Home » Jazz Musicians » Steve Swallow

Steve Swallow

Steve Swallow was born in New York City in 1940, and spent his childhood in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Before turning to the acoustic bass at age 14, he studied piano (with Howard Kasschau, who also taught Nelson Riddle) and trumpet. His otherwise miserable adolescence was brightened by his discovery of jazz. He took many of his first stabs at improvisation with Ian Underwood (who subsequently became a Mother Of Invention and an L.A. studio ace), with whom he attended a swank New England private school.

During his years at Yale University he studied composition with Donald Martino, and played dixieland with many of the greats, including Pee Wee Russell, Buck Clayton and Vic Dickenson. In 1960 he met Paul and Carla Bley, left Yale in a hurry, moved to New York City, and began to tour and record with Paul Bley, The Jimmy Giuffre Trio and George Russell’s sextet, which featured Eric Dolphy and Thad Jones. He also performed in the early ‘60s with Joao Gilberto, Sheila Jordan, and bands led by Benny Goodman, Marian McPartland, Chico Hamilton, Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyer, and Chick Corea.

In 1964 he joined The Art Farmer Quartet featuring Jim Hall, and began writing music. Many of his songs have been recorded by prominent jazz artists, including Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Stan Getz, Gary Burton, Art Farmer, Phil Woods, Jack DeJohnette, Steve Kuhn, Lyle Mays, Jim Hall and Pat Metheny. And he was recently sampled by A Tribe Called Quest.

He toured from late 1965 through 1967 with The Stan Getz Quartet, which also included Gary Burton (replaced in 1967 by Chick Corea) and Roy Haynes. In 1968 he left Getz to join Gary Burton’s quartet, an association he maintained, with occasional interruption, for 20 years. He has performed on more than 20 of Burton’s recordings, the most recent being Six Pack, released in 1992.

In 1970 he switched from acoustic to electric bass and moved to Bolinas, California, where he wrote music for Hotel Hello, a duet album for ECM with Gary Burton. Returning to the East Coast in 1974, he taught for two long years at the Berklee College of Music. In 1976 he was awarded a National Endowment For The Arts grant to set poems by Robert Creeley to music, which resulted in another ECM album, Home. He performed with such diverse soloists as Dizzy Gillespie, Michael Brecker, George Benson and Herbie Hancock, and recorded with Stan Getz (on an album featuring Joao Gilberto), Bob Moses, Steve Lacy, Michael Mantler and Kip Hanrahan. He also played on recordings produced by Hal Willner, on tracks featuring, among others, Carla Bley, Dr. John and James Taylor.

Read more

Tags

1
Radio & Podcasts

String Players: Steve Swallow, Charles Mingus and More

Read "String Players: Steve Swallow, Charles Mingus and More" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


This program showcases string players, mostly guitarists and bassists, as bandleaders, composers, and soloists. The featured players include Steve Swallow, Charles Mingus, Avishai Cohen, Joe Venuti, and Chris Lightcap. (Please excuse the brief pause after the first track.) Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Leroy Vinnegar “Big Shoes (For Your Feet)" from Walkin' The Basses (Contemporary) 1:05 Lionel Loueke ...

Album Review

George Russell: Ezz​-​thetics & The Stratus Seekers revisited

Read "Ezz​-​thetics & The Stratus Seekers revisited" reviewed by Maurizio Comandini


George Russell è uno dei pilastri sui quali si è costruito il jazz moderno degli ultimi 70 anni. Forse non è uno dei primi nomi che ci vengono in mente, ma di sicuro il suo contributo come compositore, come band leader, come musicologo, è fondamentale. Nei primi anni sessanta i suoi album fornirono una interessante variante al free jazz 'classico' che abitualmente associamo ad Ornette Coleman, ad Albert Ayler, a Cecil Taylor e a tanti altri. Russell preferiva ...

