and Sir Roland Hanna.