Barry Stephenson
Boundary Breaker
Experience Barry Stephenson live — a visionary bassist whose virtuosic grooves and original compositions blur the lines between tradition and innovation, promising an electrifying performance you won’t forget.
About
Barry Stephenson (b. 1987, Florida) is a New York City–based acoustic/electric bassist and composer noted for his post-bop contributions. After studying at Florida State University and earning his master’s at University of New Orleans, he toured internationally with Jon Batiste & Stay Human and released acclaimed albums including Basic Truths (2015) and The Iconoclast (2020). Stephenson has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Instrumental Jazz Album and has won the ASCAP Foundation Louis Armstrong Award and the Svenson Composition Award.
Music Style
His music blends soulful swing with modern compositional ambition — balancing tight ensemble interplay, driving electric/acoustic bass, and inventive structures that challenge expectations while engaging the listener.
Background
- Hometown
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
- Education
- University of New Orleans
- Instruments
- bass
- Active
- 2010s-present
Similar Artists
If you like Christian McBride, Joel Ross, or Ambrose Akinmusire — you’ll love Barry Stephenson