Barbara has been a favorite regular singer with many local bands but has also performed with national recording artists Susan Tedeschi and Jon Paris. She’s recorded her own original music as well as being staff songwriter for Full Moon Productions composing film/TV music. Currently she sings for Chicago’s blues/soul band Tabasko Sound Kitchen, North Coast Management’s, Livin The Dream.
The Barbara Stephan Band formed when like-minded musicians kept running into each other on the best Milwaukee stages such as The Milwaukee Ale House, Summerfest, The Jazz Estate and BLU at the Pfister. Recognizing the same penchant for funky, spunky modern day Motown tunes, they joined forces to make Stephan’s catchy and memorable songs come to life ala Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. “Stephan harks to the contemporaneous run of influential soul music at Memphis’ Stax label, with its lesser concern for pop crossover and looser-limbed rhythmic intuition than much of what was laid down in Detroit back when.” – Shepherd Express
Fans appreciate what they call “state of the art, sophisticated song-writing” and when they opened the show in August of 2018 the venue had this to say…“I have followed Barbara Stephan’s growth as a singer/song writer for years but was blown away by the show she brought to this year’s Concerts in the Gardens at Boerner Botanical Gardens.” – Mark Wimmer
Stephan’s EP The River was released in April to high praise. The full album will be released in 2019 with some of Milwaukee’s most talented musicians:
Joe Hite – Keyboard/Producer/Horn Arrangements
Sam McClain – Kayboards
Olen Franklin – Drums
Chris Kringel – Bass
Mike Standal – Guitar
Matt Antoniewicz – Trumpet/Horn Section Leader
Jason Goldsmith – Tenor/Alto Saxophone
Andy Spadafora – Bari Saxophone
Joy Bach- Vocals
Barbara Stephan – Vocals
Ever evolving and always imbued with the best grooves and ear catching musicality this band is seriously danceable, incredibly impressive and definitely one to watch!