Steve Swell, born in Newark, NJ has been an active member of the New York music community since 1975. He has toured and performed with such diverse jazz personalities as mainstreamers Lionel Hampton and Buddy Rich to so called outsiders Anthony Braxton, William Parker and Jemeel Moondoc. He has recorded 25 CDs as a leader or co-leader and is a featured artist on more than 80 other releases.