Steven Bernstein 2025 Composer in Residence New Works Concert

Steven Bernstein is a trailblazing trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader whose versatile career has shaped the New York music scene for over three decades. Known for his groundbreaking work with bands like Sexmob, Millennial Territory Orchestra, and Diaspora Soul, Bernstein seamlessly blends jazz, blues, rock, and world music into an eclectic yet cohesive sound. A former member of the Lounge Lizards and Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band, he has also arranged music for an impressive roster of artists, including Lou Reed, Allen Toussaint, Elvis Costello, and U2.

A Grammy-winning artist and critically acclaimed arranger, Bernstein is celebrated for his innovative projects, including Sexmob’s adventurous covers and original works, and his collaborations with New Orleans piano legend Henry Butler in the Hot 9. His music defies easy categorization, embodying a philosophy of boundaryless artistry. Bernstein also brings his creative expertise to film, theater, and education, having led residencies at institutions like NYU, Dartmouth, and the Florence Conservatory of Music.

Brian Roy Haas is an internationally celebrated, award-winning pianist, composer, producer, and arranger whose prolific career spans nearly four decades and includes almost 40 albums of original compositions. Brian began playing piano at age 4, and he won his first International Piano Concerto Competition at just 16, solidifying his life’s mission in music.

Haas earned a full scholarship to the University of Tulsa, graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. While at TU, he founded Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (JFJO), a band that has become an institution in modern music, defying genre. Over the past 31 years, JFJO has toured extensively, completing 13 European tours, countless circuits through the Americas, and playing at iconic festivals like North Sea, Berlin, Tampere, and Montreal. They've also sold out prestigious venues such as Bimhuis, Snug Harbor, Yoshi's, and The Blue Note.

Beyond JFJO, Haas’s illustrious career includes collaborations with legends like Nikki Glaspie, George Porter Jr., Helen Gillet, The Funky Meters, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Nolatet, and Les Claypool, among others. His latest project, Punkadelick—a trio with Glaspie and Mike Dillon—released the critically acclaimed Inflorescence in 2023 on Sony Red, followed by a 17-month tour that sold out venues nationwide.

When not touring, Haas devotes his time to music education, teaching improvisation in public schools through Arts and Humanities programs funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. His dedication to innovation and education continues to inspire the next generation of musicians.

Host or Publisher New Orleans JCC