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Michael Stephans / Spatial Edition: Open Spaces

By Chuck Koton
October 11, 2012
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Michael Stephans / Spatial Edition: Open Spaces

Michael Stephans—educator and published author of prose and poetry—also happens to be a master jazz drummer and percussionist. The Miami-born Stephans, who these days lives in the surprisingly jazz-heavy Pennsylvania Poconos, has performed with world renowned horn players like

Pharoah Sanders

saxophone, tenor
1940 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Pharoah Sanders,

Dave Liebman

saxophone
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Liebman and

Bennie Maupin

woodwinds
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Bennie Maupin, as well as Grammy-winning pianist,

Alan Broadbent

piano
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Alan Broadbent, among others. On Open Spaces, Stephans and Spatial Edition perform a dynamic and memorable mix of mostly original music.

The quartet kicks off with the title tune, an up-tempo cooker penned by an old friend from Stephans' days in Los Angeles, pianist and composer

Theo Saunders

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Theo Saunders.

Zach Brock

violin
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Zach Brock's hard-swimgin' violin solo gets the fingers snappin' while providing ample evidence of his rising star status. The rhythm section, led by Stephans' light but unrelenting touch, collectively puts the pedal to the metal.

Stephans and friends slam on the aural brakes for "Quo Vadis," a tranquil, meditative composition by two of Poland's top musicians, trumpeter

Tomasz Sta��ko

trumpet
1942 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Tomasz Sta��ko and violinist

Zbigniew Seifert

violin
1946 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Zbigniew Seifert, to whom (along with the late, great trombonist/composer/arranger

Bob Brookmeyer

trombone
1929 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Brookmeyer) the recording is dedicated. Veteran pianist

Jim Ridl

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Ridl's sparse use of notes, simultaneously soulful and cerebral, evokes the lonely landscapes of the CD's title and cover art.

On the standard, "You Don't Know What Love Is," Brock emotes with a wistfulness that belies his relative youth. His mournful violin and Ridl's probing chords over Stephans' percussive tension paints the blue moods, all but pouring the needed shot of Scotch. Ridl's "Blue Waters" opens gently, like a misty sunrise, Brock and Ridl dance slowly over Stephans' shimmering cymbals, before the band breaks into another finger-snappin' groove.

The recording closes with Brock's "Mr. Shah," on which he bows a European-influenced, deliberate and unaccompanied solo before sneakily picking up the pace. At this point Stephans—�� la

Art Blakey

drums
1919 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Blakey—and veteran bassist

Steve Varner

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Varner lay down some heavy, visceral rhythms, pushing the band like a jockey drivin' his horse in the Kentucky Derby.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Open Spaces; Quo Vadis; You Don't Know What Love Is; Sno Peas; Gratitude; Blue Waters; Take It With Me; Mr. Shah.

Personnel

Michael Stephans

drums

Michael Stephans: drums, voice; Jim Ridl: piano; Steve Varner: acoustic bass; Zach Brock: violin, baritone violin.

Album information

Title: Open Spaces | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Lunazure Records

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