Stratus is a jazz fusion band that formed in Houston, Texas in the early 1980s.
The band's original members were Dave Nichols (musician) (bass), Brian Hull (drums), Ted Wenglinski (keyboards), and Paul Chester (guitar). This lineup is represented on the band's first CD, "Hyperbole", released in 1990 and also on the 1999 CD "Ice Nine" that contained recordings from the band's early years between 1983 and 1989.
By the release of the band's 1995 CD "Iconoclast" Todd Harrison was on drums and the band had added David Caceres on sax. This is also the lineup on the most recent CD, "Anabolic, Live at the Ale House" released in 1997.
Stratus' founding bass player and producer Dave Nichols died in 1996 at 33 after battling cancer. A CD of Nichols' original material titled "Waltz of Hope" was recorded by a group of his friends and musician peers including the other members of Stratus just before he died[1].
Stratus continued to play on in Nichols' honor with Anthony Sapp taking on the bass mantle. Other drummers playing Stratus' live shows have included Tim Solook and Joel Fulgham.
Following a several year hiatus while the members worked on other projects the band reunited in 2009 and began recording new material.
See list of jazz fusion musicians.
- Hyperbole (1990)
- Iconoclast (1995)
- Ice Nine (recordings from 1983–1989)
- Anabolic Live at the Ale House (1997)