Steve Swell

[Nate Dorward]

Was wondering what people thought of him--I have him as a sideman on a few dates, but haven't followed his increasingly large body of work as a leader. CIMP has been documenting his music in a big way. Just got the newest one, Suite for Players, Listeners and Other Dreamers (which, >>gulp!<<, the 17th CIMP disc he's on). Haven't really decided what I think of it yet (& haven't yet made it to the end of the disc--it's very, very long, in the manner of most CIMP releases). The lineup is Swell, Will Connell on alto/flute/bass clarinet, Charles Burnham on violin, Roy Campbell on trumpet & flute; Francois Grillot on bass, Kevin Norton on drums.

[Pete C]

I just saw him the other night with Jemeel Moondoc, Chad Taylor & Tom Abbs. I thought he was quite good, playing in a Ruddish vein. Is that his usual mode? I think the only other time I've seen him was with a William Parker large ensemble, and was also impressed by his playing that time.

[Frisco]

My take on Steve is that he is one of the finest trombonist on the scene today. He's one of my favorites, along with Jeb Bishop, George Lewis, Wolter Wierbos, Roswell, Ray Anderson, Paul Rutherford, and others.
Steve is quite versatile and always seems to bring a lot of enthusiasm and creative energy into his music. He's been doing great things in this music for quite some time. He was part of Joey Baron's Baron Down with Ellery Eskelin. Steve was part of, at least, two excellent CDs this past year. I'm thinking of the Steve Swell Unified Theory of Sound on CJR and his collaboration with Ursel Schicht, "Poets of the Now" on CIMP.

This new CD is with a band that I saw, playing this material just a couple of days before the CIMP date. It was at CBGB Lounge the same night that Cecil Taylor Trio was at Knitting Factory and Tom Chant was playing right across the street at Downtown Music. I managed to hear this set in it's entirety before hightailing it down to KF.

This set featured a lot of Steve's written material. They had tons of sheet music out. I thought that it was quite excellent and Steve seemed very proud of it. I recall that all of the band members were right on. It's not often that we get to hear Will Connell (a relatively unknown veteran) in a small ensemble. I'm looking forward to hearing this disc.

[Gordon B]

Captain Hate and I were very impressed by Swell when we saw him at the Monrtreal Jazz Festival. CH, do you remember the name of the group he was in?

[Jonny Miner]

In the past year or two, I've seem Swell with groups led by Alan Silva, William Parker, Jemeel Moondoc, and Sabir Mateen, and he's been unreal in each setting! Last spring we did a lengthy interview, and Swell seemed intent on developing his own compositions, after spending decades learning to be a sensitive and responsive sideman. I've never talked to a musician so earnestly intent on being a great musician/person, and with so much respect for his colleagues. I finally got a copy of Swell's "This Now!" on CJR, and though it's taken a while, it's really starting to grow on me--I agree w/ Frisco fully! Can't wait to see him live leading his own group...

[JaSt]

We had Steve in our club last year and he really impressed us all.
Here with Peter Janson (from Aaly)

[Derek Taylor]

I like Swell’s new CIMP quite a bit, though it took me a couple listens to warm to it. I do agree with Nate though as to it being a bit on the long side (shaving off 15 or so minutes might’ve made it a tighter date). It’s great to hear Connell and Burnham in the band, both of whom have sadly not had much of a chance to record over the years. Norton, Campbell and Grillot make good showings too. I’ve been trying to put the finishing touches on a review over the long weekend.

Swell’s other stuff for CIMP and CJR has impressed me as well. I’ve read about his serious & self-deprecating demeanor, but the opposite seems true to me in his playing, very exciting and passionate. I love his use of tailgate effects. His date with Rudd on CIMP is pretty damn instructive toward where the roots of his style come from IMO. Though he's done fine work in more chamberish settings too.

[mtaylorjazz]

i LOVE Steve Swell. not only to listen to, but also to play music with (in fact, in about twenty minutes i'll be leaving the house to go to Joseph Jarman's dojo to play a gig with him!). we met on an installation piece (anywhere from 10- 15 musicians spread out across various outdoor spaces playing a combination of written and improvised material) and we seemed to hook up really well. i don't currently have any of his recorded music, but plan to get some soon. really nice guy and a great player. maybe i can talk him into using horn on a project so i can play some of his music... hmmm


MT

[Captain Hate]

Originally posted by Gordon B
Captain Hate and I were very impressed by Swell when we saw him at the Monrtreal Jazz Festival. CH, do you remember the name of the group he was in?

Indeed I do, Gordon; it was Tom Walsh & Phathed and you represented my impressions very accurately. I wish those guys had a disc out.

[Frisco]

Brand new CD on Drimala Records with Steve:
STEVE SWELL & PERRY ROBINSON
"INVISIBLE CITIES"

13 rather short duets ranging from 2:24 to 7:59. During this discussion about Steve, I forgot about his excellent work in Lou Grassi's "PoGressions" band. If you ever had a chance to hear that band live, you know what I mean. So, Steve and Perry reunite here and do some pretty nice, interactive duets. I've not been through the entire disc, but it sounds great so far. Phillip Egert writes in the liners, "Swell and Robinson create a musical world where influence, genre, style, and tradition meld in the creation of a new musical reality with no past and no future." Well said. I think that Steve and Perry share that ability to do just that and create something fresh.