Welcome to my website. I am a jazz pianist, and vocalist.  I started my musical training at age 5 and studied classical piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada until the 10th grade studying with Walter Buczynski. I began my vocal studies at Royal St. George's College in the 5th grade with John Bradley and had the experience of participating in a choral tour of  Canada by train with the St. George's choir.   I switched from classical piano in my mid-teens to  jazz studies with Gus Armitage in Toronto, as well as saxophone and clarinet with Pete Schofield.  I took a hiatus from musical training while attending medical school at the University of Toronto, and then my neurosurgical residency and my PhD studies in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology.  During my initial career in academic neurosurgery at Ohio State University and later as Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at University of Pittsburgh I slowly eased back into music performance.  I was inspired by the late Howard Gendell of Pittsburgh who was a colleague and wonderful jazz pianist whose gigs I frequently attended.  As an adult I was privileged to have additional training with the great jazz pianist Ted Howe, as well as Kevin Bales in Atlanta, as well as the esteemed vocal coach to the stars, Jan Smith.  I have never stopped my training and have currently begun work toward a certificate from Berklee College of Music.  

I have performed from Canada to the Caribbean, and Paris  to the Pacific coast.  I play either as a solo act or as a duo or trio with our band, Nervous Habit.   Our core personnel is Dr. Cheryl Gratton, my wife, on drums, and myself on keyboards and vocals.  We have past members and friends also join us when needed.   I love to have the opportunity to play for friends or strangers alike and view any gig as an opportunity to entertain as well as to grow as a musician.   

I have released three albums. 

Michael Stechison, titled "By Myself, Now and Then, released in 2006.  

Doctor Stech and Nervous Habit, “Live at the Red Light Cafe” released in 2009 and recorded live at the club in Midtown Atlanta. 

Doctor Stech and Nervous Habit “It's Clear to Me that You make Everything Better” released in 2015.  This album is all original material.  

A brief review of some press highlights: There was a nice review of the 2006 CD in Jazziz magazine.  If you missed my CD review in the March 2007 issues of Jazziz you can buy one online at www.Jazziz.com. It includes one of my songs on their sampler disc along with Ella Fitzgerald, Sonny Rollins and others. Please take a look at the Atlanta Journal Constitution feature article about my music that was on the cover of the Living Section on August 18, 2008. In addition, there is a feature about me in the June 2010 Atlanta magazine.  We are no longer directly selling CD's from the website but I have a garage full of them if anyone tires of downloads and wants to go retro.   Don't forget to find us on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, and also streaming on Spotify and Pandora.  

This page features a video of Nervous Habit playing our last song at Jazzoo 2012 at Zoo Atlanta.  At the bottom of this page is a compilation video made by Hal Place of some solo performances of mine in 2012 at the Fifth Ivory piano bar in Midtown Atlanta.  There are also some videos from my performance at the Eddie Owen Presents Singer Songwriter night at the Red Clay Theater in Duluth GA, on August 28, 2016.  For more videos of our band please check out the DoctorStech YouTube channel @DoctorStech.

WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ENTERTAIN AT YOUR NEXT PRIVATE EVENT including weddings, engagements, private parties, and corporate events in NorthEast Florida, or Atlanta.   I can be hired as a solo pianist and vocalist, or in duo or trio format. We can provide sedate background lounge type music, dignified jazz standards or we can take it up a notch. Please contact me by leaving a message at DoctorStech@gmail.com.   Please support independent music and Enjoy!