Press
What’re they saying about SPH?
DownBeat Magazine | Review
“A composer and bandleader with a knack for translating com-book action into instrumental jazz fireworks... Multiversal goes further – making the listener feel not just like a reader of the story, but a participant in this cinematic, superhero-themed recording.” – Veronica Johnson, DownBeat Magazine (3.5 ⭐️’s)
PopMatters | Interview & Review
“Stephen Philip Harvey is consistently fresh and inventive. When it sounds beautiful, that’s OK with him, but it’s also fine if his imagination leans toward dissonance, funk, or sci-fi.” - Will Layman, PopMatters
Jazz’n’more | Multiversal Album Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stephen Philip Harvey (1992) is a revelation, and the album recorded live at Bop Stop in Cleveland is a major triumph. His compositions and first-class arrangements connect the jazz tradition with the spirit of contemporary African American music.
The eleven tracks, including two alternate takes, captivate with colorful instrumentation, brilliant solos, and varied, admirable interplay between the sections of the orchestra—especially in “Ain’t No Sidekick” with an ecstatic solo from Chris Coles (alto sax) and “Inner Beast” featuring Johnny Cochran (tenor sax) and Dustin May (drums) as soloists. The tracks are inspired by comic book characters, a connection highlighted in the album’s highly readable liner notes.
To experience the orchestra live must have been a true event for everyone present, reflected in the enthusiastic applause. Outstanding tracks include “Multiversal,” partly swinging and partly rocking, enhanced by a magnificent solo from Tommy Lehman (trumpet), and “Tectonic Shift,” featuring an intense solo from Dan Bruce (guitar) and a furious solo from Bobby Selvaggio (alto sax).
In the closing “Band Intro Blues,” Harvey cheerfully introduces the musicians of his orchestra, rounding out an album that invites repeated listening.
Michael van Gee | Jazz’n’more
(Translated from German)
UK Vibe | Multiversal Album Review
4/5
“Stephen Philip Harvey’s “Multiversal: Live at BOP STOP”is a bold, super‑powered live album that cements his place as one of contemporary jazz’s adventurous large‑ensemble voices.” - Mike Gates, UK VIBE
In Conversation with SPH | Oochi Magazine
Stephen, thanks for taking the time to speak with Occhi Magazine. Let’s start at the beginning—For those unfamiliar with your background, can you share a bit about your introduction to music? Was there a defining moment or influence that set you on your musical path?
(See Stephen’s answers and more on Oochi Magazine.)
Super-Powered and Multiversal Imagination | Oochi Magazine
Prolific saxophonist, composer, arranger, and conductor Stephen Philip Harvey stands at the forefront of today’s jazz innovators, leading a range of ensembles with electrifying curiosity and creative ambition. Known for his genre-defying explorations, Harvey returns with the sophomore release from his 17-piece Stephen Philip Harvey Jazz Orchestra—Multiversal: Live at Bop Stop—an album that promises an epic journey through comic book-inspired soundscapes and the limitless possibilities of the jazz orchestra. (More on Oochi Magazine)