Saxophonist, Producer, and Songwriter
Forbus Stefan is an American saxophonist, entertainer, producer, educator, and songwriter born in Nashville, Tennessee, Music City, USA. Stefan obtained his music degree in 2012 from Tennessee State University, where he studied with Mr. Jimmy Bowland and Dr. Reginald McDonald.
During his matriculation at TSU, Stefan performed with every ensemble with saxophone, including the world-renowned Aristocrat of Bands and the Jazz Collegians. These ensembles gave him a wide variety of education in music styles, genres, arrangement, and composition.
After university, Stefan made a name for himself, performing with many local acts,
hosting his own showcases, as well as performing and teaching in community churches and social events. He performed and recorded with: indie-pop sensation ELEL; Florida-raised swampy blues rock Kim Logan; reggae, hip-hop, soul MD & Cobalt Blue; jazz vocalist Sonja Hopkins; as well as Soul Radics, leading ska band. Stefan’s own showcases Simply Standards Jazz Brunch and Nashville Monday Night Jazz gave him the opportunity to interact with the scene in the spotlight as host. Producing more than 100 showcases collectively, the two events gained extreme popularity and media attention.
While cultivating his musical style and stage presence, Stefan became more than a
sideman but a very entertaining frontman and solo act. Stefan was also able to produce a worship project called The Gospel, along with a contemporary jazz hit record with his colleague and business partner, Fredrick Weathersby, called The Real Deal.
In 2015 Stefan began working on Holland America Line cruise ships with the B. B. King.
All-Star Band at Sea performing nightly aboard the five-star hotel ocean liners. This opportunity gave Stefan a chance to travel to several parts of the world, including Alaska, The Mexican Riviera, the Panama Canal, The Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic crossing, and The Baltic Sea. Musically the band performs timeless Top 40 hits from Blues, Soul, Pop, and R&B from the 1950’s forward.
The love and respect for music motivate Stefan to strive for success in every performance. The passion creates an engaging experience where Stefan interacts with each audience member leaving them with lifetime memories!
Repertoire
Jazz
- Blue Bossa – Kenny Dorham
- Satin Doll – Duke Ellington
- All of Me – Simmons and Marks
- Sugar – Stanley Turrentine
- Now’s The Time – Charlie Parker
- Sidewinder – Lee Morgan
- Summertime – George Gershwin
- Doxy – Sonny Rollins
- Song For My Father – Horace Silver
- It Don’t Mean A Thing – Duke Ellington
- In A Mellow Tone – Duke Ellington
- Four – Miles Davis
- Nardis – Miles Davis
- Afro Blue – Santamaria
- Solitude – Duke Ellington
- Take The A Train – Duke Ellington
- Mr. P.C. – John Coltrane
- Fly Me to the Moon – Bart Howard
- Work Song – Cannonball Adderly
- The Girl From Ipanema – Antonio Carlos
- What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
- Killer Joe – Benny Golson
- Take Five – Dave Brubeck
- My Funny Valentine – Hartz and Rodgers
- Georgia On My Mind – Ray Charles
- Blue Train – John Coltrane
- In a Sentimental mood – Duke Ellington
- St. Thomas – Sonny Rollins
- Blue Monk – Thelonius Monk
- How High the Moon – Morgan Lewis
- Mercy, Mercy, Mercy – Joe Zawinul
- Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
Smooth Jazz/Contemporary Jazz
- Mister Magic – Grover Washington Jr.
- Friends and Strangers – Ronnie Laws
- Grazin’ in the Grass – Rick Baun & Boney James
- The Chicken – Jaco Pastorius
- Just The Two of Us – Grover Washington Jr.
