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Steve Lehman

Biography

Steve Lehman (born 1978 in New York City) is an American alto saxophonist, composer, educator, and scholar whose work sits at the forefront of 21st‑century jazz and experimental music.[1][2][5][9] He earned both his B.A. and M.A. in composition from Wesleyan University, where he studied closely with saxophonist/composer Anthony Braxton, and later completed a Doctor of Musical Arts in composition at Columbia University under Tristan Murail, George E. Lewis, Fabien Lévy, and Fred Lerdahl.[1][4][5][6] Often described as a “state‑of‑the‑art musical thinker” and “one of the transforming figures of early 21st century jazz,” Lehman has balanced intensive academic study with a deep grounding in the jazz tradition.[2][3][9]

From the early 2000s, Lehman emerged as a distinctive bandleader and conceptualist, recording for labels such as Pi Recordings and Clean Feed and leading ensembles ranging from trios to his acclaimed Steve Lehman Octet.[1][2][3] His music is notable for integrating spectral harmony—derived from the overtone structure of sounds—into jazz forms, a direction shaped by his work with spectral‑music pioneer Tristan Murail and reflected on landmark albums such as Travail, Transformation, and Flow.[2][3][4] Lehman’s compositions have been performed by ensembles including the American Composers Orchestra, International Contemporary Ensemble, JACK Quartet, So Percussion, and PRISM Saxophone Quartet, underscoring his dual presence in contemporary classical and jazz circles.[2] A recipient of major honors including a 2014 Doris Duke Artist Award and a 2015 Guggenheim Fellowship, he has also had a significant impact as an educator and researcher, holding academic appointments (including at Columbia University) and publishing work on rhythm, improvisation, and harmony in improvised music.[2][5][6]

Stylistically, Lehman’s work is marked by intricate, pre‑composed rhythmic frameworks, microtonal and spectral pitch structures, and a strong commitment to the core values of jazz—groove, swing, and blues‑inflected phrasing—even as he pushes the music into new territories.[3][4] His ensembles often juxtapose tightly notated material with open improvisational space, resulting in music that feels both rigorously constructed and intensely spontaneous. Critics have highlighted his ability to reconcile advanced contemporary compositional techniques with idiomatic jazz language, positioning him as a key figure in shaping the sound and aesthetic of cutting‑edge jazz in the early 21st century.[2][3][4][9]

Fun Facts

  • Lehman’s nickname when he first joined Anthony Braxton’s ensemble was “Mr. Bebop,” given by other musicians who thought he was too deeply invested in bebop language for such an experimental setting.[4]
  • For his octet music, Lehman worked with custom‑built vibraphone bars tuned a quarter‑tone sharp on certain pitches (F, A, and C‑sharp) to better realize spectral harmonic relationships—an unusual step for a jazz bandleader.[3]
  • Lehman has explicitly connected his own trajectory to that of pianist Bud Powell, noting parallels in growing up in New York, spending significant time in France, and feeling a strong bond to the French classical tradition.[3]
  • His work has been recognized well beyond the jazz world: he has received both a Doris Duke Artist Award (2014) and a Guggenheim Fellowship (2015), affirming his status as a major figure in contemporary composition as well as jazz performance.[2][6]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

  • Anthony Braxton - Primary mentor at Wesleyan University; Lehman studied composition and saxophone with Braxton and played in his student ensemble before joining his professional groups. (Performed and recorded in Braxton ensembles including large groups such as 12+1tet and various tentets; later recorded The Music of Anthony Braxton with his own trio, reworking Braxton’s compositions.) [Late 1990s–2000s and ongoing collaboration[1][3][4]]
  • Tristan Murail - Doctoral advisor at Columbia University and key influence on Lehman’s use of spectral harmony and microtonality in jazz contexts. (Lehman’s octet recordings, notably Travail, Transformation, and Flow, explicitly draw on spectral techniques associated with Murail.[3][4]) [Early–mid 2000s doctoral study and continuing aesthetic influence[1][3][4][6]]
  • George E. Lewis - Doctoral advisor at Columbia and important model for combining experimental composition, improvisation, and scholarship. (Guided Lehman’s doctoral work in composition at Columbia; influence reflected broadly in Lehman’s practice as composer‑improviser and researcher.) [Early–mid 2000s at Columbia University[1][5][6]]
  • Jackie McLean - Early saxophone teacher whose approach to bebop and hard‑bop profoundly shaped Lehman’s grounding in jazz tradition; Lehman studied with him for many years. (McLean’s influence is evident in Lehman’s treatment of Bud Powell tunes and his strong bebop foundation, even within highly experimental settings.[1][3]) [Adolescence and early adulthood, through studies at the Hartt School/University of Hartford Hartt School[1][3]]

