Artist description Mel Bay best selling author Misha V. Stefanuk is a prize winner of the Stereotypes and Nations Composition Competition held by Muzica Centrum Art Society in Cracow, Poland for his composition Equinokse for oboe, string trio and prepared piano, and of the Concerto Aria Composition Competition at Belmont University for his piece The New American Symphony. He was also named Outstanding Piano Player at the l29th Annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, and has won full scholarships at Belmont University, Washington State University, and Skidmore Summer Jazz Institute.

Music Style Contemporary Classical, Jazz with many other influences

Musical Influences Bach, Mozart, Scriabine, Messiaen, Tatum, Garner, Peterson, Jarrett

Similar Artists Keith Jarrett, Oscar Peterson, Erroll Garner, Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Vladimir Horowitz, Miles Davis,Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny

Artist History Misha V. Stefanuk started playing piano at the age of 5. He composed his first piece when he was 9. Mr. Stefanuk studied at the Moscow Studio of Music Improvisation Art, the Moscow Conservatory School, the Russian Academy of Music, Belmont University, Skidmore Jazz Institute, and Washington State University. He has written more then 90 works for a variety of instrumentations, as well as music for more than 30 theater shows. Y2K Survival Guide with Leonard Nemoy, for which he wrote the music, has sold more than 70,000 copies. Misha has composed a significant amount of music for network television, including programs such as One Life to Live (ABC) and First Monday (CBS). Amongst his other works are the Mel Bay bestseller Jazz Piano Chords and Jazz Piano Album.

Instruments Yamaha GH1 grand piano, Kurzweil Mark V stage piano endorsed by Young Chang Corporation of America, Proteus FX, Korg X5DR, GIGA Studio, Yamaha DD-55 drum controller, NADY effects, Lexicon effects, Sound Forge, Cool Edit Pro, Finale, Cakewalk etc

Albums Music for the Shakespeare's The Tempest, Inside Track WSU CD, Mooseknows Jazz Trio, Marshall Scott Quintett live, Piano solo nr.4, John Martin Remember Winter