Album Review

Jimmy Giuffre: Free Fall Clarinet 1962 Revisited

Read "Free Fall Clarinet 1962 Revisited" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro


Cosa scrivere, ancora, di un capolavoro assoluto, che magari chi legge conosce quanto e meglio di chi scrive, un disco che personalmente annovereremmo fa i tre massimi di quello straordinario, originalissimo musicista che fu Jimmy Giuffre, con Clarinet e Western Suite (o se preferite, di analogo contesto e periodo, Four Brothers Sound)? Per esempio quali sensazioni ha destato questo nuovo ascolto, dopo i numerosi precedenti, ma con in mezzo un intervallo di tempo che ci ha fatto percepire come nuovi ...

3
Album Review

Jeff Lederer: Eightfold Path

Read "Eightfold Path" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


The “spiritual jazz" tradition has been undergoing something of a revival and it gets a real boost with this robust new offering from tenor saxophonist Jeff Lederer. This is a revival of the Sunwatcher Quartet, a group Lederer formed in 2011 to celebrate the music of Albert Ayler. This version of the band retains original members Jamie Saft on keyboards and Matt Wilson on drums but adds the distinctive electric bass sound of Steve Swallow. Lederer wrote all ...

4
Album Review

Jeff Lederer's Sunwatcher: Eightfold Path

Read "Eightfold Path" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Knowingly or unknowingly, we are all on the Dharma path. It doesn't matter if you are a Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jain, or Satanist. Okay, maybe not Satanist, but we are all in our own way desiring some form of enlightened awakening and the end of suffering. During the height of the pandemic, saxophonist Jeff Lederer assembled his Sunwatcher quartet to explore this noble Eightfold Path. As students of the path are told, you must walk hand in hand with ...

10
Album Review

Hans Ulrik & Anders Mogensen: The Meeting with Steve Swallow

Read "The Meeting with Steve Swallow" reviewed by Thomas Fletcher


The partnership between Danish saxophonist Hans Ulrik and American bassist Steve Swallow can be traced back to the late '90s when they toured Europe and recorded three albums including Tin Pan Aliens (Stunt Records, 2005). Meanwhile drummer Anders Mogensen's collaboration with Swallow also began in the '90s, his busy calendar saw him perform alongside musicians such as Jerry Bergonzi and Walt Weiskopf. The final member in this meeting is guitarist and fellow Dane, Niclas Knudsen. Having performed with familiar names ...

3
Interview

Steve Swallow Interview

Read "Steve Swallow Interview" reviewed by Mike Brannon


From the 1995-2003 archive: This article first appeared at All About Jazz in January 2001. Steve Swallow may not be a household name, at least in most households, but if you've listened to contemporary jazz over the last thirty years, you've likely heard him on one side of the studio glass or the other. Swallow's not just a great and very unique electric jazz bassist but also a trusted producer of sessions which have included the likes jazz ...

Read more articles
1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Swallow's birthday today!

Steve Swallow was born in New York City in 1940, and spent his childhood in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Before turning to the acoustic bass at age 14, he studied piano (with Howard Kasschau, who also taught Nelson Riddle) and trumpet. His otherwise miserable adolescence was brightened by his discovery of jazz. He took many of his first stabs at improvisation with Ian Underwood (who subsequently became a Mother Of Invention ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Swallow's birthday today!

Steve Swallow was born in New York City in 1940, and spent his childhood in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Before turning to the acoustic bass at age 14, he studied piano (with Howard Kasschau, who also taught Nelson Riddle) and trumpet. His otherwise miserable adolescence was brightened by his discovery of jazz. He took many of his first stabs at improvisation with Ian Underwood (who subsequently became a Mother Of Invention ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Swallow's birthday today!

Steve Swallow was born in New York City in 1940, and spent his childhood in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Before turning to the acoustic bass at age 14, he studied piano (with Howard Kasschau, who also taught Nelson Riddle) and trumpet. His otherwise miserable adolescence was brightened by his discovery of jazz. He took many of his first stabs at improvisation with Ian Underwood (who subsequently became a Mother Of Invention ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Swallow's birthday today!