Key Collaborators

  • Tyshawn Sorey - Drummer and composer who has been a central rhythmic and conceptual partner in Lehman’s projects, including the Octet. (Key collaborator on Travail, Transformation, and Flow and other Pi Recordings releases by the Steve Lehman Octet.[2][3]) [Mid‑2000s onward[2][3]]
  • Matt Brewer - Bassist in Lehman’s long‑standing trio and other ensembles, providing a flexible, harmonically rich foundation for Lehman’s complex rhythmic and spectral concepts. (The Music of Anthony Braxton (Pi), and other trio recordings and performances with Lehman.[4]) [2010s onward[4]]
  • Damion Reid - Drummer in Lehman’s long‑standing trio, known for navigating Lehman’s intricate rhythmic frameworks with precision and intensity. (The Music of Anthony Braxton (Pi) and other trio work with Lehman.[4]) [2010s onward[4]]
  • Mark Turner - Tenor saxophonist featured as a special guest with Lehman’s trio on a project devoted to Anthony Braxton’s music. (Guest on The Music of Anthony Braxton, recorded live in Los Angeles.[4]) [Collaboration documented in the 2010s[4]]
  • Vijay Iyer - Pianist and composer with whom Lehman has performed and recorded, sharing an interest in complex rhythm and contemporary compositional approaches. (Documented collaborations include performances and recordings under Iyer’s leadership cited in Lehman’s official bio.[2]) [2000s–2010s[2]]
  • Bennie Maupin - Saxophonist and clarinetist associated with Lehman through performances and shared community, including in Altadena/Los Angeles circles mentioned in interviews. (Live and project‑based collaborations referenced in Lehman’s official biography.[2][4]) [2000s–2010s[2][4]]
  • Jason Moran - Pianist and bandleader with whom Lehman has performed and recorded, aligning around contemporary, forward‑looking jazz projects. (Appearances and recordings with Moran as cited in Lehman’s professional biography.[2]) [2000s–2010s[2]]
  • Georgia Anne Muldrow - Vocalist/producer with whom Lehman has collaborated, reflecting his reach into experimental hip‑hop and soul‑adjacent contexts. (Performances and/or recordings documented in Lehman’s official bio.[2]) [2010s[2]]
  • Meshell Ndegeocello - Bassist, vocalist, and songwriter who has engaged Lehman for cross‑genre projects involving jazz, R&B, and experimental music. (Collaborations listed in Lehman’s professional biography.[2]) [2010s[2]]
  • High Priest (Antipop Consortium) - Rapper and producer with whom Lehman has worked, underscoring his interest in experimental hip‑hop and electronic music. (Performances/recordings with Antipop‑related projects noted in his bio.[2]) [2000s–2010s[2]]

Artists Influenced

  • Students and emerging composer‑improvisers at institutions where Lehman teaches (e.g., Columbia University) - As a professor and researcher, Lehman has mentored a generation of young musicians in the use of spectral harmony, advanced rhythmic systems, and the integration of scholarly research with improvisation. (Influence evident in student theses, ensemble projects, and emerging bands that adopt spectral techniques and complex rhythmic frameworks similar to Lehman’s.[6][5]) [Mid‑2000s onward[5][6]]

Connection Network

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Discography

Albums

Title Release Date Type
50/50 2021-11-01 Album
A.D.R.O.M.I.C.F.M.S. 2 2015-12-25 Album
#Freemolly 2014-10-22 Album
5ta Dimensión 2019-07-25 Album
Saturno 2015-09-29 Album
Enemigos (Banda sonora de la película original de Amazon Prime) 2025-05-12 Album
ANGELIKA (Deluxe) 2023-09-22 Album
Calle Amor 2017-09-29 Album

Top Tracks

  1. Ready Pa Morir (A.D.R.O.M.I.C.F.M.S. 2)
  2. #Freemolly (Intro) (#Freemolly)
  3. Piensa en Mí (5ta Dimensión)
  4. Lo Siento (Calle Amor)
  5. Sello (50/50)
  6. Still Rapping (feat. Steve Lean) (Avida Dollars)
  7. melasuda - Bonus Track (Starina)
  8. Beef Boy (A.D.R.O.M.I.C.F.M.S. 2)
  9. Amor a Quemarropa (feat. D. Gomez) (#Freemolly)
  10. La Charla (50/50)

References

  1. stevelehman.com
  2. brooklynrail.org
  3. downbeat.com
  4. ressources.ircam.fr
  5. music.columbia.edu
  6. matrixonline.net

Heard on WWOZ

Steve Lehman has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.

DateTimeTitleShowSpotify
Dec 18, 202507:19Chimera/ Luchinifrom Mise en AbimeThe Morning Setw/ Scott Borne