Born: July 2, 1958 Primary Instrument: Reeds
Steve Bagnell plays the whole family of saxophones from soprano to bass, alto and bass clarinet, and a large collection of exotic percussion. He has been a frequent artist in residence with The Hugh Fraser International Jazz Orchestra Workshop at The Banff Centre for the Arts. In this ensemble he has worked with noted guest artists Maria Schneider (2002), Rufus Reid (2003), Kenny Wheeler (2004) and Chucho Valdes (2006). A number of Bagnell’s original compositions have been performed and recorded by the workshop big band, including the 2003 composition Axes, a graphic score that combines free improvisation and jazz elements. The original is now in the Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives at The Banff Centre.
He performs frequently in the Vancouver area, and has made numerous appearances in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival with the Footprints Jazz Trio and the Wanda Nowicki Group. The Wanda Nowicki group have self-released a cd entitled Who’s Counting Us In? (2005), and are returning to the studio shortly. With singer Carol Sawyer, Bagnell is a co- founder of the improvising ensemble ion Zoo. He is also an original member of Seattle's acclaimed Paul Rucker Large Ensemble. His most recent performance as a percussionist was for the Vancouver New Music presentation of John Cage’s Atlas Elipticalis in October 2006. Other projects include Bari Blizzard (a baritone sax quartet), Bugs Black Blood and Primord.
During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, he participated in feature performances of the Cultural Olympiad, with Juno-nominated Aché Brasil and with Anthony Braxton in his Sonic Genome Project.
A native of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Steve has lived in Vancouver, BC for the last 25 years. He studied at Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, majoring in composition under Dr. Alfred Fischer. Since 1996 he has studied with Stan Karp, the premier teacher of jazz saxophone in BC. He participated in the founding year of the Vancouver New Music Institute, investigating composition and improvisation with a remarkable faculty of international musicians including George Lewis, Mwata Bowden, Nicole Mitchell and Evan Parker.
