Past Projects:

2023

When New York City was issued the shelter in place directive in March 2020 you couldn’t help but feel that this was going to be with us for quite some time. Much of what I started to compose during this time was dark, emotionally stark and I felt that I really needed to come up with a project that lightened the mood to give us some hope. I had the idea of doing a series of interpretations on the music of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Bjork. 

Not being able to connect in person to play and record the music, I took the steps to do the project remotely and called upon another group of musicians to join me in this project. I looked to release this material in 2023 and the Events Series that would be released will be titled “A New Day, Yesterday”. It features a group of younger musicians I had been performing with, along with some long time friends dating back to my college days while at Fredonia. 

I re-interpreted the songs Blackbird, Come Together and Tears in Heaven in a sort of unplugged manner featuring Richard Philbon (flute, bass clarinet & alto sax), Andy Berman (guitar), Luca Rosenfeld (acoustic & electric bass) and Gary Fogel (percussion). The remaining four songs were meant for a small group type fusion band - Beautiful Boy, All is Full of Love, Hunter and George Harrison’s Something. For these pieces I created settings on GarageBand while I brought in my long time friend Steve Anagnost to feature on guitar. 

To learn more about my thoughts and inspiration concerning this project, you can read my program notes: A New Day, Yesterday. My plan in 2023 is to release one piece each month from March to September while the full album will be available to listen to as a playlist on Spotify here

Listen on Soundcloud: 

Blackbird, Paul McCartney, arr. by Bill Stevens, featuring Richard Philbon, flute; Andy Berman, guitar & Luca Rosenfeld, bass                                                                                                                                                         

Beautiful Boy, John Lennon, arr. by Bill Stevens, featuring Steve Anagnost, guitar

Come Together, The Beatles, arr. by Bill Stevens, featuring Bill Stevens, trumpet with effects; Richard Philbon, bass clarinet & Gary Fogel on percussion

All is Full of Love, Bjork, arr. by Bill Stevens, featuring Bill Stevens, trumpet with effects

Tears in Heaven, Eric Clapton, arr. by Bill Stevens, featuring Richard Philbon, alto sax; Andy Berman, guitar & Luca Rosenfeld, bass

Hunter, Bjork, arr. by Bill Stevens, featuring Bill Stevens, flugelhorn and Steve Anagnost, guitar

I hope that you will take the time to check out these new arrangements that I refer to as interpretations throughout 2023. I look forward to sharing them with you and as always, I look forward to hearing from you as well.



 

2022

I was excited to announce my Event Series planned for 2022 will be a series of duets written for some of my closest friends. Friends who have played together for over twenty years. In 2019 I wrote a series of compositions for some amazing musicians and we were fortunate to meet at Michiko Studios on 46th Street to video tape a performance of each prior to the pandemic. These duets featured the following...

Elliot Honig, piano - Where the Stars Dwell, released March 23, 2022

Rich Russo, upright bass - When We Walked Once Together, released April 20, 2022

Charlie Gushee, tenor sax - Kindred Spirits, released May 23, 2022

Cory Larson, guitar - Just Like This, released August 23, 2022

Paul Pricer, upright bass - Theme for a Dream, released September 6, 2022

Gary Fogel, drums - Ears Wide Open, released September 20, 2022

...and a free improvisation performed live at the Tenri Cultural Center - Breathing Peace on August 4, 2019 with Doug Cuomo, guitar - We Have Arrived, Together, released June 21, 2022

To learn more about my inspiration in composing these duets, please check out the program: Friends ...a series of duets

 

 

 

2021

On June 12, 2021 I presented an exciting joint collaboration with my wife, the artist Laura Salzberg. Laura's artwork is extrodinary in its use of color, shape, line and imagery. I was first attracted to her series of face paintings. These were abstract in nature; however to me, she went much deeper than the image of a face. She brought out an element of who they were , that part of each of us that we often keep hidden from others. She was able to bring out the soul of the individual. I chose three of these face paintings to create a musical statement. It is my attempt to bring out what is hidden in the image of the individual. The three movement suite is a directed improvisation for the group Sound House and features Doug Cuomo on guitar & effects with Gary Fogel on percussion.