- Chameleon – Herbie Hancock
Blues
- Thrill is Gone – B.B. King
- How Blue Can You Get – B.B. King
- Born Under a Bad Sign – Albert King
- Respect Yourself – The Staple Singers
- Pride and Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughn
- Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
- Cold Shot – Stevie Ray Vaughn
- Hey Joe – Jimi Hendrix
Soul
- Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
- When a Man Loves a Woman – Michael Bolton
- Groove Me – King Floyd
- Respect – Aretha Franklin
- Think – Aretha Franklin
- Baby I Love You – Aretha Franklin
- Chain of Fools – Aretha Franklin
- Try A Little Tenderness – Otis Redding
- Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher – Jackie Wilson
- Easy – Lionel Richie
- Soul Man – Sam & Dave
- 634-5789 – Wilson Pickett
- Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett
- Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
- Can I Change My Mind – Tyrone Davis
- Hard to Handle – Otis Redding
- Hold On I’m Coming – Sam & Dave
R&B
- Sweet Love – Anita Baker
- Rock With You – Michael Jackson
- Take a Message – Remy Shand
- Ain’t No Shunshine – Bill Withers
- What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
- I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
- So Amazing – Luther Vandross
- Never Too Much – Luther Vandross
- At Last – Etta James
- Any Time, Any Place – Janet Jackson
- Breakin’ My Heart – Mint Condition
- Sara Smile – Hall & Oates
- I Can’t Go For That – Hall & Oates
- Candy Rain – Soul For Real
- You – Jesse Powell
- You Know What’s Up – Donell Jones
- Back at One – Brian McKnight
- My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder
- I Just Called to Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder
- Contagious – The Isley Brothers
- Get Here – Oleta Adams
- Because I Love You – Lenny Williams
- Careless Whisper – George Michael
- Killing Me Softly – Roberta Flack/The Fugees
- Stand By Me – Ben E King
Rock/Country
- Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
- Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae
- Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
- Beast of Burden – The Rolling Stones
- Bennie and the Jets – Elton John
- Black Magic Woman – Santana
- Come Together – The Beatles
- Crosscut Saw – Albert King
- Heaven – Los Lonely Boys
- Jolene – Dolly Parton
- Walking After Midnight – Patsy Cline
- Friends in Low Places – Garth Brooks
- Blue Suede Shoes – Elvis Presley
- Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
- Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash
Disco/Funk
- September – Earth, Wind, and Fire
- Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind, and Fire
- Boogie Oogie Oogie – A Taste of Honey
- Outstanding – The Gap Band
- Pick Up the Pieces – Average White Band
- Bad Girls – Donna Summer
- Before I Let Go – Frankie Beverly and Maze
- Sweet Thing – Chaka Khan
- All I Do – Stevie Wonder
- Superstition – Stevie Wonder
- Do I Do – Stevie Wonder
- Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder
- I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
- Back Stabbers – O’Jays
- Love Train – O’Jays
- It’s Your Thing – The Isley Brothers
- Caribbean Queen – Billy Ocean
- Ain’t Nobody – Chaka Khan
- Brick House – Lionel Richie
- Word Up – Cameo
- Thriller – Michael Jackson
- Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
- The Way You Make Me Feel – Michael Jackson
- Dancing Queen – ABBA
- Happy Birthday – Stevie Wonder
- To Be Real – Cheryl Lynn
- I Feel Good – James Brown
- I Got You – James Brown
- Sex Machine – James Brown
- Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag – James Brown
- Cold Sweat – James Brown
Reggae/Bob Marley Tribute
- Is This Love – Bob Marley
- I Shot The Sheriff – Bob Marley
- African Herbsman – Bob Marley
- Baby Don’t Worry – Bob Marley
- Black Man Redemption – Bob Marley
- Africa Unite – Bob Marley
- Bad Card – Bob Marley
- Bend Down Low – Bob Marley
- Buffalo Soldier – Bob Marley
- Could You Be Loved – Bob Marley
