Stephen Paul is a Taiwanese American trombonist, pianist, educator and composer from the Chicago area. As a musician, he seeks to be well informed and respectful of the traditions he draws upon as well as their historical and cultural context, while being open to innovative and trans-idiomatic expression. This includes not only improvisation in conventional jazz settings, but also traditional big band arranging, experimental/avant-garde improvisation and writing, and Chinese traditional music. As an educator, he seeks a strong emphasis on fundamentals and intuitive understanding of musical structures, while encouraging students to be creative and self-directed early on.
Stephen has performed with GLC, Jon Taylor, Marcus Elliot, the Windy City Ramblers, Kenji Lee, Molly Jones, and others. His trombone ensemble arrangements have been featured at events such as the annual University of Michigan annual Collage concert and the Detroit Jazz Festival. He is featured playing piano and trombone on recordings by Cedar Bend, Gavin Ard, Christian Bush, Marcus Elliot, and Maddy Ringo. During his time in Michigan he served as co-coordinator of the Sound and Silence series, combining contemplative sound with contemplative silence. Stephen graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s in Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation in 2026, where he studied with Professor Dennis Wilson.
