Primary Instrument: Piano
Summit Records recording artist, STEPHEN ANDERSON is both a composer and a pianist. He has released two trio CDs for Summit Records, The Stephen Anderson Trio, “Nation Degeneration,” which has received 4½ stars (out of 5) from the All Music Guide, and the trio’s previous CD, “Forget Not” (2008) which also received 4½ stars from the All Music Guide, was nominated best jazz “Debut CD” (3rd Annual Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll 2008), and has been widely performed on radio nationally and internationally. Previously, Anderson was pianist with the Lynn Seaton Trio, appearing on two recordings for Nagel Heyer Records, “Puttin’ on the Ritz” (2005) and “Ballads 2006.” Anderson performed with the North Texas One O’clock Lab Band (Lab 2001) and Two O’clock Lab Band (Translucent Two), was winner of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival piano competition (1997), and was the keyboardist for gold-recording (country) artist, Kevin Sharp (1996-1997).
Anderson compositions have been performed by Lynn Seaton and the Dallas Chamber Orchestra, the Crested Butte Chamber Orchestra, UNC Symphony Orchestra, the West Point Military Academy Band, UNC Wind Ensemble, North Carolina Central University Percussion Ensemble, UNC-Charlotte Percussion Ensemble, Duo XXI, and a film score broadcast nationally on PBS. His works for jazz bands have been recorded and/or performed by the University of North Texas One O’clock Lab Band, the Two O’clock Lab band, the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra, Brigham Young University’s “Synthesis,” Western Illinois University Jazz Studio Orchestra, and the Western Carolina University and University of North Carolina Wilmington jazz ensembles.
Anderson has received two commissions from the Barlow Endowment, most recently a commission to compose a piano concerto for Steven Harlos (pianist, Dallas Symphony) premiered by the UNC Symphony Orchestra April 13, 2010, and previously a commission for the West Point Military Academy Band (2005). Other awards or recognitions include: Honorable Mention from the International Society of Basses composition contest (2002), Junior Faculty Development Award-UNC Committee on Faculty Research (2008), the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, the UNC Research Council, the “Village Pride, Hometown Hero Award” from 1360 WCHL Chapel Hill Radio (2008), Endeavors magazine feature (2008), and multiple reviews in All about Jazz, Jazz Times, and the All Music Guide (2008), and the PAS Percussive Notes (2009).
Anderson holds a D.M.A. from the University of North Texas (2005), served as Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano at Western Illinois University (2003-2005), and is currently Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Composition and Jazz Studies. He studied composition with Cindy McTee, Joseph Klein, Tom Clark, Joseph Butch Rovan, Phil Winsor, Paris Rutherford, Stephen Jones, David Sargent, Michael Hicks, and Murray Boren. He studied piano with Dan Haerle, Stephan Karlson, Dan Waldis, Gary Freeman, Wilson Brown, and Mona Smith. Through visiting artist-in-residence series, Anderson has also received personal instruction from Joseph Schwantner, Brian Ferneyhough, Stephen Hartke, Maria Schneider, Bob Brookmeyer, and Jim McNeely.
Awards:
Barlow Foundation Awards, United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro artist Hub Program, Winner of Lionel Hamptom Festival(Nation Degeneration) “So in sync, one suspects a mind meld” - Owen Cordle, Raleigh News and Observer
(Forget Not) 4 1/2 stars - “Anderson...creates new music and improvisations that are full of life, energy and fresh ideas. Highly recommended” —Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
(Forget Not) nominated best “Debut CD” (3rd Annual Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll 2008)
“An exemplar of the scholar-musician.” —Jay Deshpande, All About Jazz
“Freely exploratory, patiently detailed, deeply felt, entirely unsentimental, and continually surprising.” —Thomas Conrad, Jazz Times
Tracks: Left In a Red State; Count Your Facts; Waiting; Polyethylene; Sullivan's; Serenity; December 2008; Nation Degeneration; How Gentle God's Commands;
Personnel: Stephen Anderson: piano. Jeff Eckels: bass. Ross Pederson: drums. Andrew Van Tassel: alto saxophone.
Forget Not Summit Records
2008
Tracks: Mobiles; T'so Political; Antithesis; Moments of the Sublime; 'em and 'ems; For Sentimental Reasons; Understated; Forget Not;
Personnel: Stephen Anderson: piano. Jeff Eckels: bass. Joel Fountain: drums.
Lynn Seaton Trio
Nagel Heyer Records
2005
Tracks: Puttin' On the Ritz.
Personnel: Lynn Seaton: bass. Stephen Anderson: piano. Joel Fountain: drums.
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Primary Instrument:
Piano
Location:
Chapel Hill, NC
Credentials/Background:
Dr. Stephen R. Anderson, D.M.A.
Jazz Studies (piano) and Composition
Department of Music, CB #3320
The University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3320
http://music.unc.edu/facstaff/sanderson
http://artiststephenanderson.com
Teaching courses in improvisation, jazz arranging, history,
piano, and
composition
Clinic/Workshop Information:
Dr. Stephen R. Anderson, D.M.A.
Jazz Studies (piano) and Composition
Department of Music, CB #3320
The University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3320
http://music.unc.edu/facstaff/sanderson
http://artiststephenanderson.com
