Born: October 27, 1946 Primary Instrument: Bass, acoustic
Nick started the, free jazz/improvised music, CD label LOOSE TORQUE in 2005 which currently has 22 releases.
Born Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire in 1946. Started first group, playing bass guitar, while still at school and was soon out on the road playing the R&B clubs, dance halls and US Bases of England and Europe. In 1966 he bought his first double bass and joined The Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra. In 1976 Stephens was asked to take his bass guitar along for a blow with John Stevens and altoist Trevor Watts. The result was John Stevens Away (mk II) and was the beginning of a long friendship and musical partnership between Stevens and Stephens. Nick was soon joined, in Away, by double bassist Ron Herman (Spontaneous Music Ensemble) and John and his two bass rhythm section were soon playing to critical acclaim. The group made three albums and two singles for Phonogram -VERTIGO the first single Annie was a very groovy Alternate Charts topper featuring John Martyn. They appeared twice on BBC televisions Old Grey Whistle Test and recorded several sessions for Radio 3's Jazz In Britain (available from Konnex Records) and one for John Peel's show.They made two national tours of big rock venues - one with The Jazz Crusaders - but never lost sight of the collective, group improvisation ethic that John had first nurtured in SME and The Little Theatre Club.
Nick continued to work with John until his death in 1994 playing in The Dance Orchestra, Folkus, Freebop, Fast Colour and umpteen gigs and workshops.
In 1988 he received his first of two Arts Council Bursaries for composition and formed the Nick Stephens Septet which featured a young Courtney Pine, Paul Rutherford and John Stevens and his son Richie on drums.
In 1983 Nick and John had flown to Norway to form the group Accent with Frode Gjerstad. The group didn’t last more than a couple of broadcasts and recordings and a few gigs, but Stephens and Gjerstad kept in touch and when, after his death in 1994, an all day festival was held in London, to celebrate the music of John Stevens, Nick and Frode played the penultimate set together with Norwegian drummer Terje Isungset. They were followed onstage by Paul Rutherford. The four got together after the concert and determined to form a quartet ‘Calling Signals’ After gigs in Scandinavia Stephens acquired an Arts Council grant to tour the UK.
The second incarnation of Calling Signals featured, Gjerstad, Stephens, South African drummer Louis Moholo-Moholo and Danish guitarist Hasse Poulson. They played several festivals and concerts in Norway and England and in 1996 recorded ‘Calling Signals‘ in London. Later versions of the group have featured Eivin One Pedersen, accordion and Paal Nilssen-Love. Calling Signals 08 featuring Gjerstad, Stephens, Lol Coxhill, Nilssen- Love released a live recording from London's Cafe Oto in October 09. Gjerstad and Stephens have also recorded together as a duo 'North Atlantic Drift' a trio with Kevin Norton 'Born In Brooklyn' Frode's Circulation Totale Orchestra and a trio with Louis Moholo-Moholo 'Quiddity' released November 09
Awards:
Arts Council Of Great Britain: 2 bursaries for composition and 1 for touring support.Jazz Services/Arts Council:Just awarded support for Calling Signals UK tour December 2009
Much more than just a complimentary presence, he draws expertly on his instrument’s wide communicative range to make sustained, substantial and imaginative statements.” --Julian Cowley, The Wire
Nick's powerful and constantly creative bass playing is often at the center of the activity. Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
”Having played with nearly everyone in the improvised scene from the UK, he has developed a language that one can only call his very own.” --Tom Sekowski, Gaz-Eta
Annie: Away with John Martyn - Vertigo 6059 140
Can’t Explain: Away with Terry Quaye - Vertigo 6059 154
Mazin Ennit: John Stevens' Away -Vertigo 6360 141
Old Grey Whistle Test Take 2: Away - BBC Records BEDP001
Ah! John Stevens Dance Orchestra - Vinyl Records VS111
David Panton Trio: Panton, Stevens, Stephens - PM185
Accent: In Off: Gjerstad, Garred, Stevens, Stephens Circulasione Total 014
Accent - Accent/ Gjerstad, Garred, Stevens, Stephens Circulasione Total 010
Dave Panton's One Music Trio/ Panton, Stevens, Stephens NondoFMC3
Dave Panton Trio - For Some Cats/ Panton, Stevens, Stephens Nondo FMC5
Integration - John Stevens' Away, Red Records RED 009
Mutual Benefit - John Stevens' Away Konnex KCD5061
A Luta Continua - John Stevens Dance Orchestra Konnex KCD 5056
Conversation Piece - John Stevens Konnex KCD5025
The Bible Says - Conglomerate Impetus IMPCD18921
Riot At The Hamborough Tavern - Volume 33 Wenlock Wen008
Live Tracks - John Stevens' Freebop Impetus Records IMP18610
Antwerp 1988 -John Stevens Fast Colour - Loose Torque LT001
This That And The Other with Lol Coxhill and Frode Gjerstad Loose Torque LT003
Calling Signals with Gjerstad, Poulson, Stephens, Moholo Loose Torque LT004
Integration -John Stevens Away Loose Torque LT005
Late For Lunch with Stevens, Topping, Stephens Loose Torque LT006
Nick Stephens Septet At The Plough Stockwell Loose Torque LT007
North Atlantic Drift: Gjerstad, Stephens - Loose Torque LT002
Trio F O Breaking Silence LT010 - Neil Metcalfe, Stephens, Marsh
Gjerstad Stephens Hession Live at the Termite Club LT009
Calling Signals Dreams in Dreams FMRCD177-i0805
Calling Signals Live In The UK FMR CD181-i1005
Born In Brooklyn: Instinctual Eye - Norton, Gjerstad, Stephens Barking Hoop BKH-010
Today's Play: Corbett, Stephens, Marsh - Loose Torque LT011
Freedom Of The City 2006: Todd, Coombes, Stephens, Marsh - Emanem 4139
Desire Lines - The Occasional Quartet - Todd, Coombes, Stephens, Marsh Loose Torque LT012
Don’t Answer It - The Schizo Quartet - Corbett, Stephens. Loose Torque LT013
All Said And Dun - Dunmall, Stephens, Marsh Loose Torque LT016
Dangerous Musics in 91 - Corbett, Stephens, Turner. Loose Torque LT017
Open Port - Circulasione Totale Orchestra
Calling Signals 08 From Cafe Oto - Gjerstad, Coxhill, Nilssen- Love, Stephens Loose Torque LT018
Quiddity - Gjerstad, Stephens, Moholo-Moholo. Loose Torque LT019
Bandwidth - Circulatione Totale Orchestra. Rune Grammofon
Calling Signals 07 From Cafe Sting - Gjerstad, E.One Pedersen, Moholo-Moholo, Stephens Loose Torque LT020
Calling Signals 09 - Gjerstad, Corbett, Nilssen-Love, Stephens. Loose Torque LT021
Attic Antics - Fred Lonburg-Holm, Stephens. Loose Torque LT023
Kongens Gade - Jon Corbett's Dangerous Musics - Corbett, Stephens, Moholo-Moholo. Leo Records LR617
PhilaOslo - Circulasione Totale Orchestra. CT12
Different Times - Gjerstad, Stephens. Loose Torque LT022
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