Steve Johns Sextet

Steve Johns was born Stephen Samuel Johns November 25,1960 in Boston, MA and began playing the drums at the age of nine. Mr. Johns grew up in a very musical family. His mother, Goldie Tyler Johns, was a songwriter and three of her brothers were jazz musicians. One of these brothers was the late great Jimmy Bottoms upTyler, a well- known jazz saxophonist that would prove to be Steve's biggest musical influence and inspiration. At the age of fifteen, Steve decided to pursue jazz as a life long ambition. Steve's uncle Jimmy suggested that he should get serious and study with the great drummer and master teacher Alan Dawson. With that advice, Steve began an intense three-year study with Mr. Dawson. Steve also studied with Boston based drum guru Bob Gullotti.While in high school, Steve participated in many musical activities such as concert band and jazz band. Steve also won chairs in district jazz band and all state jazz band. In 1979, after graduating Natick High School, Mr. Johns enrolled at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and studied classical percussion with Fred Buda and Vic Firth. While at NEC, Steve met and played around Boston with local greats James Williams, Billy Pierce, Jimmy Mosher, Miroslav Vitous, Jerry Bergonzi, Tiger Okoshi, Mick Goodrick, Jeff Berlin and Mike Stern.In the spring of 1982, Steve decided he would take his chances and move to New York City. Shortly after arriving, he started meeting and working with some of the great known and unknown young jazz musicians at the time such as Joe Locke, Ralph Moore, Bill Evans, Steve Slagle, Conrad Herwig, Vincent Herring, Kevin Eubanks, Rodney Jones, Lonnie Plaxico, Dennis Erwin, Dave Stryker and Benny Green.Over the past twenty years Steve Johns has worked, recorded and collaborated with: Donald Byrd, Nat Adderley, Larry Willis, Walter Booker, Gary Bartz, Eddie Henderson The Count Basie Orchestra under Frank Foster, Gil Evans Orchestra under Gil and Miles Evans, George Russell, Don Friedman, Lou Donaldson, The Vanguard Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi/ Lew Tabakin Big Band, The Bob Mintzer Quartet and Big Band, John Hicks, George Cables, Peter Leitch, Larry Coryell, Peter Warren, Peter Yellin, Valerey Ponamarov, Junior Cook, Leon Thomas, The Sonny Fortune Quartet, Frank Morgan, Benny Carter, Phil Woods, Illinois Jacquet, The Billy Taylor trio, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Steve Kahn, Helen Merrill, Jack McDuff, Thomas Chapin Trio, Peter Brainin, Mario Pavone, Diane Schuur, Marty Ehrlich, Stanley Turrentine, Slide Hampton, Kenny Burrell, Jimmy Heath, John McNeil, Mingus Big Band, Dakota Staton, The Jon Faddis Quartet and many others. Steve was the drummer for NPR's Billy Taylor's Jazz at The Kennedy Center in which he recorded 75 shows with guest including Wynton Marsalis, Nancy Wilson, Joe Lavano, Arturo Sandoval, Ray Barreto, Milt Jackson, Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Grover Washington, Gary Burton, Harry Sweet Edison etc.Mr. Johns is active with his own recording projects, one of which is co-lead with saxophonist Peter Brainin entitled Ceremony on Malaco Cats Paw Records. Personnel include: Ben Monder and Sean Smith. Another recording again co/lead with Brainin and Johns entitled No Saints/No Sinners is on Playscape records and personnel include: Eddie Henderson, George Cables, Conrad Herwig, Jay Anderson and Chris Rogers.As well as having a busy performance schedule, Mr. Johns has taught at the Vermont Jazz Center, The Jazz In July Program at UMass, The Thelonius Monk Institute in Aspen Colorado, Williams College in Massachusetts and is currently an adjunct instructor at Montclair State University.Steve resides in the NYC area with his wife Debbie Keefe who is a professional jazz saxophonist and music educator. They have a son Daryl Keefe Johns who is twelve years old and plays the acoustic bass. weblinks:www.stevejohnsjazz.com/ <br /><br />Embracing his love for a vast variety of stylistic genres, two-time GRAMMY nominated saxophonist, Troy Roberts