Becca Stevens | Deep Dive Cologne

The US singer-songwriter Becca Stevens is spending a workshop and work phase in Cologne in January. The concert in the Stadtgarten is the crowning finale of the stay and presents the musician in three different contexts: solo, in a large ensemble and in a smaller line-up - each with students from the HfMT Cologne and NICA artists. Stevens' compositions as well as those of the participating Cologne musicians will be played.

With her versatile vocals and mastery of various string instruments, Becca Stevens has playfully developed a musical oeuvre that draws on references to pop, jazz, folk and indie rock and affirms both her classical training and her Appalachian roots. Since forming the Becca Stevens Band in 2006, she has toured internationally and become a sought-after collaborator, working with David Crosby, Jacob Collier, Michael League of Snarky Puppy and Taylor Eigsti. Together with violist Nathan Schram, she was nominated for a Grammy (Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals) in 2023. Stevens' current and first pure solo album Maple to Paper was released on August 30, 2024 on GroundUP. On it, the musician reveals herself to be deeply personal, exploring themes of grief and transcendence as an empathetic storyteller.

Becca Stevens' residency was initiated by the Hochschule für Musik & Theater Köln in cooperation with the European Center for Jazz and Contemporary Music Stadtgarten Köln and supported by NICA artist development.

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Musicians involved:

Becca Stevens & Large Ensemble:
Becca Stevens – vocals, guitar
Donya Solaimanishikhabadi, Merle Böwering, Lilith Walkenhorst, Anna Bagger – vocals
Simon Eckert, Joshua Castillo – trumpet
Alex Ehret, Clara Wedel – trombone
Simon Bremen, Paula Steimer, Clemens Köhler, Iara Serodio – saxophone
Cristina Ardelean, Anton Hasert, Katharina Koch, Lail Braslawsky – violin
Franziska Pieper – viola
Tabea Hörsch – violoncello
Maxim Burtsev – piano
Jovan Milisavljevic, Liam Möller – guitar
Bela Bluche, Tristan Sorg – bass
Niklas Wittig, Marinus Olbrich – drums
Jorik Bergmann, Alma Naidu, Kataryna Kravchenko, Eva Swiderski, Julia Sanjurjo, Andreas Theobald – arrangement

Deep Dive Songwriting:
Constantin Recker – keys
Xaver Bodenstein, Manuel Breitzke – guitar
Lisa Köberlein, Mika David Neumann – bass
Jonas Heck, Till Reisener – drums