BIOGRAPHY
It’s the story of a guy who’s really not reasonable since he’s very passionate. It‘s the atypical
course of a man born in 1966 and who, after studying math and graduating engineering school
with honors, ended up in Saudi Arabia in the early ‘90’s to practice his expatriate electronics
engineering skills with all the modern comfort. Upon his return, however, he refused to take the
professional road that was safely mapped out. He chose to quit everything and to leap into the
unknown in order to fulfill his destiny: To become a full-time «jazz musician.»
How did he do that? The «old-school» way: He furiously taught himself how to play. He refused
to go to jazz school and instead ventured into the school of jazz. The school of the night and of
chance encounters, oral tradition, after-hours jam sessions, and friendly initiations with
musicians who were inevitably better than him. Why? Because when he was 18, he had
experienced the shock of listening to last-era Miles. Bam! He’d caught the jazz virus.
As a result, he embarked with eagerness and determination (he’s rather self-willed and
stubborn) on the backwards discovery of the entire history of that musical genre.
It’s the story of a guy who received, as a gift for his fortieth birthday in 2006, the realisation of
a dream: Recording his first album as a leader, «First Page» -2006-(Bee Jazz- France). His producer, Alexandre
Baudin, is his pupil, an attorney by trade who developed a craze for the young man with the
jovial enthusiasm, so much so that he started a label, ALB Records, on his behalf.
Before he could get to this point, Stéphane Spira went through ten years of trials and
tribulations. A decade spent dispelling doubts, steering clear of discouragements and
relentlessly believing in his lucky star at all cost. In 1996 he started his first quartet with Jean-
Luc Roumier, the very (not to say overly) secretive guitarist. With him he practiced writing an
entire repertoire of original works.
Along with the saxophone, composition then became his second passion, which allowed him to freely
blend his melodic verve
and his poetic knowledge of harmony.
In order to continue his devoted pursuit of swing, Stéphane Spira found a way to induce what
would soon be called luck, such as the decisive encounters with a few improbable «guardian
angels.» First, there was Bernard Rabaud, who noticed him during a jam session at Le Petit
Opportun during the glorious days of the «Nuits Blanches.» It’s also there that Stéphane met
Michel «Mickey» Graillier. The pianist known for his lunar lyricism immediately became fond of
this young saxophone player so full or fervor and desire to learn. The same happened with Olivier
Hutman, with whom he would record «First Page.»
This next chapter began with a loss, the death of his father Max in November of 2007, a
colorful character and antiquarian with a mad passion for . To
pay tribute, Stéphane decided to dedicate an entire album to
him. "Spirabassi" released in 2009 (BEE jAZZ - France)
The choice of pianist Giovanni Mirabassi became
obvious. The two musicians had met for the first time only a
few months after Spira’s return from Saudi Arabia.
It’s the story of a guy who’s now totally happy and fulfilled.
The future lies before him like another adventure ready to be
experienced without any restraint, a «second page» to
write. After a wonderful three-month stay, Stéphane moves to New York city in January
2010 while still working in France allowing the release of a French musical project with the famous
“Hymne au soleil” orchestra conducted by Lionel Belmondo: “Round about Jobim” in 2012.
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