Here is the program to learn more: Spaces Within

 

 

Video of the first movement of the Faces Suite - My Hand - performed by Sound House

 

 

 

 

Video of the second movement of the Faces Suite - Natural Force - performed by Sound House

 

 

 

 

 

Video of the third movement of the Faces Suite - She Told Me - performed by Sound House   

 

 

2020

In 2020 I presented two new electro/ambient projects for solo trumpet that are quite personal to me. The first is a five movement suite called Fragile Beauty based on the comprehensive aesthetic system of Wabi Sabi. It is about accepting your own faults and realizing that it is OK. For a deeper understanding of this project, you can follow this link: Fragile Beauty 

To hear the Fragile Beauty Suite, go to this Spotify Playlist to listen: Fragile Beauty - released February 11, 2020

 

 

The second project in 2020 speaks to my life long journey in my search for Spirituality and Faith. I used the central themes as presented by the 2017 White Light Festival for each composition as follows (movement titles are mine and not those of the White Light Festival): 

Faith - state of being grasped by an ultimate concern. Drifting to (a)void  - video released March 10, 2020

Faith through - a variety of beliefs moving toward sophistication. The Already and the Not Yet  - video released May 12, 2020

Faith - Coexistence of sameness and other. Recognizing and accepting the other. Other is self. Other and self are identical. Instead of Eloquent Words - video released July 14, 2020 

State of Faith is inherently uncomfortable. Far Away is Close at Hand in Images of Elsewherevideo released September 8, 2020

To learn more concerning this project, follow this link: Spirituality and Faith 

 

 

2019

The Seasons, a four movement work based on the series of paintings, The Four Seasons by Cy Twombly as an examination on the passage of time and the cycle of life. Composed for solo trumpet with prepared settings for improvisation on GarageBand. Each of the Seasons compositions can be heard at this Spotify Playlist: A New Direction, 2019 - 2020:

Winter Solstice - December 21, 2018, Winter

Vernal Equinox (Spring) - March 20, 2019, Spring

Summer Solstice - June 21, 2019, Summer

Fall Equinox (Autumn) - September 23, 2019, Autumn

For more information, you can go here to read about my inspiration concerning the Seasons project.

The Jazz Police from Seattle, WA, under the direction of James Rasmussen performs the big band arrangements and compositions of Bill Stevens. The Jazz Police is one of the premier ensembles performing in the Pacific Northwest and has been in existence since 1987. Bill was an original member of the band from 1987 - 1990.

Each month during 2019, I released an audio recording of the Jazz Police performing one of my big band compositions or arrangements on all of my social media platforms.

For more information, you can go here to read about my inspiration concerning the big band arrangements and compositions written for the Jazz Police Big Band.

That's All You Need to Know - released December 19, 2019

 

 

2018

New Album: Connections

 

Please find the liner notes here which includes:

* information on the three suites (Music for Dance in Three Movements, Please Return - based on the artwork of AK Dolven and The Flock and the Shadow - poetry by Eldrid Lunden)

* a video of the Dance (here) choreographed by Luba Ash, lighting by Andre Vasquez and directed by Dexter Buell

* images of the three paintings by AK Dolven (how to reach every corner, don't worry I'll lift the sky and teenagers lifting the sky)

* the translation to the poetry of Eldrid Lunden as spoken by Anja-Christin Nielsen in the original Norwegian language

* meet the musicians: Jordan Young, Sean Moran, Hyuna Park, Harry Miller, Luca Rosenfeld, Evan Lawrence, Gary Fogel, Misia Vessio, Rosdeli Marte, Anja-Christin Nielsen and engineer, Peter Karl

 

2017

****On May 6, 2017 I presented the first of a three part concert series entitled Harmonic Explorations. This performance took place at the Treehouse in Manhattan thanks to both Richard Shaoul, owner and Luca Rosenfeld, curator. Along with myself on trumpet and flugelhorn we had Braden Smith on tenor sax, Hyuna Park on piano, Luca Rosenfeld on upright bass and Gary Fogel on drums. This first concert was dedicated to my composition teacher at the University of Miami, Ron Miller who opened my eyes and ears to the possibilities of modal Jazz harmony. Links are provided below to view the videos of this evenings performance.