Press Reviews "Jazz Piano Chords is packed with a wealth of practical and essential information about chords and voicings. The first brief chapter discusses intervals. Many readers might not need this, but it seems that almost every method hook addresses these basics, regardless of what level the book may be intended. If you are a beginner, though, the discussion of intervals is helpful. The following brief chapter on chords discusses chord types, inversions, and the upper extensions of chords 9ths, 11ths, l3ths. The explanations are concise, the musical examples are apropos, clearly typeset and identified for easy reading. He proceeds to discuss piano chords-four-way close voicing, open voicing, drop voicing (where one of the notes of the close voicing is dropped an octave to expand the chord to an open voicing), three and four note voicing, root and seventh voicing and more. In his discussion of Polychords, triads as upper voicings he presents examples for comparison-all in the key of C. Brief discussions follow about alternate chords, alternative bass and substitution, polytonal clusters, along with basic examples in C. Stefanuk's discussion of chord function along is accompanied by a chart showing each of the chords and their functions, on the scale degrees of the Major and minor scales. The next section in the book is devoted to showing two handed voicings for scores of chords (all chord types), arranged by key. That is, he presents about 150 voicings (notated on two staves), for each key- about three to four pages for each of the twelve keys. In the following section, he also devotes about three to four pages per melody note-each of the twelve possible notes-showing about 125 voicings, all different chords and qualities for any given note. For example, the melody note C, can be top note in the voicing of an Ab Major 7 chord (where C functions as the third). As the melody note on an A7 chord, it functions as the sharp ninth. Stefanuk addresses each of the chord types, inversions and so on. This section is very useful as a guide to help you become familiar with the functions of melody notes in relation to chords. The author, Misha Stefanuk, originally from Russia, is an accomplished composer and pianist. He won full scholarships to Belmont University and Washington State University, and has performed at various jazz festivals. He has created a substantial amount of music for ensembles, video productions and so forth." Eric Nemeyer, Jazz Improv Volume 4 Number 1 ******************************************************************************** "Jazz Piano Chords by Misha V. Stefanuk is a great sourcebook for both beginning and experienced jazz pianists. Stefanuk simply explains the music theory of intervals, chords, voicing, harmonizing chords, substitutions and enharmonic spellings which lays the foundation for understanding the complexity of the sound and chord structures on the piano. He finishes the book up by spelling out every jazz chord that you would ever need in all keys. All in all, a terrific compilation for any pianist interested in jazz!" Review by Brigitte L. for O's Place Jazz, www.OsPlaceJazz.com ********************************************************************************* This is essentially a chord bible, covering everything from open and close voicing to quartal harmonies and polytonal clusters. While it's nothing new, it is presented in a well-organized fashion, and is a good reference book for beginning or intermediate pianists. Introductory section explains basic concepts such as intervals, consonance and dissonance. Review by Jonah Berman, JazzTimes 2002/2003 Jazz Education Guide ********************************************************************************* "Jazz pianist Misha V. Stefanuk has created a concise, well-constructed reference guide to playing jazz piano chords in his book, JAZZ PIANO CHORDS. Pianists will love playing with this book and experiencing the chord changes. This is one of the finest books of its type to appear in recent years, and it cover topics in a comprehensive manner. There is a section on clusters, polytonal clusters, and block chords. Interestingly written, the entire book is a nice reference to have at home near your piano, something to refer to often for its wide variety. Sections concerning open voicing and drop voicing are included and of special note is blues chord on page 16 for blues fans, and a section on split ninth chords. This is the type of keyboard reference material one needs to get started with as a beginner, and as a ready reference for those who are experienced jazz pianists. Congratulations to Misha V. Stefanuk for putting this much needed material together into one book. JAZZ PIANO CHORDS by Misha V. Stefanuk is a winner. Five stars." Review by Lee Prosser, jazzreview.com ********************************************************************************* "More Keith Jarrett than MMW, the frenetic and inspired constructions of pianist Misha Stefanuk... are unpredictable fluid"- Christopher Hess, 1999 Austin Chronicle ********************************************************************************* "Stefanuk's airy melodies contribute to the dream-like qualities Converse is emphasizing in the play. It helps to drive the show, you can get effective transitions from one scene to another"- Georgie Smith, Moscow-Pullman Daily News ********************************************************************************* "Intense music and high-tech effects build-up the beginning 3/4 of this film to a point that could frighten a child or the elderly"- Reviews on Y2K Survival Guide, amazon.com ********************************************************************************* "The creativity of production is in itself an award winner and an absolute visual adventure"!