Steve Lehman

Saxophonist Steve Lehman caught Noah's ear at a jazz jam with his intensity. When Noah phoned to invite him into the band, Steve had just left to gig for six months in Europe. But when he landed stateside, Mr.B was waiting.

Steve Lehman is a Brooklyn based alto saxophonist whose music combines the intensity of post - John Coltrane/Albert Ayler improvisation logics with the new types of notation and extended notation being used in the works of Anthony Braxton and Henry Threadgill. A winner of the DownBeat award for "best alto saxophonist under 21" in 1997, Steve studies and has worked under Jackie McLean and is a current member of Anthony Braxton's Ghost Trance Ensemble, which has a saxophone quintet CD scheduled for release in the Fall on the Braxton House label. Playing with his own groups throughout the United States and Europe, Lehman has performed and collaborated with Eddie Henderson, Kevin Norton and Jon Betsch (percussionist with Threadgill and Steve Lacy), among others. When he's not boogieing with the Boogie Band, Steve's current work in and around NYC includes performances with his New Music Trio as well as ensembles which investigate the musics of saxophonists such as Jackie McLean, Eric Dolphy and Evan Parker.

Noah says: Steve's playing is so passionate and grounded that he can make even the most sophisticated and adventurous note choices sound beautiful and inevitable to any audience.
Mr. B says: if I want to hear "smooth sax," I'll spend the day in an elevator. Steve knows how to turn on the fire when he plays.

Mr. B's CD pick: check out how Steve shreds the changes on the Wait is Over.
(to hear for yourself, click here or visit the Mr. B's Boogie Band sound samples page)

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