Jim Hall Trio - Something Special - March 1993 01

Steven Frank LaSpina (born March 24, 1954) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

bassist who plays both upright and electric bass.

Life and career

Steve LaSpina was born in

Wichita Falls, Texas Wichita Falls ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States. It is the principal city of the Wichita Falls metropolitan area, Wichita Falls metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses all of Archer County, Tex ...

; his father and grandfather both played in dance bands. He attended the

University of Illinois The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, U of I, Illinois, or University of Illinois) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area, Illinois, United ...

and

DePaul University DePaul University is a private university, private Catholic higher education, Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission, Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from ...

, and first began playing professionally in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

in the 1970s. He played with Bunky Green, Larry Novak, Joe Daley (1975–79), and

Chet Baker Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool". Baker earned much attention and ...

(1978). In 1978 he also began working with Marian McPartland, with whom he would collaborate until 1986. He moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

in 1979 and played with Mel Lewis's orchestra (1978–82),

Stan Getz Stan Getz (born Stanley Gayetski; February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wis ...

(1986-87), Jim Hall (from 1988),

Andy LaVerne Andy LaVerne (born December 4, 1947) is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator. Education and musical career Born in New York City, LaVerne studied at Juilliard School of Music, Berklee College, and the New England Conservat ...

(from 1989), and

Benny Carter Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...

(latter half of the 1990s). Aside from these associations, LaSpina has played with

Toots Thielemans Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans (29 April 1922 – 22 August 2016), known professionally as Toots Thielemans (), was a Belgian jazz musician. He was mostly known for playing the chromatic harmonica, as well as his guitar and wh ...

, Joe Williams, Dave Liebman, Richie Beirach, Bob Brookmeyer,

Al Cohn Al Cohn (November 24, 1925 – February 15, 1988) was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer. He came to prominence in the band of clarinetist Woody Herman and was known for his longtime musical partnership with fellow saxophonist ...

Zoot Sims John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 – March 23, 1985) was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor but also alto (and, later, soprano) saxophone. He first gained attention in the "Four Brothers" sax section of Woody Herman's big ...

, Pat Martino, and Tommy Flanagan. He has taught bass and improvisation at

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...

and the College of St. Rose. LaSpina is currently on the faculty at

William Paterson University William Paterson University, known as WP, officially William Paterson University of New Jersey (WPUNJ), is a public university in Wayne, New Jersey, United States. It is part of New Jersey's public system of higher education. Founded in 1855 an ...

.Bill Milkowski
"Steve LaSpina"
JazzTimes, April 2002.

Discography

As leader

* ''New Horizons'' (SteepleChase, 1992) * ''Eclipse'' (SteepleChase, 1994) * ''When I'm Alone'' (SteepleChase, 1995) * ''Story Time'' (SteepleChase, 1996) * ''When Children Smile'' (SteepleChase, 1997) * ''Distant Dream'' (SteepleChase, 1998) * ''The Bounce'' (SteepleChase, 2000) * ''Remember When'' (SteepleChase, 2003) * ''Play Room'' (SteepleChase, 2006) * ''Moments'' (SteepleChase, 2008) * ''Destiny'' (SteepleChase, 2011) * ''A Change in the Weather'' (SteepleChase, 2020) * ''Spit Fire, Spout Rain'' (Self-released, 2023)

As sideman

With

* '' Benny Carter Songbook'' (MusicMasters, 1997) * '' Benny Carter Songbook Volume II'' (MusicMasters, 1997) * '' New York Nights'' (MusicMasters 1997) With

Chris Connor Mary Jean Loutsenhizer, known professionally as Chris Connor (November 8, 1927 – August 29, 2009), was an American jazz singer. Biography Chris Connor was born Mary Loutsenhizer in Kansas City, Missouri, to Clyde Loutsenhizer and Mabel Sh ...

* ''Live'' (Applause, 1983) * ''Lover Come Back to Me: Live at Sweet Basil'' (Evidence, 1995) * ''Haunted Heart'' (HighNote, 2001) With Joe Diorio * ''More Than Friends'' (RAM, 1994) * ''Narayani'' (RAM, 1997) * ''I Remember You'' (RAM, 1998) With Jim Hall * ''

Jim Hall's Three ''Jim Hall's Three'' is an album by guitarist Jim Hall (musician), Jim Hall recorded in 1986 and released by the Concord Jazz label.These Rooms'' (Denon, 1988) * '' All Across the City'' (Concord Jazz, 1989) * ''Live at Town Hall Vol. 1'' (Musicmasters, 1991) * ''Live at Town Hall Vol. 2'' (Musicmasters, 1991) * ''Subsequently'' (MusicMasters, 1992) * ''Something Special'' (MusicMasters, 1993) * ''Live at Birdland'' (ArtistShare, 2012) With

Morgana King Maria Grazia Morgana Messina (June 4, 1930 – March 22, 2018), better known as Morgana King, was an American jazz singer and actress.Liner notes by Joel Dorn – Morgana King album ''The Complete Reprise Recordings'' (2000).Liner notes by Ed Osb ...

* ''Simply Eloquent'' (Muse, 1986) * ''Stardust'' (CBS/Sony 1987) * ''Another Time, Another Space'' (Muse, 1988) With

* '' Severe Clear'' (SteepleChase, 1990) * ''Double Standard'' (Triloka, 1993) * ''First Tango in New York'' (Musidisc, 1993) * ''

Now It Can Be Played ''Now It Can Be Played'' is an album by guitarist John Abercrombie (guitarist), John Abercrombie and pianist Andy LaVerne recorded in 1992 and released on the Danish label, SteepleChase Records, SteepleChase.Sudo, KSpiral Quest: album details acc ...