- Reviews on Y2K Survival Guide, amazon.com ********************************************************************************* "What a gifted composer, the music fit every scene so perfect"- Reviews on Y2K Survival Guide, amazon.com ********************************************************************************* "Visually stimulating. Leonard Nimoy does a spectacular narration. I loved the music"- Reviews on Y2K Survival Guide, amazon.com ********************************************************************************* "Musical genius from Russia"- Andy Van Roon, "mad Russian genius"- Gregg Hallmark, Nashville Channel 5 with Chris Clark ********************************************************************************* "This brilliant young composer combines a bit of all musical worlds into his piano music: one hears Mozart's beauty and simplicity, the early Romanticism of Schubert, the impressionistic work of Debussy, the urgency and anguish of the Russian composers of the 20th century. Like Stravinsky, Stefanuk also incorporates elements of Avant Jazz into his music (a less frantic Cecil Taylor, perhaps). He is adept at evoking a strong mood in the listener that recalls the Preludes of Debussy -- there are "Sunken Cathedrals" emerging throughout his pieces. But his multi-tonality embraces the innovations in form and structure made by such groups as the Second Viennese School (Schoenberg, Berg, Webern), and the seeming improvisational nature of some of his work is reminiscent of Olivier Messiaen"- www.listen.com ********************************************************************************* "Well Jazz fans, I have just outdone myself, this new artist is really smoking. Great skills and pure jazz. you can't touch this"- 1000 Jazz Hits Radio ********************************************************************************* "I've just downloaded one of them - I saw a blue bird in Central Park- It's very good!"- Andrew Tollervey, Founder, ClassicOL.Com ********************************************************************************* "Boy, you are awesome, Dan! It was truly nice hearing your bass again. Felt so honored of hearing it through the speakers. What a rich and warm but very technical play! I also liked the this duo combination. The pianist is great! Quite inspiring. I'd love to buy the CD. Thank you so much for the sharing!!"- Mieko Miagi - Tokyo, Japan ********************************************************************************* "It's the very pleasant feeling that a wild yet focused spirit from beyond the mortal coil is present and having fun. I'm sure you might know what I mean!"- Wade Cottingham, pianist ********************************************************************************* "This is like a treasure found in an old locked closet, only I found it at mp3.com"- Scott Shetler, C'mon Man Radio about "Old Black Top Hat" ********************************************************************************* "Another New Song... Fabulous Piano & Bass"- Midnight Radio about "OL' Dee Mow Shins" ********************************************************************************* "Just downloaded "Red Haired Bastard." Somehow- I can't explain it-I feel very... connected... to that song. I really like it for some reason. I don't know. It's like that song TALKS to me.... Seriously, man. I LOVE your playing. You will be my favorite musian forever I think. I do not say that in the typical American way. You know, Americans say EVERYTHING is their favorite and everyONE is their favorite about everyTHING. I have thought about it before saying it. I mean it like I say it. Your music is my favorite"- Jeff Wade, drummer, educator, founder of keyboardforkids.com ********************************************************************************* "Nice sounding jazz in the vein of Keith Jarret with just bass as backup. Basically a wonderful duo"- Nessessary Jazz Radio about "I saw a blue bird" ********************************************************************************* "as if the title doesn't grab you enough. someone should remix the ghaka outta deez. almost makes me cry out mom E!"- the 9th page Radio ********************************************************************************* "Wow! I'm listening to your first piece on the site--wow! You are in!--fantastic! ..what a find! ...this way and that--this guy's great!" - Rudy Tanzi, Tribute to Keith Jarrett Radio. ********************************************************************************* The music here is wild and often unrestrained. Are they making the very contemporary jazz up as they go along, or is there a defining form in the madness? Both. Mirror 4-6 are rather art-rock in nature, and mind-opening. I strongly suggest you listen to some tracks free at mp3.com then buy the cd, if your tastes run away from smooth jazz whenever possible. If so, you'll be pleased with Misha. Ben Ohmart, Assistant Editor of Music Dish.com ********************************************************************************* This is essentially a chord bible, covering everything from open and close voicing to quartal harmonies and polytonal clusters. While it's nothing new, it is presented in a well-organized fashion, and is a good reference book for beginning or intermediate pianists. Introductory section explains basic concepts such as intervals, consonance and dissonance. Jonah Berman, JazzTimes 2002/2003 Jazz Education Guide. ********************************************************************************* "I Saw a Blue Bird in Central Park" is a jazzy collaboration with pianist Misha V. Stefanuk and bassist Dan Immel. Cool and spontaneous, this CD gives a much better indication of Stefanuk's pianistic talents than "Piano Romance" does. Classic jazz influences can be heard, and the two musicians work off each other very effectively. Six of the eight tracks were composed by Stefanuk, and the other two by Immel. With titles like "OL' Dee Mow Shins (operating on Echoes)," "Red-Haired Bastard," and "Death (drives a white Dodge Dakota)," it's easy to imagine that these guys have a good sense of humor. I especially like "Old Black Tophat," a bluesy improvisation with a strong but easy-going rhythm and very interesting playing by both musicians. The title track has a sunny good nature and a breezy attitude. "Just The Opposite" is a bit more in-your-face, and I really like its bold musical lines. "Red Haired Bastard" is lively and carefree where "Death (drives a white Dodge Dakota" is dark and introspective. There is a very colorful combination of jazz styles and moods conveyed in "I Saw a Blue Bird in Central Park." The playing is confident and adventurous. Good stuff! - Kathy Parsons, Solo Piano Publications. *********************************************************************************

Additional Info Mr. Stefanuk is a member of BMI.

Location Atlanta, GA - USA

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