is quickly becoming one of the most widely recorded touring artists of his time. As a go-to first call saxophonist, his name adorns several essential recordings ranging from the legendary Joey DeFrancesco to the iconic Van Morrison to the quintessential Jeff "Tain" Watts, to the tireless Orrin Evans Captain Black Big Band, to the critically acclaimed Kurt Elling, to the breathtaking Veronica Swift, including numerous other jazz veterans, and newcomers considered tastemakers of their generation. <br><br>A prolific leader with sixteen releases to his name, Roberts is currently celebrating his latest, Green Lights (featuring John Patitucci, Paul Bollenback and Jimmy Macbride), and maintains a busy recording and performance schedule with some of the greatest artists of today. <br><br>Troy Roberts continues to be a master of styles and configurations with this eminently accessible, sonically and rhythmically engaging session, emitting steam and sumptuous harmonic colors along the way. -Glide Magazine <br><br>‘Nu-Jive: Nations United’ is another outstanding project by the ever-creative composer and saxophonist Troy Roberts. The bandmates’ long-time chemistry undoubtedly accounts for the stability and respect this ensemble creates together. The ten songs offer various configurations for optimum expression for each member as they ebb and flow through the written and improvised sections of the compositions. The result is a jazz session filled with 3D proportions of interacting and layering to create something unique and meaningful that encompasses the jazz of today and beyond. -Steven Miller, Sound In Review <br><br>Roberts, though young in age, certainly has an arsenal of abilities under his belt, and has the makings and foundation of a lasting great saxophonist. Versatile in style, with a strong grasp of yesterday and today, he is a force to be reckoned with no matter the setting. He is more than one to watch, he is one to follow closely. - JazzTimes Magazine <br><br>Substance and style will triumph over pretentiousness and ego every time. Roberts has a resume that will certainly make one sit up and take notice having shared the stage with such luminaries as Nicholas Payton, Orrin Evans and John Clayton. “Nu-Jive 5” is Roberts fifth release as a leader and is brimming with vitality and that certain pop of originality that separates the "artist" from the "musician. - Critical Jazz <br /><br />A fairly distinctive modern mainstream guitarist, John Hart has impressed many with his fine recordings as a leader for Blue Note and Concord. He began on the guitar when he was 12, graduated from the University of Miami in 1983, and moved to New York City the following year. Among his most significant associations were with Terumasa Hino, Larry Goldings, and particularly Jack McDuff, with whom he toured and recorded. In addition, Hart has been a busy music educator and performed with many top jazz artists, including Jimmy Smith, Lou Donaldson, James Moody, Mike Mainieri, the Maria Schneider Orchestra, and Steve Allen, in addition to leading his own groups <br /><br />A thirty-four-year veteran of the New York music scene, Croft is a multi-instrumentalist, playing six instruments, and counting. Drums, vibraphone, keyboards, chromatic harmonica, bass guitar, and guitar are all part of an arsenal that actually includes his singing voice, bringing the count to seven. A brief stint at Columbia records in the 80’s produced two fine jazz albums, and a number of compilations. Monte has performed, and recorded, with such artists as: James Spaulding, Nicholas Payton, Terence Blanchard, David “Fathead” Newman, Gino Vannelli, Cassandra Wilson, Brian Blade, Victor Bailey Branford Marsalis, Hubert Laws, and Lenny White. He spent 2012 as a member of the classic, platinum-selling R&B/Funk unit, The Average White Band. His TV work includes “One Night Only” - a television tribute to Don Rickles - as a member of Steve Jordan’s Lucky 7, as well as background work on Boardwalk Empire, and Luke Cage. 2017 will bring his big screen debut in 20th Century Fox’s “The Greatest Showman” starring Hugh Jackman. <br /><br />From Chicago roots to New York jazz royalty, Greg Murphy has carved a path through the world of music, bridging generations with innovation and fearless creativity. A longtime collaborator with Coltrane drummer Rashied Ali, Greg has shared stages with everyone from Ornette Coleman to Carlos Santana. His piano work spans continents and styles, earning him two #1 JazzWeek albums—Bright Idea (2019) and Snap Happy(2025)—plus an Oscar-nominated soundtrack credit. With grooves that stretch from classic to cutting-edge, Greg remains a vital voice in modern jazz. <br /><br />Several great bassists in Jazz came from Europe (Dave Holland, George Mraz, NHOP, Miroslav Vitous), but Joris Teepe is the first European musician from The Netherlands to be able to make it in New York. Arriving in New York in 1992 with just his bass and a suitcase, he quickly met many musicians, started to work a lot and a year later he recorded his first CD, co-led by Don Braden and featuring Cyrus Chestnut, Carl Allen and Tom Harrell. From that point everything really took of for Joris and he became a bassist in great demand and he has been working with the "who is who in Jazz" from Benny Golson to Randy Brecker to Rashied Ali. Joris now has recorded 8 albums as a leader. He also established himself as a composer, record producer (many different labels and artists), educator (director of Jazz Studies at the Hanze University) and bandleader. <br>Teepe has developed an extensive knowledge of every aspect of jazz performance and never denies his artistic vision and adventurous personality. He has performed and recorded with: The Metropole Orchestra (directed by Bill Holman and Vince Mendoza), and with trumpeters Benny Bailey, Tom Harrell, Randy Brecker, Ack van Rooijen, Ingrid Jensen, Scott Wentholt, Valery Ponomarev, Brian Lynch, James Zollar, Jim Rotondi, Joe Magnarelli, Ryan Kisor, Jarmo Hoogendijk and Philip Harper. He also performed and recorded with saxophonists Chris Potter, Don Braden, Frank Lowe, Steve Wilson, Tim Armacost, Jasper Blom, Dale Barlow, Craig Bailey, Yuri Honing, Rick Margitza, Bob Mintzer, Bruce Williams, Ralph Lalama, Craig Handy, Eric Alexander, Greg Tardy, George Carzone, Seamus Blake and Donny McCaslin and with pianists James Williams, Marc Copland, Dado Moroni, Cyrus Chestnut, Darrell Grant, Mulgrew Miller, Mike LeDonne, DD Jackson, David Hazeltine, Xavier Davis, George Colligan, Kenny Werner, Kevin Hays, Andy LaVerne, Ted Rosenthal, Sam Yahel, Radam Schwartz, Renee Rosnes, David Berkman and Jonny King. Also with drummers Rashied Ali, Billy Hart, Billy Drummond, Cecil Brooks III, Carl Allen, Ralph Peterson, Gene Jackson, Winard Harper, Tony Reedus, Rick Hollander, Bill Goodwin and George Schuller and guitarists Peter Bernstein, John Hart, Ron Jackson, Jesse van Ruller, Mike Stern, Randy Johnston and Ron Affif. Furthermore with trombonists Steve Lacy, Slide Hampton, Conrad Herwig and Steve Davis; Vibes players Frits Landesbergen, Monte Croft and Joe Locke and Vocalists Andy Bey, Dena DeRose, Judy Silvano, Mary Pearson and Deborah Brown. <br>Teepe's work as a writer and arranger makes a substantial contribution to his artistic statement. 41 of his original compositions have been recorded on 16 different CD's. His hip arrangements of Benny Golson's Whisper not, Billy Strayhorn's Chelsea Bridge and Randy Brecker's Some Skunk Funk are becoming well known in the Jazz Community. Recently Teepe has been producing several recordings for a variety of Jazz-artists. His latest productions include Barend Middelhoff Soil (A-Records), Joey Berkley Made in NYC (A-Records), Fay Claassen Rhythms & Rhymes (Jazz'N Pulz), Mathilde Santing New Amsterdam (SONY) and CD's by Ted Rosenthal, Jorg Kaaij and Deborah Brown for Jazz'N Pulz. Teepe has made arrangements of many tunes for these sessions and worked on these productions with great musicians such as Toots Thielemans, Mike Stern, Bob Mintzer, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Dick Oatts. <br>weblinks: <br>www.joristeepe.com