Saxophonist Steve Wilson has a long reach into the world of jazz as a performer, bandleader, educator and jazz historian. The Hampton, Virginia native is known as a musician's musician who, with his band of contemporaries, delivers inspired melodies in shifting styles, with understated swing and solidarity.
In addition to a full-scale touring and recording career, Steve is committed to his work as an educator. He serves on the faculty at The Manhattan School of Music, SUNY Purchase, and Columbia University and conducting numerous teaching residencies throughout the country. In a 2008 interview with All About Jazz, Steve said that having mentors in the professional ranks is important for a young musician but it isn't as common as in years past, so he tries to fill the role through his work as a teacher.
At Maryland, he will work for four days with select music students and will perform on March 11 as part of the School of Music's Jazz Ensemble and Alumni Jazz Band concert. The program will include Steve's composition, "Make a Joyful Noise."
The Music
The March 12 concert will include a new work (untitled at press time), inspired by Steve's thoughts and views on entering into a new era of optimism and enlightenment with the recent, historic changes in our government. A new day is upon us!
Listen to mp3 files of Steve's work...
Grace
Joyful Noise
Wilsonian Alto
UM Students in March 12 Performance
Steve is proud to present as his special guests a string quartet of UMD students:
Allyson Clark, violin
Julia Frantz, violin
Christina Wan, viola
Nathan Bontrager, cello
They will join his quartet on two American Songbook standards from the seminal recording by Charlie Parker, "Bird with Strings" and will also perform a world premiere by one of Steve's Manhattan School of Music students, Jonathan Ragonese.
Steve Wilson Residency Postscript
"CSPAC is the Disneyland of Presenting"
By Laura Hartman, LVanHart Artist Productions
Manager and tour coordinator for Steve Wilson
May 6, 2009
I have finally had a little time to go through the photos that I took during our stay at the Clarice Smith Center this past March. Going through them brought that week back to me and reminded me that Steve Wilson, Bruce Barth, Adam Cruz, Michael Bowie, and I all had a fantastic time during our stay. Steve and I have done many residencies in the past, and hands down, this was the very best one on every front! Read more...
Program Notes
