Steve Swallow (born October 4th, 1940 in Fair Lawn, New Jersey) is a jazz b… Read Full Bio ↴Steve Swallow (born October 4th, 1940 in Fair Lawn, New Jersey) is a jazz bass guitarist and composer.
As a child, Swallow studied piano and trumpet before turning to the double bass at age 14. While attending a preparatory school, he began trying his hand in jazz improvisation. 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. Since joining Art Farmer's quartet in 1964, Swallow began to write. It is in the 1960s that his long-term association with Gary Burton's various bands began.
In the early 1970s, Swallow switched exclusively to bass guitar, of which he prefers the 5-string variety. Along with Bob Cranshaw, Swallow was among the first jazz bassists to switch exclusively to electric bass guitar (with much encouragement from Roy Haynes, Swallow's favorite drummer). Swallow plays with a pick (made of copper by Hotlicks), and his style involves intricate solos in the upper register; he 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. It is often speculated that he had an influence on the contents of The Real Book, which includes a fair number of his early compositions. He later recorded an album of the same name (Real Book), with the picture of a well-worn, coffee-stained Real Book on the cover.
In 1978 Swallow became an essential and constant member of Carla Bley's band. He toured extensively with John Scofield in the early 1980s, and has returned to this collaboration several times over the years.
Swallow has consistently won the electric bass category in Down Beat magazine's yearly polls, both Critics' and Readers' polls, since the mid-80s. His compositions have been covered by, among others, Jim Hall (who recorded his very first tune, "Eiderdown"), Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Stan Getz and Gary Burton.
As a child, Swallow studied piano and trumpet before turning to the double bass at age 14. While attending a preparatory school, he began trying his hand in jazz improvisation. 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. Since joining Art Farmer's quartet in 1964, Swallow began to write. It is in the 1960s that his long-term association with Gary Burton's various bands began.
In the early 1970s, Swallow switched exclusively to bass guitar, of which he prefers the 5-string variety. Along with Bob Cranshaw, Swallow was among the first jazz bassists to switch exclusively to electric bass guitar (with much encouragement from Roy Haynes, Swallow's favorite drummer). Swallow plays with a pick (made of copper by Hotlicks), and his style involves intricate solos in the upper register; he 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. It is often speculated that he had an influence on the contents of The Real Book, which includes a fair number of his early compositions. He later recorded an album of the same name (Real Book), with the picture of a well-worn, coffee-stained Real Book on the cover.
In 1978 Swallow became an essential and constant member of Carla Bley's band. He toured extensively with John Scofield in the early 1980s, and has returned to this collaboration several times over the years.
Swallow has consistently won the electric bass category in Down Beat magazine's yearly polls, both Critics' and Readers' polls, since the mid-80s. His compositions have been covered by, among others, Jim Hall (who recorded his very first tune, "Eiderdown"), Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Stan Getz and Gary Burton.
Dark Squares
Steve Swallow Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Steve Swallow:
Home Home, everybody wants to go home Even when they're old Even …
I'll Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
Midnight It came upon the midnight clear That glorious song of old Fr…
Remember This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@Jiebasdf
awesome tone Jason. I'm looking forward to get the same guitar. which string gauge do you use?
@jasoncasper16
Hey Jose! I am using D"Addario 11s. I got this guitar used last May and still haven't changed the strings on it or had it set up. Will plan to do that soon. I may explore a different gauge. :) Hope you enjoy the guitar! It is a wonderful instrument!
@Jiebasdf
@@jasoncasper16 thanks for the answer mate! 11s seems like a great gauge for the scale of the guitar. I would probably try the same.
@jasoncasper16
@@Jiebasdf yeah, they are still bendable for blues and rock, but also get a great mellow tone for jazzier stuff. 10s would be nice, too. Also, great playing! Your videos are awesome! Love the cannonball transcription. Great job!
@jasoncasper16
Also, I should let you know that this guitar defiantly has a brighter tone due to the P90s. I have to roll back the tone quite a bit or it’s too harsh/jangly for my ears. Or I keep the tone up higher and adjust on my amp. It is a great guitar for jazz, just need to experiment. I know some people don’t like rolling tone way down, but for this pickup it is kinda needed I personally feel.
@Jiebasdf
@@jasoncasper16 thanks for the advice and the comments on the video. You are right, every other review of the guitar I can notice a bright tone from the P90s but you can allways roll down the tone to get the sound for jazz.
@broskoone
Great sound and playing. How is this guitar for feedback in a quartet as an example?
@jasoncasper16
Thank you! I don't have extensive experience playing in a quartet, but I have played with others a few times since I got this in May. It is excellent! The p90s can be bright but that can be adjusted with rolling off the tone a bit and/or adjusting the amp settings. I play through a Henriksen Bud and use some pedals for slight overdrive when needed and it can sound very very thick and woody as well as bright and snarly. Very versatile. It can feedback as any fully hollow guitar can, but it hasn't been a problem at all since I am not blasting the volume.
@broskoone
@@jasoncasper16 thanks. I have one on the way!
@jasoncasper16
@@broskoone Awesome! Post a vid when you get it! I'd love to hear you with it. :)