Steve Swell (born December 6, 1954 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American free jazz trombonist, composer, and educator.
Music career Swell studied at Jersey City State Teachers College 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.
In 2016, Swell earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the State University of New York.
He is greatly influenced by Roswell Rudd, with whom he studied in the mid-1970s. He was also a student of Grachan Moncur III and Jimmy Knepper.
Swell has led a number of projects, including the groups Slammin' the Infinite (ft. Sabir Mateen, Matthew Heyner, Klaus Kugel), Fire Into Music (ft. William Parker, Jemeel Moondoc, Hamid Drake), Unified Theory of Sound (ft. Cooper-Moore, Matt Lavelle) and his large ensemble, Nation of We (a.k.a. NOW Ensemble).
Swell has received a number of awards including a USArts International (NEA) travel grant in 2006, grants from MCAF (LMCC) in 2008 and 2012, a Foundation for Contemporary Arts grant. He was nominated for Trombonist of Year in 2008, 2011, and 2020 by the Jazz Journalists Association, and respectively, in 2008-2010, 2012, 2014-2021, and 2023, by the Argentine jazz journal El Intruso. In 2008, he received a fellowship award from the Jubilation Foundation of the Tides Foundation for his work in the New York City public school system. He was selected by the DownBeat Critics Poll for the Trombone category from 2010-2023. He also received the 2014 Creative Curricula grant and the 2020 Creative Engagement grant for performances in Manhattan, both from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Swell is an inaugural recipient of a Jazz Road Tours grant from South Arts, which begun in 2019. In 2021, Swell received the City Artists Corps Grant (NYC).
Discography As leader or co-leader Release yearAlbumLabelPersonnel1996Out and AboutCIMPSteve Swell Quartet (Roswell Rudd, Ken Filiano, Lou Grassi)1996ObservationsCIMPduo with Chris Kelsey1997Moons of JupiterCIMPSteve Swell Quartet (Mark Whitecage, Dominic Duval, Jay Rosen)1999AtmospheelsCIMPSteve Swell Trio (Will Connell, Lou Grassi)2000Flurries Warm and ClearCIMPSteve Swell Trio (Ned Rothenberg, Tomas Ulrich)2001The Implicate Order at SeixalClean FeedThe Implicate Order (Ken Filiano, Lou Grassi, Rodrigo Amado, Paulo Curado)2001Steve Swell presents Particle Data GroupCadence JazzBruce Eisenbeil, Gregg Bendian2002Poets of the NowCIMPUrsel Schlicht-Steve Swell Quartet (Tom Abbs, Geoff Mann, Ursel Schlicht)2003Suite for Players, Listeners and Other DreamersCIMPRoy Campbell, Charles Burnham, Will Connell, Kevin Norton, Francois Grillot2003Still in MovementCIMPNew York BrassWood Trio (Tom Abbs, Geoff Mann)2003This Now!Cadence JazzUnified Theory Of Sound (Jemeel Moondoc, Cooper-Moore, Wilber Morris, Kevin Norton, Matt Lavelle)2004Invisible CitiesDrimaladuo with Perry Robinson2005Not Just...CIMPDave Taylor-Steve Swell Quintet (David Taylor, Billy Bang, Tomas Ulrich, Ken Filiano)2006Double DipoidCIMPDave Taylor-Steve Swell Quartet (Dave Taylor, Warren Smith, Chad Taylor)2007Swimming in a Galaxy of Goodwill and Sorrow RogueArtSteve Swell's Fire Into Music (Jemeel Moondoc, William Parker, Hamid Drake)2008News from the Mystic AuricleNot TwoRivers