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Stephane Spira

French-born, New York-based saxophonist Stéphane Spira grew up with jazz the old-school way: in late-night jams and cutting sessions. A protégé of longtime Chet Baker pianist Michel Graillier, Spira's jazz career has taken him from 4 a.m. basement sessions in the underbelly of Paris, through acclaimed collaborations with trumpeter Stéphane Belmondo and pianist Giovanni Mirabassi, to the cutting edge of New York jazz. Trained as an engineer, Stéphane sharpened his chops off the books, after hours, immersing himself in a hard-edged milieu. Perhaps since he honed his chops in the depths of the jazz underground, Spira was spared the awkwardness of growing up in public: Spira's "remarkable maturity” (Radio France) has not gone unnoticed by the critics. Prior to the 2018 New Playground, Spira released four critically acclaimed albums as a bandleader: First Page, Spirabassi (a duo collaboration with pianist Giovanni Mirabassi) and Round About Jobim, a tribute to the father of bossa nova featuring Lionel Belmondo’s acclaimed Hymne au Soleil ensemble, and 2014’s In Between.

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2
Album Review

Stéphane Spira, Giovanni Mirabassi: Improkofiev

Read "Improkofiev" reviewed by Thomas Fletcher


Dwelling on previous influences and past concepts to construct a fresh approach to an idea is a common approach in jazz. The title of this album indicates a pathway into the art of giving classical repertoire some jazz characteristics. Introduced to Prokofiev around 2005 by a Turkish jazz presenter and radio host, Stéphane Spira was fascinated by the Russian composer's dense and rich harmonies. “As soon as I heard the Violin Concerto," says Spira, “I was struck by ...

5
Album Review

Spirabassi: Improkofiev

Read "Improkofiev" reviewed by Jack Bowers


There haven't been many jazz quartets whose front line consists solely of a soprano saxophone (Wayne Shorter's is the only one that springs readily to mind). The cleverly named Spirabassi pairs French-born soprano saxophonist Stephane Spira with Italian-bred pianist Giovanni Mirabassi in a group whose other members are bassist Steve Wood and a second Frenchman, drummer Donald Kontomanou, with Yoann Loustalot's radiant flugelhorn added on Part 1 of the album's centerpiece, the “Improkofiev Suite." Spirabassi is also the name of ...

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Album Review

Stephane Spira: Improkofiev

Read "Improkofiev" reviewed by Edward Blanco


French soprano saxophonist Stephane Spira and Italian-born pianist Giovanni Mirabassi recorded their first album together back in 2009. Improkofiev is the pair's first collaboration since then. After a ten-year period spent in New York, where he developed a flourishing musical career, Spira returned to France and continued his jazz career, reuniting with friend Mirabassi. This album is the duo's attempt to recapture their shared past and a provide little reinvention in both their lives and music. The co-leaders ...

1
Album Review

Stephane Spira: New Playground

Read "New Playground" reviewed by Neri Pollastri


Il cinquantatreenne sassofonista parigino Stephane Spira ha una singolare biografia: pur avendo frequentato la musica fin da adolescente, è poi diventato ingegnere e fino a trent'anni ha lavorato in quel settore, vivendo a lungo all'estero; poi, rientrato in patria, ha deciso di prendersi il tempo per perfezionare la sua conoscenza del sax e solo dopo ha infine deciso di dedicarsi interamente alla musica. Nel 2007 si è poi trasferito a New York, dove ha non solo registrato vari album, ma ...

1,032
Album Review

Stephane Spira & Giovanni Mirabassi: Spirabassi

Read "Spirabassi" reviewed by Guy Zinger


Lyrically singing with his soprano sax, telling his story in an album dedicated to his departed father, Stephane Spira and his accomplice, pianist Giovanni Mirabassi, embark on a dreamy and introspective road trip, soaked with melancholy. Spira's father was a colorful character and antiquarian with a mad passion for music, and Spirabassi is imprinted with that character. Spira himself became a full-time jazz man not too many years ago, leaving a successful career in engineering. Mirabassi, playing since the age ...

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"New Playground marks that exciting moment when a gifted artist finds his definitive voice" - November 2018 DOWNBEAT- "Spira invests his soprano with individual style accenting its intimately vocalic nature" - NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD - nov. 2018 "Excellent new jazz inspirations Stéphane Spira – New Playground" - Contemporary Fusion Reviews JAZZ WEEKLY - "Soprano saxist Stephane Spira delivers an impressive album with compatriots Joshua Richman/p-key, Steve Wood/b and jimmy MacBride"

"I’ve heard a great many soprano saxists in recent years,but none who play the instrument with the liquid richness that Spira draws from his instrument" - The Art Music Lounge (web)

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Improkofiev

Self Produced
2020

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IN BETWEEN

JAZZMAX
2014

buy

Spirabassi

Bee Jazz
2009

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Improkofiev

From: Improkofiev
By Stephane Spira

Peter's Run

From: New Playground
By Stephane Spira

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