Becca Stevens

Becca Stevens (born June 14, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who draws upon elements of jazz, chamber-pop, indie-rock, and folk. She has worked with Jacob Collier, Laura Mvula, Billy Childs, David Crosby, Taylor Eigsti, Timo Andres, Brad Mehldau, and Snarky Puppy. She was a member of the band Tillery with Gretchen Parlato and Rebecca Martin.[1][2]

For the Episcopal priest, see Becca Stevens (priest).

Becca Stevens
Background information
Born (1984-06-14) June 14, 1984
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
GenresJazz, folk
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, ukulele, charango
LabelsSunnyside, GroundUp, Universal
Associated actsBecca Stevens Band, Tillery, Jacob Collier
Websitebeccastevens.com

Early life

Stevens grew up in North Carolina. She attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and studied classical guitar, then went to The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City, where she received a degree in vocal jazz and composition. She was married to Nathan Schram on September 2, 2017 at Augsburg Lutheran Church.[2][3]

The Lighthouse Band

One number on David Crosby's Michael League-produced Lighthouse album featured Crosby, League, Stevens, and Michelle Willis (with Bill Laurance on piano) performing "By the Light of Common Day", a song written by Stevens and Crosby. The quartet became The Lighthouse Band that performed on Crosby's album Here If You Listen.[4]

Critical reception

Jazz vocalist Kurt Elling listed her as one of his five favorite jazz vocalists[5] and music critic Ted Gioia listed her albums Weightless (2011) and Perfect Animal (2015) among the one hundred best albums of the corresponding years.[6][7]

Stevens's album Regina (2017) was produced by Michael League and Troy Miller and received a five-star review from Down Beat magazine, which called it "the most spectacular of albums", while BBC Radio 2 praised the album saying, "Lyrically, the album is astounding".

Discography

As leader
  • Tea Bye Sea (2008)
  • Weightless (Sunnyside, 2011)
  • Perfect Animal (Core Port/Universal, 2014)
  • Regina (GroundUP, 2017)
  • Wonderbloom (GroundUP, 2020)

As Tillery
  • Tillery (Core Port, 2016)

As David Crosby's Lighthouse Band

As guest

References
  1. "Biography – Long Form". tillerygals.com. May 11, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  2. Morrison, Allen (July 2016). "Becca Stevens". Down Beat. Elmhurst, Illinois: Maher.
  3. "Smartists: Becca Stevens | Amy Poehler's Smart Girls". amysmartgirls.com. March 27, 2014.
  4. "Michael League: Snarky Puppy's Jazz-Schooled, Grassroots Visionary". All About Jazz. December 10, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  5. "NPR Music". Kurt Elling on World Cafe.
  6. "Ted Gioia". The 100 Best Albums of 2011.
  7. "Ted Gioia". The 100 Best Albums of 2015.
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