'' (SteepleChase, 1993) * '' Standard Eyes'' (SteepleChase, 1994) * ''Glass Ceiling'' (SteepleChase, 1994) * ''Serenade to Silver'' (SteepleChase, 1996) * ''Stan Getz in Chappaqua'' (SteepleChase, 1997) With Susannah McCorkle * ''The People That You Never Get to Love'' (Inner City, 1981) * ''Thanks for The Memory-Songs of Leo Robin'' (Pausa, 1984) * ''How Do You Keep The Music Playing?'' (Pausa, 1986) * ''Dream'' (Pausa, 1987) With Marian McPartland * ''Personal Choice'' (Concord Jazz, 1983) * ''Plays the Music of Billy Strayhorn'' (Concord Jazz, 1987) * ''Live at the Carlyle'' (Prevue, 1999) With Larry Schneider * ''Mohawk'' (SteepleChase, 1994) * ''Freedom Jazz Dance'' (SteepleChase, 1996) * ''Jazz'' (SteepleChase, 2001) With Jack Wilkins * ''Call Him Reckless'' (Musicmasters, 1989) * ''Trioart'' (Arabesque, 1998) * ''Until It's Time'' (MAXJAZZ, 2009) With others * Claude Bolling, ''Jazz a La Francaise'' (CBS, 1984) * Nick Brignola, '' Poinciana'' (Reservoir, 1998) * Alexis Cole, ''Someday My Prince Will Come'' (Venus, 2009) * Cynthia Crane & Mike Renzi, ''Smoky Bar Songs for the No Smoking Section'' (Lookoutjazz, 1994) * Brad Goode, ''By Myself'' (SteepleChase, 2001) * Jerry Hahn, ''Time Changes'' (Enja, 1995) * Nancy Harrow, ''Street of Dreams'' (Poljazz, 1989) *

Fred Hersch Fred Hersch (born October 21, 1955) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and a 17-time Grammy nominée. He was the first person to play weeklong engagements as a solo pianist at the Village Vanguard in New York City. He has recorded more than ...

, ''The French Collection'' (EMI/Angel, 1989) * Fred Hersch, ''Red Square Blue'' (Angel, 1993) * Vic Juris, ''Night Tripper'' (SteepleChase, 1995) * Vic Juris, ''Music of Alec Wilder'' (Double-Time, 1996) * Dick Katz, ''3wayPlay'' (Reservoir, 1993) * Pat Martino, '' The Return'' (Muse, 1987) * Mark Murphy, ''

Beauty and the Beast "Beauty and the Beast" is a fairy tale written by the French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and published in 1740 in (''The Young American and Marine Tales''). Villeneuve's lengthy version was abridged, rewritten, and publish ...

'' (Muse, 1987) * Mark Murphy, '' Some Time Ago'' (HighNote, 2000) * Mark Murphy, '' Links'' (HighNote, 2001) * Portia Nelson, ''This Life Her Songs and Her Friends'' (1996) * Mary Osborne, ''Now and Then'' (Stash, 1982) * Mary Osborne, ''A Memorial'' (Stash, 1992) * Doug Raney, ''Blues On a Par'' (SteepleChase, 1994) * Spike Robinson & Al Cohn, ''Henry B. Meets Alvin G.: Once in a Wild'' (Capri, 1987) * Bobby Scott, ''Slowly'' (MusicMasters, 1991) * Carol Sloane, ''I Never Went Away'' (HighNote, 2001) * Louis Smith, ''Strike Up the Band'' (SteepleChase, 1991) *

Jeremy Steig Jeremy Steig (September 23, 1942 – April 13, 2016)Peter Keepnews, "Jeremy ...

, ''Jigsaw'' (Triloka, 1992) * Loren Stillman, ''Trio Alto Vol. 1'' (SteepleChase, 2006) *

John Tchicai John Martin Tchicai ( ; 28 April 1936 – 8 October 2012) was a Danish free jazz saxophonist and composer. Biography Tchicai was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to a Danish mother and a Congolese father. The family moved to Aarhus, where he s ...

, ''In Monk's Mood'' (SteepleChase, 2009) * Dave Tofani, ''Nights at the Inn'' (SoloWinds, 2007) * Iris Williams, ''I'm Glad There Is You'' (Sea Ker, 1995) *

Eliot Zigmund Eliot Zigmund (born April 14, 1945) is an American jazz drummer, who has worked extensively as a session musician. Biography Zigmund studied at Mannes School of Music and City College of New York, where he graduated in 1969. After moving to Ca ...

, ''Starlight'' (Jazz Today)

References

Leonard Feather Leonard Geoffrey Feather (13 September 1914 – 22 September 1994) was a British-born jazz pianist, composer, and producer, who was best known for his music journalism and other writing. Biography Feather was born in London, England, into an u ...

and Ira Gitler, ''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz''. Oxford, 1999, p. 402.

External links

Steve LaSpina website.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laspina, Steve 1954 births Living people American jazz double-bassists American male double-bassists American jazz bass guitarists American male bass guitarists People from Wichita Falls, Texas SteepleChase Records artists University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni DePaul University alumni William Paterson University alumni New York University faculty William Paterson University faculty Guitarists from Texas 20th-century American bass guitarists Jazz musicians from Texas 21st-century American double-bassists 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians