Recognised by critics as “a compelling new voice in Australian jazz,” Stephen Byth is an award-winning saxophonist, composer and arranger currently based in New York City.
With a body of work that has garnered GRAMMY and ARIA Award nominations, Stephen Byth has quickly established himself as an in demand saxophonist, whose original compositions have been praised by critics for their “gravitas” (The Weekend Australian) and “potent momentum.” (The Age)
Stephen has been the recipient of 1st Place in the 2024 National Jazz Awards (AUS), a 2024 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award (USA) and the 2021 Australian Jazz “BELL” Award for Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Stephen’s musical career has led him to perform and record with Joe Lovano, Paul Grabowsky, Kris Davis, Danilo Perez, Walter Smith III, Barney McAll, Anat Cohen, Julien Wilson, Chris Cheek, Jamey Haddad, Sam Anning, Alain Mallet, Tony Gould and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. With a performance resume that has seen him perform throughout the USA, Australia, France, Italy and Japan, Stephen has had the opportunity to play at notable venues including Smalls Jazz Club, Zinc Bar, Snug Harbor, The Jazzlab and Hamer Hall, as well as performances at the NYC Winter Jazzfest, The Melbourne International Jazz Festival and La Défense Jazz Festival, where Stephen performed as part of the opening act for Herbie Hancock.
“Growth in Stasis,” Stephen’s sophomore album, is set for release on October 16th, 2026. The album is Byth’s most ambitious project to date, seeing him realize a vision that explores where contemporary jazz, electronic music and film music naturally meet. Featuring some of the most exciting voices in the NYC creative music scene, the album is drawing early praise from critics as well as prominent musicians in the jazz landscape.
In 2021, Stephen released his debut album 'Reparations,' a collection of music that brings together diverse influences spanning from John Coltrane to Béla Bartók to Andrea Keller. Showcasing Byth's broad conceptual and compositional scope, this album ranges from sweeping orchestral soundscapes to explosive dynamic peaks reminiscent of Coltrane's later period.
2022 saw Stephen release ‘Welcome, Melancholia,’ a heartfelt homage to three pillars of Black American Music: John Coltrane, Duke Ellington and Wayne Shorter, all of which have provided endless inspiration to Byth throughout his time as a musician.
Stephen is a D’Addario Woodwinds and AEA Ribbon Microphones Artist.