Steve Hass

Steve Hass was born to Greek immigrant parents from Athens who lived in Island Park on Long Island, New York. After attending Berklee College of MusicBialczak, Mark (July 26, 2005) [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-standard-teenage-love-affair-be/168718065//us/new-york/syracuse/syracuse-post-standard/2005/07-26/page-34 "Teenage Love Affair Becomes Lifelong"], Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved March 21, 2025. "Rafalides then put a call in to Hass, whom he had befriended when they both attended Berklee. The Manhattan Vibes was born in 1999 ... Benitez plays with Chick Chorea and John Scofield, and Hass performs with Manhattan Transfer. When they get together, though, it's all Manhattan Vibes ... We have different cultural backgrounds, Puerto Rico for John, Greece for me, Long Island for Steve."{{cite news |last1=Ruhling |first1=Nancy A. |title=The Vibes Are Good |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-the-vibes-are-good/168718001/ |access-date=24 March 2025 |work=Newsday |date=February 8, 2002 |location=New York, New York |page=39}} on scholarship from 1993–1996, Hass joined Ravi Coltrane's first touring group.{{cite news |title=Hamilton College Presents Ravi Coltrane Jazz Quartet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-sentinel-hamilton-college-presents/168804361/ |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Daily Sentinel |date=April 5, 2007 |location=Rome, New York |page=21}} He toured and recorded with the band from 1996 to 2002. He was also a member of Reuben Wilson's The Masters of Groove where he shared the drum chair with Bernard Purdie. During this period, Hass toured with Christian McBride, Suzanne Vega, Miri Ben-Ari, Bob Berg, and Richard Bona.{{cite magazine |author= |date= |title=Steve Hass |url=https://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Steve_Hass.html |magazine=Drummerworld |location=Switzerland |publisher=Bernhard Castiglioni|access-date=March 27, 2025}}

In 2003, Hass began touring and recording with multiple Grammy winners and Atlantic recording artists, The Manhattan Transfer. He is featured on three album releases and one live concert DVD. In late 2003, Hass released a solo album named Traveler. His usage of sonic layering and drum loops is reminiscent of Jon Brion.

In 2005, Hass joined John Scofield and Mavis Staples to support Scofield's Verve release That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles.{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Zan |title=The right man to play Ray Charles |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-the-right-man-to-play-ra/168804800/ |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=The Star-Ledger |date=September 8, 2005 |location=Newark, New Jersey |page=38}} The band toured around the world from 2005 until December 2007 playing R&B, soul, jazz and Latin music. Scofield also used Hass in his jazz trio, along with bassist John Benitez, for select local New York dates.

Hass' intense drumming style has been compared to that of Elvin Jones.(July 4, 2003) [https://www.newspapers.com/article/valley-news-mad-6-ravi-coltrane/168718171/ "Soundbites: Mad 6 – Ravi Coltrane"], Valley News. Mark Donahue, Associated Press. Retrieved March 21, 2025. "Coltrane's skilled, backing group anchors his saxophone. Steve Hass is a tornado of drum rolls and cymbal crashes, resembling Trane's furious drummer, Elvin Jones."{{cite news |last1=Chapman |first1=Geoff |title=Jazz: Ravi Coltrane Mad 6 (Columbia) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-jazz-ravi-coltrane-mad/168720725/ |access-date=24 March 2025 |work=The Toronto Star |date=July 17, 2003 |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |page=99}} He is listed among Drummerworld's "Top 500 Drummers".

File:STEVE HASS YAMAHA.jpg drums]]

In 2007, Hass moved to Los Angeles, and set up a company called Hassbeat Productions Inc., which provides studio services and video distribution to artists.{{cite web |title=Hassbeat Productions Inc |url=https://www.allbiz.com/business/hassbeat-productions-inc_2Z |website=Allbiz |access-date=March 27, 2025}} He also continues to tour with several artists. Since moving to Los Angeles, Hass has become a regular with renowned artists such as Billy Childs, Bob Sheppard, Brandon Fields and Alan Pasqua as well as maintaining his presence in the studio with contemporary rock singer/songwriters. He has participated in recording sessions for producers The Difference, Rami Yadid and Ken Wallace, and tours with R&B/Jazz Grammy winner Patti Austin, fusion/new age pianist Keiko Matsui and The Manhattan Transfer.

File:Hass with Scofield.jpg]]

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• Mindi Abair
• Ralph Alessi/Ravi Coltrane Group{{cite news |last1=Barton |first1=Chris |title=These angels think deeply |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-these-angels-think/168719132/ |access-date=24 March 2025 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=October 5, 2010 |location=Los Angeles, California |page=24}}
• Patti Austin
• Miri Ben-Ari
• Bob Berg
• Richard Bona
• Randy Brecker
• Cher
• Billy Childs
• Ravi Coltrane{{cite news |last1=Massarik |first1=Jack |title=Giving jazz some stick |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard-giving-jazz-some-stick/168719006/ |access-date=24 March 2025 |work=Evening Standard |date=November 1, 2000 |location=London, England |page=57}}
• Larry Coryell
• Brandon Fields
• Art Garfunkel
• George Garzone
• Debbie Gibson
• Jimmy Haslip
• Jon Hendricks
• Jennifer Love Hewitt
• Billy Joel
• Stanley Jordan
• Katisse [Buckingham]
• Wayne Krantz
• Abe Laboriel Sr.
• Will Lee
• Timothy Lefebvre
• Traci Lords
• Wynton Marsalis
• Keiko Matsui
• Bob Mintzer
• Nicholas Payton
• Danilo Pérez
• Adam Rogers
• Bob Sheppard
• Janis Siegel{{cite news |last1=Wedel |first1=Mark |title=Siegel's sassy jazz is delightful |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-siegels-sassy-jaz/168806232/ |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=The Kalamazoo Gazette |date=September 21, 2004 |location=Kalamazoo, Michigan |page=13}}
• Terell Stafford
• Mavis Staples
• Mark Turner
• Suzanne Vega
• Vinx
• Reuben Wilson
• Lucy Woodward

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• The Alan Pasqua Group
• BBC Big Band
• The Boneshakers
• The Christian McBride Band
• The Count Basie Big Band
• Duke Ellington Orchestra
• East Village Opera Company
• The John Scofield Band (Music Of Ray Charles)
• The John Scofield Trio with John Benitez
• The Lonnie Plaxico Group
• The Manhattan Transfer
• The New York Voices
• The Tierney Sutton Band

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Category:1975 births

Category:Living people

Category:American people of Greek descent

Category:Berklee College of Music alumni

Category:American session musicians

Category:Drummers from New York City

Category:People from Island Park, New York

Category:Drummers from Los Angeles

Category:People from Ronkonkoma, New York

Category:20th-century American drummers

Category:American male drummers

Category:21st-century American drummers

Category:20th-century American male musicians

Category:21st-century American male musicians