Steve Swallow was born in New York City in 1940, and spent his childhood in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Before turning to the acoustic bass at age 14, he studied piano (with Howard Kasschau, who also taught Nelson Riddle) and trumpet. His otherwise miserable adolescence was brightened by his discovery of jazz. He took many of his first stabs at improvisation with Ian Underwood (who subsequently became a Mother Of Invention ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Swallow's birthday today!

Steve Swallow was born in New York City in 1940, and spent his childhood in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Before turning to the acoustic bass at age 14, he studied piano (with Howard Kasschau, who also taught Nelson Riddle) and trumpet. His otherwise miserable adolescence was brightened by his discovery of jazz. He took many of his first stabs at improvisation with Ian Underwood (who subsequently became a Mother Of Invention ...

7

Contest

Enter the "Jamie Saft/Steve Swallow/Bobby Previte - The New Standard" Giveaway!

Enter the "Jamie Saft/Steve Swallow/Bobby Previte - The New Standard" Giveaway!

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the RareNoiseRecords “Jamie Saft/Steve Swallow/Bobby Previte - The New Standard“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on August 10th Click here to enter the contest (Tracking Jamie Saft at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.) Good luck! Your Friends at RareNoiseRecords About The New Standard While Jamie Saft has been a significant presence on previous RareNoise recordings by Slobber Pup, Plymouth ...

1

Recording

Jamie Saft Joins Steve Swallow And Bobby Previte On The New Standard

Jamie Saft Joins Steve Swallow And Bobby Previte On The New Standard

Source: Antje Hübner

Collaborative Outing Strikes The Jazziest Chord In The RareNoise Catalog While Jamie Saft has been a significant presence on previous RareNoise recordings by Slobber Pup, Plymouth and Metallic Taste of Blood, the renegade keyboardist and essential Downtown improviser steps into a dramatically different role on The New Standard. A collaborative trio outing featuring the dream rhythm tandem of drummer Bobby Previte and bassist Steve Swallow, both prolific composers and venerable bandleaders in their own right, it showcases Saft alternating between ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Swallow's birthday today!

Steve Swallow was born in New York City in 1940, and spent his childhood in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Before turning to the acoustic bass at age 14, he studied piano (with Howard Kasschau, who also taught Nelson Riddle) and trumpet. His otherwise miserable adolescence was brightened by his discovery of jazz. He took many of his first stabs at improvisation with Ian Underwood (who subsequently became a Mother Of Invention ...

94

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Source:

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Swallow's birthday today!

Steve Swallow was born in New York City in 1940, and spent his childhood in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Before turning to the acoustic bass at age 14, he studied piano (with Howard Kasschau, who also taught Nelson Riddle) and trumpet. His otherwise miserable adolescence was brightened by his discovery of jazz. He took many of his first stabs at improvisation with Ian Underwood (who subsequently became a Mother Of Invention ...

192

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Jazz Musician of the Day: Steve Swallow

Source:

All About Jazz is celebrating Steve Swallow's birthday today!

Steve Swallow

Steve Swallow was born in New York City in 1940, and spent his childhood in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Before turning to the acoustic bass at age 14, he studied piano (with Howard Kasschau, who also taught Nelson Riddle) and trumpet... more

Website | Photos | Articles

Follow Steve Swallow

Put AAJ's Musician of the Day box on your website or ...

Martin Fabricius
vibraphone
Lars Winberg
bass, electric
Björn Meyer
bass, electric
Chris Trinidad
multi-instrumentalist
Greg Oliva
bass, electric
Jonathan Andersen
bass, acoustic
Yosef Gutman Levitt
bass, acoustic
So Long Seven
band / ensemble / orchestra

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Guitar Talk

AGS Recordings
2021

buy

Eightfold Path

Little (i) Music
2021

buy

Life Goes On

ECM Records
2020

buy

Swallow Tales

ECM Records
2020

buy

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.