- Don’t Rock The Boat – Bob Marley
- Exodus – Bob Marley
- Get Up Stand Up – Bob Marley
- Iron, Lion, Zion – Bob Marley
- Jammin’ – Bob Marley
- Kaya – Bob Marley
- Lively Up Yourself – Bob Marley
- Natural Mystic – Bob Marley
- No Woman, No Cry – Bob Marley
- One Love – Bob Marley
- Positive Vibrations – Bob Marley
- Punky Reggae Party – Bob Marley
- Put It On – Bob Marley
- Small Axe – Bob Marley
- Soul Rebel – Bob Marley
- Stir It Up – Bob Marley
- Sun is Shining – Bob Marley
- Talking Blues – Bob Marley
- Them Belly Full – Bob Marley
- Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
- Waiting In Vain – Bob Marley
- War – Bob Marley
- Turn Lights Down Low – Bob Marley
- Beautiful Day – Ziggy Marley
- One Draw – Bob Marley
- Rainbow Country – Bob Marley
- Rat Race – Bob Marley
- Welcome to Jamrock – Damian Marley
- Small People – Ziggy Marley
- Tomorrow People – Ziggy Marley
- So Much Trouble in the World – Bob Marley
Neo-Soul
- On & On – Erykah Badu
- Tyrone – Erykah Badu
- Long Walk – Jill Scott
- Brown Skin – India Arie
- Beauty – Dru Hill
- Untitled (How Does It Feel) – D’Angelo
- Love – Musiq Soulchild
- Charlene – Anthony Hamilton
- Smooth Operator – Sade
Pop/Hip-Hop
- Party – Beyonce
- I’m Sprung – T-Pain
- Get Lucky – Pharrell Williams
- Happy – Pharrell Williams
- Ms. Jackson – Outkast
- Spottieottiedopaliscious – Outkast
- Dilemma – Nelly
- In my Feelings – Drake
- This Is How We Do it – Montell Jordan
- F*** You – Cee Lo Green
- Yeah – Usher
- O.M.G. – Usher
- DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love – Usher
- Hideaway – Keisza
- The Rhythm of the Night – Corona
- Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
- Thrills – Calvin Harris
- In Da Club – 50 Cent
- Big Poppa – The Notorios BIG
- Pony – Ginuwine
- Same Ole G – Ginuwine
- I’m The One – DJ Khaled
- Whip Appeal – Babyface
- Party In The USA – Miley Cyrus
- Leave The Door Open – Bruno Mars
- Uptown Funk – Bruno Mars
- 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
- Old Town Road – Lil Nas
Gospel
- I Shall Wear A Crown – Yolanda DeBerry
- My Soul Has Been Anchored in the Lord – Douglas Miller
- Going Up Yonder – Walter Hawkins
- Praise Is What I Do – Shekinah Glory Ministry
- Total Praise – Richard Smallwood
- Amazing Grace – Newton and Excell
- What a Friend We Have in Jesus – Joseph Scriven
- Jesus, Jesus, Jesus – William Gaither
- Down By The Riverside – Traditional Hymn
- How Great Is Our God – Chris Tomlin
Holiday
- Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Tommie Connor
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Coots and Gillespie
- Winter Wonderland – Bernard and Smith
- This Christmas – Donny Hathaway
- Silent Night – Aguilera, Fair, Gruber
- Let it Snow, Let it Snow – Jule Styne
- I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Kent and Ram
- The Christmas Song – Wells and Torme
- Christmas Time is Here – Guaraldi and Mendelson
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Hugh Martin
- Frosty the Snowman – Nelson, Autry, Rollins
- Hark The Herald Angels Sing – Charles Wesley
Testimonials
Couldn’t have been better! Stefan and his band are so talented, easy to work with and offered the best entertainment for our wedding reception. They were great with kids too. Highly recommend!
Maggie F.
Absolutely incredible! I will absolutely use them again. Stefan and his band were absolutely incredible. I could not have hoped for anything more from them. He was easy to communicate with before the event. They showed up early and were ready. They were flexible with the schedule of our event, and most importantly, their music and professionalism were second to none. They were a perfect fit for our event. Look no further than these guys. So very good!
Dave C.
Excellent Jazz Musician. Stefan did an excellent job at our event. I gave five stars because he was very professional, and everyone enjoyed the jazz music. We definitely will use him again!
Tamika R.
MFA092
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