Steve Swallow Announces First Leader Album in Over a Decade, “Winter Songs”
Jazz bass icon Steve Swallow has announced a new album called Winter Songs, which will mark his first leader date in over a decade. It will also be his first recorded appearance for ECM Records since 2020.
Swallow created the album with some of his closest confidants: saxophonist Chris Cheek, trumpeter Mike Rodriguez, drummer Adam Nussbaum, guitarist Steve Cardenas, and pianist Gil Goldstein. They recorded at Sear Sound studio in New York during September 2024, just under a year after Swallow’s wife, Carla Bley, passed away. The writing process seems to have been more meaningful for the bassist, who shared some thoughts in a press release.
“I was there when this music was written. In fact my hand held the pencil. I began with the need to do something to fill each long day, and music rushed forward to sustain me. Before Winter Songs I had given music whatever I could, but as I made this album the tables turned: it gave me what I needed. Music is elemental, like the air we breathe,” he says. “This recording rose out of a spontaneous community – my dear friends the players and our engineer, the piano tuner, the guy who brought us sandwiches, the harried clerk who checked me into my hotel room on 48th street… The cast grew to contain multitudes. Music is pervasive, and I’m not surprised that Winter Songs has found its way to you.”
ECM calls Winter Songs “some of the most intrinsic and melodically immediate music he has ever written.”
The album features nine new nameless compositions, only referred to by track number. Fans can get a preview with “Four,” a steady swing number with a warm touch. Listen for Swallow’s signature pick-style playing and perfectly round tone.
Steve Swallow’s Winter Songs will be released June 26th on CD and as a digital download (Apple Music, and Amazon Music).
Winter Songs Track List:
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
