B: September 25. 1940
D: January 18, 2003
Instruments: Tenor and alto saxophones, clarinet and piano.
Saxophonist Stevens was 7 years old when he began clarinet and saxophone lessons with the legendary “Boots” Mussulli of Milford. Although his time spent in Worcester was minimal, the impact he had on the local scene was monumental. For a few short years, he was featured regularly at the Kitty Kat Club on Main Street. Those lucky enough to catch those sessions still talk about the way Stevens played. Night after night he poured pure soul out of his horn.
Education: Berklee School of Music
Private instruction: Studied clarinet and saxophone with Henry “Boots” Mussulli, later with dick Johnson at Berklee.
Awards: received a scholarship to Berklee School of Music
Playing experience: Stevens played with the Big Bands of Woody Herman, Herb Pomeroy, the revived Tommy Dorsey Orchestra featuring Frank Sinatra Jr., and Si Zentner. He also led several small groups .
Touring and other highlights: He toured the United States of America, Mexico and Cannada with the Big Bands and many small jazz groups. He appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in the Woody Herman Band.
Discography: Woody Herman: 1964 (Mercury), Stevens has eight original compositions featured on Greg Abate’s CDs, My Buddy and Broken Dreams.
Notes and tones: Due to illness, Stevens put his horn down in 1980.
Press quotes: In 1995, Bill Falconer wrote in The Cape Cod Jazz that Jack Stevens “has a rare melodic ear both for ballads and bop.”