Stephen McCraven is an American jazz drummer born in 1954 in Washington D.C.. He began playing the drums at age six and joined the CT grand ensemble in Cheshire at age 14. McCraven studied at the Berklee College of Music with Alan Dawson and at the University of Massachusetts with Max Roach, Steve McCall, Philly Joe Jones and George Brown. He has served as the drummer for Archie Shepp for more than 40 years. McCraven has also performed with musicians including David Murray, Sam Rivers, Yusef Lateef and Freddie Hubbard. He has taught at the École de création musicale in Rennes and conducted master classes internationally. His recordings as a leader include the albums Song of the Forest Boogaraboo, Bosco, Up from the Skies and Black Studies.
