Stephen Saxon: Bio
Stephen Saxon - Jazz Singer
Stephen Saxon has been singing jazz and working both as a studio singer and in live performance for almost 30 years. His debut album as a leader, Better Than Anything (http://cdbaby.com/cd/saxon), was released in 1999.
He is the bass singer and primary arranger for the award-winning a cappella jazz quintet, Clockwork (www.clockworksingers.com).
He has performed and/or recorded with a wide variety of jazz artists, inlcuding Chet Baker, Michael Brecker, Chanticleer, Richie Cole, Jose Feliciano, Dave Gruisin, James Horner, Kitka, Phil Mattson, Bobby McFerrin, Barbara Morrison, Amenata Moseka (Abby Lincoln), Mark Murphy, Gunther Schuller, Mark Sganga, Don Shelton, Kirby Shaw, Buddy Tate, Mal Waldron, Jerry Watts, Andy Williams, John Williams, and Frank Zappa.
Stephen Saxon - The Trumpet Guy
Stephen Saxon, aka The Trumpet Guy, has been playing trumpet since the sixth grade. His debut album as a leader, Better Than Anything (http://cdbaby.com/cd/saxon) was released in 1999. Many fans of the Oakland A's know him as The Trumpet Guy, and may have appreciated his many musical commentaries since the 2000 baseball season.
Since 1996, Stephen has performed regularly with Klez-X, formerly known as The San Francisco Klezmer Experience (www.klezx.com). He is featured on each of their three CDs.
Stephen has performed and/or recorded with many outstanding ensembles and artists over the years, including the Aspen Music Festival, the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, Michael Brecker, Shlomo Carlebach, Dave Gruisin, David Grisman, The Klezmorim, The Klezmer Conservatory Band, Frank London, The Lyric Brass Quintet (leader), Zalmen Mlotek, Mark Murphy, the San Francisco Jewish Folk Chorus (conductor), The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Mark Sganga, Don Shelton, the Spokane Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas, Mal Waldron, and Frank Zappa.
Stephen Saxon - Cantor / Cantorial Soloist
Stephen Saxon has served as Cantor for various Conservative and Reform Jewish congregations since 1989. He was the regular Cantor at Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland, CA for eight years, and spent six years as an auxiliary Cantor for congregation Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, CA, leading High Holy Days services.
Most recently, Stephen has been engaged to lead services at Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo, CA. He was the Cantor for their High Holy Days services in 2005 and has been engaged to lead services through July, 2007.
In part because of the beautiful rendition of his composition, Dodi Li (which he recorded on the San Francisco Klezmer Experience's CD, Zing!), many couples have asked Stephen to be serve as the Cantor for their wedding ceremonies. This is something he enjoys doing very much.
Stephen has studied privately with a number of master Cantors, including Alan Michelson, Ken Koransky, Don Ososke, Israel Reich, and Marc Dinkin.
Stephen Saxon - Composer / Arranger
Stephen Saxon has written commissioned compositions and arrangements for Chanticleer, Ancora, National Public Radio, the Piedmont Children's Choirs, The Pacific Mozart Ensemble, Joel Ben Izzy's CD of Chanukah stories, "Lights and Laughter," Temple Sinai in Oakland, CA.
His work has been been awarded Best Original Arrangement at the 2006 National finals and the 2004 San Francisco regional Harmony Sweepstakes a cappella competitions.
His compositions and arrangements have also been performed and recorded by Clockwork, The San Francisco Klezmer Experience, The Klezmorim, and the San Francisco Jewish Folk Chorus.
He is available to write vocal and /or instrumental arrangements on a commision basis by sending email to [music (at) StephenSaxon.com].