Stephen McCraven started playing drums in school bands at age 8 in Palo Alto, California. At 10, he moved to Hamden, CT and attened n New Haven, CT Jimmy Stavris Drum School.



He studied at Berklee College of Music, Boston with Alan Dawson, and went on to Univeristy of Masssachusetts where he studied with Max Roach and Archie Shepp.



Steve toured Europe with Marion Brown in 1977,and recorded on Marions album "La Placita". Expatriating to Paris in 1978, he studied with Philly Jo Jones,Kenny Clarke, Oliver Johnson, and george Brown.



Since 1988 Steve has been Archie Shepp's drummer. He also works with David Murray and Piotr Wojtasik.



Steve played with Sam Rivers for 10 years,as well with Yusef Lateef, Mal Waldron, Harold Ashby, Freddie Hubbard, Hank Crawford, Charles Tolliver, David "Fathed" Newman, Surgar Blue, Horace Parlan, Calvin Newborn, Micael Gregory, James Moody, Pee Wee Ellis, Benny Golson, Arthur Blythe, Michel Graillier, Jalal Nouridine(Last Peots), Kirk Lightsey, Walter Bishop,Jr., Billy Harper, and others. He recorded 10 albums as a leader.