First Set  - Harmonic Explorations I 

In Search of Consolation (Incomplete)

Second Set - Harmonic Explorations I

Second Set Conclusion: I Hope I'm Not Taking Too Much of Your Time

 

***On September 30, 2017, I presented the second of a three part series of concerts - Harmonic Explorations II, based on the concepts of chromaticism in writing and improvising as taught by Ron Miller & David Liebman at Spectrum in Brooklyn, NY. Joining me for this second concert was Richard Philbin on tenor saxophone, Harry Miller on keyboard, Luca Rosenfeld on upright bass and on drums, Gary Fogel. Please find below video links to each of the four compositions performed that evening:

Beyond Sound and Space

The Warmth of Other Suns

The Silence of Snow

On Parallel Lines

**On Thursday, December 14, 2017 at the historic 5C Cafe & Cultural Center we presented the third and final performance of the Harmonic Explorations Series with a focus on re-imagined standards as taught by Ron Miller and David Liebman. With me once again was Richard Philbin on tenor sax, Harry Miller on piano, Luca Rosenfeld on upright bass and on drums, Gary Fogel. Please find below the video links to see and hear the Harmonic Explorations III concert:

D.O.S. (based on Dear Old Stockholm by Bill Stevens)

Yesterdays (new harmony by Bill Stevens)

Beautiful Love, part 1 (new harmony by Ron Miller - head and piano solo)

Beautiful Love, part 2

I Thought About You (new harmony by Bill Stevens)

Green Street, part 1 (based on Green Dolphin Street by Ron Miller)

Green Street, part 2

 

 

2016

On June 24, 2016 I had the amazing fortune of performing my new suite "As Though I Had Wings: a suite for Chet Baker" at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. The music and spoken word recitation was composed and arranged by Bill Stevens and featured Bill Stevens on trumpet, Josh Sinton on bari sax and bass clarinet, Corey Larson on guitar, Paul Pricer on upright bass and Brian Woodruff on drums. With spoken word by Ira Rosenberg. I was truly humbled at the level that these performers brought to my music and their ability to bring my concept to life. I am forever grateful for their contribution in fulfilling a dream to its conclusion. I am also thankful for the audience of friends and family, as well as those interested in celebrating the legacy of Chet Baker who came out for the performance. Please find below a video of our performance of As Though I Had Wings, a suite for Chet Baker at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.

Video of the Bill Stevens Group performing "As Though I Had Wings, a suite for Chet Baker" - June 24, 2016 (missing conclusion of the suite)

 

 

 

My second major project for 2016 was performed on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at Silvana on 116th Street. The Bill Stevens, Rich Russo, Gary Fogel Trio with special guests Ira Rosenberg and Jamie Winnick presented the Spoken Word Project.

We performed the spoken word suite, "Restless Motion" based on the poetry of Joan Egeland-Scott with recitation by Ira Rosenberg and Jamie Winnick.

Next the Trio with Ira Rosenberg on spoken word recitation premiered "Le Jetee". Le Jetee is a spoken word piece based on the narration to the 1962 film by Chris Marker, "Le Jetee". The musical content of this work is based on the Modes of Limited Transposition of Olivier Messien.

You can view the video of each suite below. 

Video of Restless Motion from the Spoken Word Project. Poetry by Joan Egeland-Scott. Silvana, September 21, 2016

Video of La Jetee from the Spoken Word Project. Narration from the 1962 film by Chris Marker, La Jetee with musical content based on the Modes of Limited Transposition by Olivier Messien.

 

 

 

On Friday, November 18, 2016 I presented a Lennie Tristano Retrospective that featured Bill Stevens-trumpet, Nick Green-alto sax, Braden Smith-tenor sax, Corey Larson-guitar, Ben Rosenblum-piano, Paul Pricer-upright bass and on drums, Brian Woodruff. This performance took place at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music on the 38th anniversary of Lennie Tristano's passing and was dedicated to my teacher, friend and mentor Joe Solomon and to the memory of Connie Crother's who passed away in August.

You will find below the videos from the Lennie Tristano Retrospective as well as some documents that were distributed at the concert including a Memories of Lennie Tristano booklet (edited by Paul Keegan) and a detailed contrafact sheet of lines written by Lennie Tristano, his students, colleagues and peers. On my pedagogy page you will find a document detailing the instructional concepts that Lennie Tristano used in his teaching including the expansion of these concepts by Sal Mosca as taught to me by Joe Solomon, himself a student of both Lennie Tristano and Sal Mosca.

317 E 32nd Street, Line for Lennie, Line for Monk

You Go to My Head, Two, Not One

Sun-Conscious-Lee, Line for Gil, Background Music, Some Other Line

Line for Joe featuring on upright bass, Joe Solomon

 

LennieTristanoMemories-Bill_Stevens_Paul_Keegan.pdf

Tristano_and_Company_Contrfacts.pdf

 

 

 

 

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