(September 25, 2025) Trumpeter and songwriter Christopher Michael Stevens has recorded with and toured with the likes of Tye Tribbett, John Legend, Eric Roberson, and Jeff Bradshaw, just to name a few. Stevens earned a Grammy nomination for the Tye Tribbett song “Get Up,” and he’s worked on Grammy winning and nominated albums by Diana Ross, Faith Evans, Jazmine Sullivan, and La Santa Cecilia. Stevens is also a bandleader, having formed two bands – Vertical Current in 2009 and the Chris Stevens Quartet in 2015.
Stevens recently released a new project under his own name. That album, titled From Then Til Now, allows the trumpeter to display his musical range. Listeners will hear jazz, gospel, pop, and spoken word on From Then Til Now. Stevens is a Camden native who graduated from Temple University, and he recruited some talented Philly musicians to play on the album.
The song that is featured in this First Listen, “Hills and Valleys” has a neo-soul vibe. Some of the feel comes from the vocalist Shaylah J. Stevens. Stevens leans into the song’s theme about remaining positive and moving forward through the ups and downs of life and understanding that life’s difficulties are a part of the growing process.
Stevens brings a touch of jazz to the proceedings by adding improvisational flourishes on his trumpet. Check out “Hills and Valleys” by Christopher Michael Stevens and featuring the vocals of Shaylah J. Stevens here.
By Howard Dukes
