Bill Stevens Jazz - Press Page

Press Page

Bill Stevens is an accomplished jazz pianist, band leader, and educator. He has performed up and down the East Coast, including a date at New York's legendary club, Birdland, with singer Hilary Kole:

This is like singing with Oscar Peterson; and I sang with Oscar, so I'm allowed to say that!

Hilary Kole, Birdland, 2010

Bill's playing combines the fluency of Bebop with a sensability for the blues in a two-fisted piano style that really swings. He leads bands with a variety of musicians, including drummer Eric Mrozkowski and guitarist Chip Newton. Whether offering the elegance and subtlety of piano / guitar duets, or the full-on drive of a quintet with a smokin' horn section, the Bill Stevens Jazz Ensemble delivers a sound that is both firy and refined.

I think Bill gets more color out of that instrument than anyone else I've heard.

Richard Ruggero, Raleigh Arts Commission

In today's world where recordings and the internet have made excellent music commonplace, the Bill Stevens Jazz Ensemble offers listeners the kind of experience they couldn't have sitting at home. They do this by emphasizing spontaneous interaction amongst performers and by cultivating a deep emotional attunement with the audience. Almost totally blind since age fourteen, Bill captivates listeners with his unique charisma, leading first with his musical presence and following up with a warm sense of humor and a fondness for story telling.

The Bill Stevens Jazz Ensemble is made up of consummate musicians. They practice the fine arts of listening, responding, creating, and communicating with an audience in a wonderful way. I can't wait to hear more from them!

Seth Brenzel, Executive Director, The Walden School

Bill's passion for jazz spills over into the educational arena. He is the author of Jazz Musicianship, a comprehensive jazz improvisation textbook, slated to be published by The Walden School Press. Bill is on the faculty of The Walden School's Young Musicians Program and Teacher Training Institute, where he shares this unique curriculum with students and teachers from around the world.

Contact Information

Email: Bill@BillStevensJazz.com
Phone: (919) 788-9358
Facebook: Facebook.com/BillStevensJazz