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A lauded bassist and composer,
Steve Swallow is an influential performer who helped define the sound of post-bop, fusion, and modern creative jazz. An individualist on his chosen instrument,
Swallow is known for emphasizing high notes and often approaches the electric bass as if it were a guitar. Following his initial emergence in the 1960s playing progressive jazz with
Jimmy Giuffre and
George Russell, he established long associations with pianist
Paul Bley, trumpeter
Art Farmer, vibraphonist
Gary Burton, and others.
Swallow has issued albums under his own name, including 1987's
Carla, 1991's
Swallow, and 1996's Deconstructed. He is also a longtime member of a trio with his partner, pianist
Carla Bley, and saxophonist Andy Sheppard, issuing albums like 2013's
Trios, 2016's
Andando el Tiempo, and 2020's
Life Goes On. A gifted composer, he is also recognized for writing such songs as "Eiderdown," "Falling Grace," and "Hotel Hello."
Born in 1940 in New Jersey,
Swallow originally started out on the piano and trumpet before taking up the acoustic bass as a teenager. He joined the
Paul Bley trio in 1960 and with
Bley was part of an avant-garde version of
the Jimmy Giuffre 3 during 1960-1962. He also recorded with
George Russell and worked with both
Art Farmer and
Stan Getz. Also during the mid-'60s, he became a vital member of
Gary Burton's quartet, making early forays into fusion jazz alongside guitarist
Larry Coryell. It was during this time that
Swallow began primarily playing electric bass. As a solo artist, he made his debut as a co-leader on several sessions, including joining
Burton for 1975's
Hotel Hello. He also paired with poet
Robert Creeley for 1979's
Home.
After the 1970s,
Swallow was closely associated with pianist and partner
Carla Bley's groups, appearing on albums like 1984's I Hate to Sing, 1987's
Sextet, and 1993's Go Together. During this period, he released several of his own albums for
ECM, including 1991's
Swallow with
Gary Burton and
John Scofield, 1996's Deconstructed with trumpeter
Ryan Kisor, and 2000's
Always Pack Your Uniform on Top with tenor saxophonist
Chris Potter.
The 2000s saw the release of several
Swallow sets, including 2003's Damaged in Transit, 2004's Histoire Du Clochard: The Bum's Tale, and an intriguing set with poet
Robert Creeley, 2006's
So There.
Hotel Hello appeared in 2007, followed by
Believe in Spring, a collection of standards with
Hans Ulrik and
Jonas Johansen issued on the Stunt label, and
Carla's Christmas Carols in 2008. In 2010, he recorded IS with trumpeter Tore Johanson for the Inner Ear label.
Swallow formed
We3 along with
Adam Nussbaum and
David Liebman; they recorded Amazing in 2011.
In 2012,
Swallow and drummer
Joey Barron played in
Steve Kuhn's trio for the recording of
Wisteria on
ECM. It was a busy year for the bassist: he recorded another duet offering,
The Agnostic Chant Book, with reed and woodwind master
Jonas Schoen. He also led his own quintet for
Into the Woodwork, which was issued on Xtra WATT in June 2013. That September,
Swallow shared triple billing with
Carla Bley and Andy Sheppard on
Trios.
In 2016, he was back with his trio cohorts for
Andando el Tiempo. He then collaborated with
Bobby Previte,
Jamie Saft, and
Iggy Pop on 2017's
Loneliness Road and again joined
Previte and
Saft for 2019's
You Don't Know the Life.
Life Goes On,
Swallow's fourth recording with
Bley and
Sheppard, arrived in 2020. ~ Matt Collar