Biography
Artistic Director, Vice President and Co-Founder New England Jazz Enrichment Foundation
Executive and Artistic Director and Founder Worcester Jazz Festival
Stephen Bourassa was born into music. Before he could walk he had pulled out his mother’s Tupperware containers and started playing drums. He picked up his first guitar in 3rd grade, started his first band in 4th grade and began playing the piano in Junior High school. From fourth grade on he was involved in the standard school groups, i.e., chorus, concert band, dance band, etc. Stephen is currently a performing songwriter and leads his NEJazz AllStars and country band Stomp N’ Holler.
Come his first year at Boston University Stephen started creating events, from dormitory parties to fundraisers for worthy causes. Stephen also started writing music and discovering many different styles from the Latin rhythms and improvisation of the early Santana bands to the Jazz of Brubeck. Next stop was Berklee College of music where he went from academic probation at BU to the Presidents list at Berklee.
Stephen’s passions have always been Music and bringing people together. Next stop was as an artist agent and promoter managing and working with artists such as Jazz pianist Rusty Scott, vocalist Patrice Williamson and singer-songwriters Sara Wheeler and Ashley Cox. Stephen delved into the local jazz world helping to create and promote shows with guest artists such as Harold Layne, Bill Pierce, Harry Reed and Gordon Beadle and became a member of JazzBoston’s JazzWeek
event committee creating the JazzWeek High School jazz Band Showcase held at the BPL.
Jazz isn’t just for old people sitting in their living room. Jazz is on our streets, in our neighborhoods and in our schools.
~Stephen Bourassa
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Festivals and Foundations
Video Interview
Stephen Bourassa: NE Jazz Enrichment Foundation and Worcester Jazz Festival