Steve Swell

Steve Swell
Background information
Born December 6, 1954
Newark, New Jersey, USA
Genres Jazz, Free Jazz, New Music, Improvisation
Occupation(s) Trombonist, Composer, Teacher
Instruments Trombone
Years active 1975–present
Website http://www.steveswell.com

Steve Swell (born in Newark, NJ, December 6, 1954) is an American free jazz trombonist, composer and educator.

Biography

“One of the most adventurous and prolific members of the New York free-jazz community” according to Ed Hazell of Signal To Noise, Steve Swell’s reputation, work ethic and commitment to excellence has kept him in the forefront of improvised music and a leading voice on his instrument for more than 20 years. Swell studied at Jersey City State Teachers College[1] before moving to New York City in 1975 where he began his musical life, playing in top 40 bands, salsa bands, big bands (most notably those of Buddy Rich and Lionel Hampton) and performed on Broadway in Bob Fosse's "Dancin"". He then became a member of Makanda Ken McIntyre's band which led to tours and recordings with Tim Berne, Joey Baron, Herb Robertson, Jemeel Moondoc, Anthony Braxton, Cecil Taylor, William Parker, Bill Dixon, Butch Morris, John Zorn, Dave Burrell, Elliott Sharp, Rob Mazurek, Perry Robinson, Ken Vandermark.

He is greatly influenced by Roswell Rudd, with whom he studied in the mid-1970s.[1] He was also a student of Grachan Moncur III and Jimmy Knepper.

Swell has a number of projects including Slammin' The Infinite (w/Sabir Mateen, Matthew Heyner, Klaus Kugel), Fire Into Music (w/William Parker, Jemeel Moondoc, Hamid Drake), Unified Theory Of Sound (w/Cooper-Moore, Matt Lavelle) and his large ensemble Nation Of We (aka NOW Ensemble).

Steve has received a number of awards including a USArts International (NEA) travel grant in 2006, grants from MCAF (LMCC) in 2008 & 2012, Foundation for Contemporary Arts and was nominated for Trombonist of Year, 2008 & 2011 by the Jazz Journalists Association. He was chosen Trombonist of the Year 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2012 by El Intruso, the Argentine jazz journal. In 2008 he received a fellowship award from The Jubilation Foundation of the Tides Foundation for his work in the NYC public school system and was selected by the Downbeat Critics Poll in the Trombone category 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013. He also received the 2014 Creative Curricula grant from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

Discography

As leader or co-leader

with Slammin' the Infinite
with Ullmann/Swell 4
with Nation of We
with Inner Ear

Collaborations

Digital Release

As sideman

With Joey Baron

With Tim Berne

With Anthony Braxton

With Rob Brown

With Jaki Byard and the Apollo Stompers

With Bill Dixon

With Jemeel Moondoc

With William Parker

With Alan Silva

With Cecil Taylor

With Ken Vandermark

With Tom Varner

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Drouot, Alain. "Steve Swell: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-10-25.

External links

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