of Sound Ensemble (Roy Campbell, Sabir Mateen, Hilliard Greene, Klaus Kugel)2009Planet DreamClean FeedRob Brown, Daniel Levin2009Magical Listening Hour (live at the South Street Seaport)Cadence JazzNate Wooley, Michael Attias, Louie Belogenis2013Feynman's DiagramsNachtduo with Kirk Knuffke2015Kanreki: Reflection & RenewalNot TwoWeasel Walter, Paul Flaherty, C. Spencer Yeh, Joe Williamson, Michael Vatcher, Ken Vandermark, Magnus Broo, Guillermo Gregorio, Miguel Malla, Ned Rothenberg, Zara Acosta-Chen, Tom Buckner, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Darius Jones, James Ilgenfritz, Jonathan Golove, Omar Tamez2015Hommage à BartókSilkheartSteve Swell's Kende Dreams (Rob Brown, Connie Crothers, William Parker, Chad Taylor)2016Soul TravelersRogueArtSteve Swell Quintet (Jemeel Moondoc, Dave Burrell, William Parker, Gerald Cleaver)2017Music for Six Musicians: Hommage à Olivier MessiaenSilkheartRob Brown, Jason Kao Hwang, Tomas Ulrich, Robert Boston, Jim Pugliese2019Dances With Questions (live in Krakow)Not TwoCarlos Zíngaro, Elisabeth Coudoux, Mikołaj Trzaska, Signe Emmeluth, Gebhard Ullmann, Hanne De Backer, Niklas Branö, Per Åke Holmlander, Elisabeth Harnik, Jon Rune Strøm, Paal Nilssen-Love2021Space Cube JazzRogueArtMatt Shipp2022Welcome to the Troposphere (live in Munich)Fundacja Słuchaj!Elisabeth Harnik 2023Over the WallRogueArtPNY Quintet (Michel Edelin, Rob Brown, John Betsch, Peter Giron)2023For the People of the Open HeartFundacja Słuchaj!Mark Tokar, Klaus Kugel2024Hommage à Galina UstvolskayaSilkheartSteve Swell's Imbued with Light (Herb Robertson, Ben Stapp, Sara Schoenbeck, Chris Hoffman, Robert Boston, Harris Eisenstadt) +With Slammin' the InfiniteRelease yearAlbumLabelPersonnel2004Slammin' the InfiniteCadence JazzSabir Mateen, Matt Heyner, Klaus Kugel2006Remember NowNot TwoSabir Mateen, Matt Heyner, Klaus Kugel2007Live @ the Vision FestivalNot TwoSabir Mateen, Matt Heyner, Klaus Kugel, John Blum20105000 PoemsNot TwoSabir Mateen, Matt Heyner, Klaus Kugel, John Blum + with the Ullmann/Swell 4, featuring Gebhard Ullmann, Hilliard Greene, Barry AltschulRelease yearAlbumLabel2004Desert Songs and Other LandscapesCIMP2010News? No News!Jazzwerskstatt2010Live in MontrealCIMP2022We're Playing in Here?NoBusiness +with Nation of WeRelease yearAlbumLabelPersonnel2006Live at the Bowery Poetry ClubAylersaxophone: Rob Brown, Will Connell, Saco Yasuma, Sabir Mateen, Ras Moshe; trumpet: Roy Campbell, Lewis Barnes, Matt Lavelle; trombone: Dick Griffin, Peter Zummo, Dave Taylor; piano: Chris Forbes; bass: Matthew Heyner, Todd Nicholson; drums:Jackson Krall2012The Business of HereCadence Jazzalto saxophone: Darius Jones, Giuseppe Logan, Saco Yasuma, Will Connell; soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone: Bill Gagliardi; tenor saxophone, flute: Ras Moshe, Sabir Mateen; baritone saxophone, harmonica: Dave Sewelson; trumpet: Chris DiMeglio, Flip Barnes; trumpet, bass clarinet: Matt Lavelle; trombone: Peter Zummo; bass trombone: Dave Taylor; bass trombone, shells: Aaron Johnson; violin: Jason Hwang, Rosi Hertlein; cello: Daniel Levin; bass: Todd Nicholson; bass, voice (poem recitation): Albey Balgochian; drums, percussion: Jackson Krall +with Inner EarRelease yearAlbumLabelPersonnel2010Breathing SteamKilogramMikołaj Trzaska, Per Åke Holmlander, Tim Daisy2013Return from the Center of the EarthBocianMikołaj Trzaska, Per Åke Holmlander, Tim Daisy +with Marshall AllenRelease yearAlbumLabelPersonnel2000PoZestCIMPMarshall Allen, Lou Grassi, Perry Robinson, Paul Smoker, Wilber Morris
