Bassist and composer Steve Swallow was born in New Jersey on this date in 1940. One of the first bassists to make the switch from upright bass to electric he is known for his collaborations with Jimmy Giuffre, Gary Burton and Carla Bley.

Swallow began playing piano and trumpet as a child and switched to upright bass at age 14. While in high school he began experimenting with jazz improvisation and later studied composition at Yale University. He left school in 1960 to pursue a career as a performing musician in New York City. During that decade he performed with Jimmy Giuffre, Art Farmer and Paul Bley and began a long association with vibraphonist Gary Burton that would extend for decades and include various types of ensemble settings.

Around 1970 Steve Swallow made a permanent change from acoustic to electric bass. Swallow usually plays a five-string bass. He plays with a copper pick and has regularly won the DownBeat readers and critics polls for best electric bassist for more than thirty years.

Swallow first recorded with pianist and composer Carla Bley in 1978 was her romantic partner for years. They collaborated on more than twenty albums. Swallow has recorded 24 albums as a leader or co-leader during his career. He has also played and recorded with Don Ellis, Chico Hamilton, Sheila Jordan, Michael Mantler, Pat Metheny and John Scofield. His compositions have been recorded by Stan Getz, Bill Evans and Chick Corea.

Here is a link to a live performance of Carla Bley and Steve Swallow from 2014:

"LAWNS"