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Fair Lawn, New York NJ, United States (1940 – present)
Steve Swallow (born October 4th, 1940 in Fair Lawn, New Jersey) is a jazz bass guitarist and composer.
As a child, Swallow studied piano and trumpet before turning to the double bass at age 14. While attending a preparatory school, he began trying his hand in jazz improvisation. In 1960 he left Yale, where he was studying composition, and settled in New York City, playing at the time in Jimmy Giuffre’s trio along with Paul Bley. Since joining Art Farmer’s quartet in 1964, Swallow began to write. It is in the 1960s that his long-term association with Gary Burton’s various bands began.
In the early 1970s, Swallow switched exclusively to bass guitar, of which he prefers the 5-string variety. Along with Bob Cranshaw, Swallow was among the first jazz bassists to switch exclusively to electric bass guitar (with much encouragement from Roy Haynes, Swallow’s favorite drummer). Swallow plays with a pick (made of copper by Hotlicks), and his style involves intricate solos in the upper register; he was one of the early adopters of the high C string on a bass guitar.
In 1974-1976 Swallow taught at the Berklee College of Music. It is often speculated that he had an influence on the contents of The Real Book, which includes a fair number of his early compositions. He later recorded an album of the same name (Real Book), with the picture of a well-worn, coffee-stained Real Book on the cover.
In 1978 Swallow became an essential and constant member of Carla Bley’s band. He toured extensively with John Scofield in the early 1980s, and has returned to this collaboration several times over the years.
As a child, Swallow studied piano and trumpet before turning to the double bass at age 14. While attending a preparatory school, he began trying his hand in jazz improvisation. In 1960 he left Yale, where he was studying composition, and settled in New York City, playing at the time in Jimmy Giuffre’s trio along with Paul Bley. Since joining Art Farmer’s quartet in 1964, Swallow began to write. It is in the 1960s that his long-term association with Gary Burton’s various bands began.
In the early 1970s, Swallow switched exclusively to bass guitar, of which he prefers the 5-string variety. Along with Bob Cranshaw, Swallow was among the first jazz bassists to switch exclusively to electric bass guitar (with much encouragement from Roy Haynes, Swallow’s favorite drummer). Swallow plays with a pick (made of copper by Hotlicks), and his style involves intricate solos in the upper register; he was one of the early adopters of the high C string on a bass guitar.
In 1974-1976 Swallow taught at the Berklee College of Music. It is often speculated that he had an influence on the contents of The Real Book, which includes a fair number of his early compositions. He later recorded an album of the same name (Real Book), with the picture of a well-worn, coffee-stained Real Book on the cover.
In 1978 Swallow became an essential and constant member of Carla Bley’s band. He toured extensively with John Scofield in the early 1980s, and has returned to this collaboration several times over the years.
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Top Albums
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Real Book
Steve Swallow
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Swallow
Steve SwallowBuy- Download Album
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Home
Steve Swallow Buy- Download Album
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Deconstructed
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Shoutbox
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barrospablito wrote:
Play it again, Steve.
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Medalstep wrote:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/medalstep/sets/72157624731905097/ Steve Swallow Live in Serravalle Pistoiese Serravalle Jazz 2010
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Augusto_Palma wrote:
My favorite electric bassist ever, period.
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tuneup wrote:
i like his sensible playing ...
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SirAlecHendrix wrote:
Steve Swallow—now playing in the brandnew ➤ j a z z | h a u s ➤
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noiseforker wrote:
Its hard to specify how great this guy is. He is just the best of the best.
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Recent Activity
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ulitsky added Steve Swallow to the lineup of CARLA BLEY TRIO at Institut Francais. Friday afternoon
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JazzmanRM and kylejamesbaker added Steve Swallow to their libraries. last month
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mikens84 tagged Steve Swallow with ‘jazz’. last month
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trikitixa tagged Steve Swallow with ‘bass’. December 2011
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alighomash, vladbg, incredibleyeti and 5 other people added Steve Swallow to their libraries. December 2011
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ngepi added Steve Swallow to the lineup of THE STEVE SWALLOW QUINTET FEAT. CARLA BLEY at moods. November 2011
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patriot_act and Souta165 added Steve Swallow to their libraries. November 2011
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ukw30451 tagged Steve Swallow with ‘seen live’. October 2011
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Schander added Steve Swallow to Schander’s library. October 2011
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Eyoki added Steve Swallow to the lineup of Steve Swallow: the Swallow Quintet at Queen Elizabeth Hall. October 2011
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