Collaborations Release yearAlbumLabelPersonnel2003Real Time MessengersCIMPThe Trascendentalists (with Daniel Carter, Tom Abbs, Dave Brandt)2006We Are Not Obstinate IslandsClean FeedThe Diplomats (Rob Brown, Harris Eisenstadt)2011Donkere GolvenW.E.R.F.International Trio (Joachim Badenhorst, Ziv Ravitz)2012Takes OffClean FeedPlatform 1 (Ken Vandermark, Magnus Broo, Joe Williamson, Michael Vatcher)2013Dragonfly BreathNot TwoPaul Flaherty, Weasel Walter, C. Spenser Yeh2013LatecomersIctusAndrea Centazzo, Giancarlo Schiaffini, Anthony Coleman2013EstuariesdENAndrew Raffo Dewar, Garrison Fewell2013Window and DoorwayDriffPandelis Karayorgis, Guillermo Gregorio2013Unto the SunNot TwoNew Atlantis Octet (Ed Ricart, Roy Campbell, Aaron Martin, Jason Ajemian, Vattel Cherry, Andrew Barker, Sam Lohman)2014Turning PointNoBusinessDave Burrell +digital releasesRelease yearAlbumLabelPersonnelAccess link2006Steve Swell's Nation Of WeAylerSaxes: Rob Brown, Will Connell, Saco Yasuma, Sabir Mateen, Ras Moshe; trumpets: Roy Campbell, Lewis Barnes, Matt Lavelle; trombones: Dick Griffin, Peter Zummo, Dave Taylor; piano: Chris Forbes; bass: Matthew Heyner, Todd Nicholson; drums: Jackson KrallBandcamp link2014Schemata and Heuristics for Four Clarinets #1RelayNed Rothenberg, Guillermo Gregorio, Zara Acosta-Chen, Miguel MallaWeb-archive Bandcamp link
As sideman With Active Ingredients (Chad Taylor, Jemeel Moondoc, Tom Abbs, Swell) Titration (Delmark, 2002 ) With Joey Baron Tongue in Groove (JMT, 1992) Crackshot (Avant, 1995) With Tim Berne Pace Yourself (JMT, 1991) Nice View (JMT, 1994) With Anthony Braxton Trillium R Opera (Braxton House, 1997) With Rob Brown Radiant Pools (RogueArt, 2005) With Jaki Byard and the Apollo Stompers Phantasies (Soul Note, 1984) With Bill Dixon 17 Musicians in Search of a Sound: Darfur (AUM Fidelity, 2007) With Jemeel Moondoc Spirit House (Eremite, 2001) Live at the Vision Festival (Ayler, 2003) The Zookeeper's House (Relative Pitch, 2014) With William Parker Flowers Grow in My Room (Centering, 1994) Sunrise in the Tone World (AUM Fidelity, 1995) Mayor of Punkville (AUM Fidelity, 1999) Raincoat in the River (Eremite, 2001) Spontaneous (Splasc(H), 2002) For Percy Heath (Victo, 2005) Essence of Ellington (Centering, 2012) With Roswell Rudd Broad Strokes (Knitting Factory, 2000) With Samo Salamon Dream Suites Vol. 1 (Samo Records, 2025) With Alan Silva Alan Silva & the Sound Visions Orchestra (Eremite, 2001) H.Con.Res.57/Treasure Box (Eremite, 2003) With Cecil Taylor All the Notes (DVD) Cecil Taylor and Orchestra Humane - Chris Felver Films (2005) With Ken Vandermark Resonance Ensemble: Head Above Water Resonance Ensemble: What Country Is This? Resonance Ensemble: Kafka in Flight Resonance Ensemble: Live in Krakow Resonance Ensemble: Live in the Ukraine With Tom Varner The Mystery of Compassion (Soul Note, 1992)
References
External links Official website Steve Swell @ All About Jazz