Michael Jefry Stevens Quartet featuring Brian "Breeze" Cayolle

Experience what its like to be a performer on the TFAC stage during TFAC's Stage Door Jazz Series. This quartet features Michael Jefry Stevens on the piano, Brian "Breeze" Cayolle on saxophone, Rick Dilling on drums and Zack Page on bass. Pianist, Composer and “Steinway Artist,” Michael Jefry Stevens performs extensively in Europe, Latin America and North America. He has composed over 340 works for both large and small ensembles. An active band-leader for over 35 years, his current working musical ensembles include the "Conference Call Quartet," the "Fonda/Stevens Group," the Hungarian "Eastern Boundary Quartet," his collaboration with New Orleans horn man, Brian “Breeze” Cayolle, his recent collaboration with Dame Evelyn Glennie, and his 12 piece North Carolina based “Mountain Chamber Jazz Ensemble.” Michael has released over 100 cds featuring his own music and has performed and/or recorded extensively with many of the top names in Jazz, including Dave Liebman, Oliver Lake, Dave Douglas, Leo Smith, Matt Wilson, Han Bennink, Mark Feldman, Pheeroan AkLaff, Charles Moffett Sr., Dame Evelyn Glennie, Billy Martin and many others. In 2016 Michael was voted “Best Composer of WNC” by the Mountain Xpress, and received a 2017 Regional Project Artist Grant from the Toe River Arts Council.

New Orleans native Brian Breeze Cayolle’s rich and soulful saxophone style was born from the traditions of the Jazz, Blues and R&B of his hometown. World renown for his strong and spirited tenor saxophone, he has performed with many of the great artists of his time and many of the legends of New Orleans music. His sound and style have taken him around the world, igniting crowds to standing ovations from the Montreux Jazz Festival to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. His abilities and versatility on almost any woodwind from clarinet to baritone saxophone have made Breeze a mainstay on the music scene.