THE LOW END Vol.6: Steve Swallow

The electric bass is usually associated with rock music and other popular genres like country, blues, pop etc. In jazz, the electric bass found it’s way in the jazz fusion era, becoming the preferred instrument in the jazz-rock and jazz-funk subgenres. Many traditional bassists picked up the instrument in the 70’s, like Dave Holland and Ron Carter, but it was only temporary, sort of an experiment for them. The eighties and nineties saw the rise of electric bassist in jazz, but the upright bass remained the top choice for jazz musicians. One thing you can rarely see in a jazz environment is a bassist that plays with his pick. The pick is the definite choice for rock bassists but in jazz? Well, there is one guy that uses it even in creating traditional walking lines. His name is Steve Swallow and he is one of the most advanced, original and prolific bass players, being in the top spot for decades now.

Born in New Jersey, Swallow studied piano and trumpet, as a child, before turning to the double bass at age 14. In 1960, he left Yale, where he was studying composition, and settled in New York City, playing at the time in Jimmy Giuffre's trio along with Paul Bley. It was in 1963 when he joined Art Farmer's quartet in 1963 and began to write his own compositions. It was around the time when his long-term association with Gary Burton's various bands began.Together with Bley, Swallow was part of an avant-garde version of the Jimmy Giuffre 3 during the period between 1960 and 1962. Swallow recorded with George Russell, Stan Getz, and most of all, with Carla Bley, who became his love partner somewhere in the beginning of the eighties.

In the early 1970s, Swallow switched exclusively to electric bass guitar, of which he prefers the five-string variety.  The decision was made with much encouragement from drummer Roy Haynes, with whom he played together with the Stan Getz Quartet. He plays with a copper pick and his style involves intricate solos in the upper register. Swallow was one of the early adopters of the high C string on a bass guitar.

In 1974–1976, Swallow taught at the Berklee College of Music. He contributed several of his compositions to the Berklee students who assembled the first edition of The Real Book. He later recorded an album, Real Book, with the picture of a well-worn, coffee-stained book on the cover. Today he is one of the most recognizable masters of the electric bass and jazz music in general. A much sought after musician during his entire career, Swallow shared the stage and recorded with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Eric Dolphy, Zoot Sims, Chick Corea, Bill Evans, George Benson,  Bob Moses, Steve Lacy, and many others.

THE LOW ENDVOL.1: THE BASS THE LOW END VOL.2:CHARLES MINGUS THE LOW END VOL.3:PAUL CHAMBERS THE LOW END VOL.4: NIELS-HENNINGØRSTED PEDERSEN THE LOW END VOL.5: RON CARTER