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Steve Swell
Born in Newark,
New Jersey, Steve Swell has been living, working and performing in New
York City for most of his adult life. In an effort to find his own voice on his instrument
and to learn to write and arrange in a style of his own, he has sought out, performed and
recorded with many of the finest composers and improvisors in the city. He has recorded
and toured with such diverse jazz personalities as mainstreamers Lionel Hampton and Buddy
Rich, to so-called outsiders like Anthony Braxton and Jemeel Moondoc.
Swell first came to public attention performing with Makanda Ken McIntyre in
the multi-instrumentalist's concert at Carnegie Recital Hall in 1985 of which Herb Boyd of
The Amsterdam News wrote, "Swell possesses a foreceful, but mature
sound...with a vibrant syncopation..." Later, Swell came to international attention
while touring in Europe and recording with alto saxophonist Tim Berne and his group
"Caos Totale." There are two studio recordings of this band on the JMT label.
During this time Steve also toured and recorded with Joey Baron's "Barondown"
which has three releases; one for JMT, one on New World and the most recent for the Avant
label.
Even though he is strongly identified with the
"downtown scene", Swell has been developing his style in the more so-called
"traditional avant-garde" arena. Co-leading such projects as "Space, Time,
Swing" with Perry Robinson, being a sideman in William Parker's "Little Huey
Creative Music Orchestra" and working with other similar people has kept him on this
circuit. Dave McElfresh of Jazz Now wrote in a review of drummer Lou Grassi's CD, PoGressions,
" Swell's powerful trombone zooms in and out of the music like a plane diving at a
target. Players like himself - and music like this - are to be thanked for the revival of
interest in the instrument."
Steve
Swell's Website
Steve
Swell's Interview with One Final Note
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©
Photo Peter Gannuschkin at
Downtown Music
Discography on Drimala Records
2004 Rules of Engagement, Vol 3
DR-04-347-08
2004
Invisible
Cities
DR-03-347-04
Selected Discography
Steve
Swell has appeared on more than 70 recordings.
A complete listing can be found at
his website.
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