Jim Stevens
Saxophone

Jim began playing saxophone at age 9. At age 13, he began playing with local bands and sitting in at jazz clubs in the St. Louis metro area. By age 17, he was playing with most of the big-name dance bands in St. Louis such as Ralph Butler and Bob Kuban as well as the SIU-Edwardsville Concert Jazz Band. After graduating high school in 1982, he briefly attended North Texas State University, entering their Jazz program in the prestigious 3 O'Clock Jazz Big Band. After returning to St. Louis, he headed up a contemporary jazz/dance band called "The Bottom Line." This group gigged around town at most of the major venues and even appeared in the movie "White Palace" in 1990. In the following years, Jim has freelanced around the Midwest and played shows at the Fox Theater with the Four Tops and Temptations as well as with local bands such as Fluid Drive, Encore, 40 West, The Z-Band, and the Ralph Butler Band among many others.

More recently, Jim has appeared with Peter Mayer (guitarist with Jimmy Buffett) in a series of shows at the Superdome in New Orleans. There, the Peter Mayer Group played to crowds in excess of 38,000. He also appeared recently with pianist/composer Chris Walters at the Nashville Jazz Workshop.

In addition to his live performance work, Jim is also active in the recording industry. He has appeared on the albums of R. Scott Bryan (formerly of Sheryl Crows' band), Peter Mayer, Javier Mendoza, and Pat Liston (Mama's Pride), among many others.