Loren Stillman-bio

Saxophonist and composer Loren Stillman was born in 1980 in London, England. Inspired by his uncle, saxophonist Mike Stillman, he began playing at age 7. Raised in Croton-onHudson, Stillman had easy access to New York City’s jazz scene where his early teachers included, Lee Konitz, Dave Liebman, Ted Nash, and Dick Oatts. Stillman studied classical saxophone with instructors Dan Goble and Harvey Pittell at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute in 1995. In studying with these well versed saxophonists, he gained a strong knowledge of Joe Allard’s approach to saxophone playing, emphasizing a natural and relaxed view to the instrument through the study of overtones and vocal manipulation of sound. Recipient of two Outstanding Performance Awards (1996 & 1998) and the Rising Star Jazz Artist Award (2004) from Down Beat Magazine, Stillman received scholarships to attend The Manhattan School of Music (1998) and the New School University (2002). He was a semifinalist in the 2002 Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition, and in 2005 he received the CMA/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming and the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award. Leading his own groups, Stillman has recorded for Soul Note (1996), Nagel-Heyer (2001), Fresh Sound (2003 & 2005), Steeplechase (2005 & 2006), and Pirouet (2006). He also recorded for Challenge Records (2003) with his collaborative trio, Jackalope, featuring guitarist John Abercrombie. Stillman has received notable acclaim for his performances and recordings from The New York Times, Cadence, Jazz Times, Jazziz and Downbeat Magazines. Jazz Review UK voted his third album, Gin Bon (Fresh Sound), ‘Album of the Year 2004’. It Could Be Anything (2005, Fresh Sound) and The Brothers’ Breakfast (2006, Steeplechase) received critical acclaim from the New York Times, and four star awards from BBC Jazz Review and Downbeat Magazine. Stillman was a featured artist on WKCR, Weekend America and LIU Radio programming. Musical influences in Stillman’s life range from saxophonists Lee Konitz and Wayne Shorter, and composers Frank Zappa and Bela Bartok . He draws inspiration from traditional music from around the world, and makes compositional reference to ‘stream of consciousness writing’ expressed by composer Ludmila Uhlela’s teachings. Stillman has toured the United States, Europe and Japan as a leader and sideman with Charlie Haden, Paul Motian, Carla Bley, John Abercrombie, Andy Milne’s DAPP Theory, Michele Rosewoman, Eivind Opsvik’s, The Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Vic Juris and Dave Liebman. He has performed at JVC, Verizon, Earshot and Edinburgh Jazz Festivals with his ensembles. Stillman lives in Brooklyn, NY and has an active career as performer, composer and teacher.