Steve Allee

Steve Allee

Musicians | Instrument: Piano

As a pianist, Steve Allee is world-class and definitely demands respect from all who hear him perform.

—Rufus Reid, internationally renowned bassist and composer

Updated: May 7, 2025

Steve Allee, pianist, composer and arranger hails from Indianapolis, Indiana, the hometown of jazz legends Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, Slide Hampton and J.J. Johnson. Touring with the Buddy Rich Orchestra at age 19, Steve’s passion for the piano and jazz were evident to the audiences and all who performed with him.

Steve’s big band CD, Downtown Blues, was nominated for a Grammy® award with bassist John Clayton and drummer John VonOhlen. Allee's first national solo CD, The Magic Hour, released on Noteworthy Records, landed at #14 on the Gavin national radio poll.

His writing credits include composing the soundtrack for the film inspired by the book by Dan Wakefield titled, "New York In The Fifties". He presented the original music for the film at The Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Steve recently completed the soundtrack for the film of the 1954-55 Crispus Attucks basketball team, starring Oscar Robertson titled, "Something To Cheer About".

His experience with such great players as Slide Hampton, James Moody, Rufus Reid Quintet, Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker, Phil Woods, Curtis Fuller, Buddy Rich Orchestra, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Tim Hagans, Scott Wendholt, Charles Rouse, Steve Houghton, John Riley, Ira Sullivan, Ed Thigpen, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Rich Perry, Milt Hinton, Gary Campbell, Don Braden, Jim Snidero, Jim Rotundi, Bobby Shew and Dianne Schuur has given him the musical depth and clarity that you hear in every performance.

His performance and numerous network television writing credits with Los Angeles Post Music© include Chicago Hope, Mad About You, Martha Stewart, Friends, Nash Bridges, NYPD Blue, Dharma and Greg and Touched by an Angel.


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Liner Notes

Steve Allee: Naptown Sound

Read "Steve Allee: Naptown Sound" reviewed by Steve Allee


Submitted on behalf of Kyle Long, Producer/Host at WFYI in Indianapolis.If you ask the average music fan to name the greatest jazz cities in America, it's unlikely that Indianapolis would top their list. That's a shame, as those familiar with the city's history know better. They see the unique fingerprints of Indianapolis musicians across the broad timeline of jazz. In all fairness, Indianapolis, or Naptown as we locals affectionately call it, doesn't have the unrivaled depth ...

41
Album Review

John Fedchock: Justifiably J.J.

Read "Justifiably J.J." reviewed by Jack Bowers


Among jazz trombonists with a sense of history, the name J.J. Johnson is spoken with an admiration that borders on reverence. Johnson was a pacesetter, a creative and articulate slideman and improviser who, either alone or with sometime partner Kai Winding, held the keys to the trombone kingdom from the early 1940s until his retirement more than half a century later. In the early '40s, Johnson brought the trombone--long associated with swing and Dixieland bands--forward into the bop world of ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Steve Allee, Oscar Peterson, Rebecca Kilgore, T.K. Blue and more

Read "Steve Allee, Oscar Peterson, Rebecca Kilgore, T.K. Blue and more" reviewed by Benjamin Boddie


Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by Blue Lou Marini And Bluband, Steve Allee, Oscar Peterson, Rebecca Kilgore, Larry Vuckovich, T.K. Blue, Jim Witzel, Jazzmeia Horn, Warren Wolf, Joe Baione, John Fedchock, Ginetta's Vendetta, Hyeseon Hong, Jane Monheit, JD Allen, Christian Sands, Thom Rotella, Samara Joy, The Headhunters, Michael Dease, and more. Playlist Blue Lou Marini “Twister" from Out Of The Blue (La Reserve) 00:00 Steve Allee “Tergiversation" from Zebra Stories (Jazzville Records) 06:38 Oscar Peterson “You Look Good ...

1
Album Review

John Fedchock: Justifiably J.J.

Read "Justifiably J.J." reviewed by Pierre Giroux


The accomplished trombonist John Fedchock has released Justifiably J.J., a heartfelt tribute to one of the most innovative figures in jazz, trombonist J.J. Johnson on the occasion of his centennial. Recorded live at The Jazz Kitchen, Indianapolis, Indiana, on March 3, 2024 (Johnson's hometown), Fedchock was accompanied by three top players: pianist Steve Allee, bassist Jeremy Allen and drummer Sean Dobbins. The session features eight swinging compositions written by or associated with Johnson, but instead of attempting to reinvent or ...

7
Album Review

John Fedchock: Justifiably J.J.

Read "Justifiably J.J." reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


J.J. Johnson saved his instrument from possible obscurity. Rarely used as a front-line instrument pre-Johnson, the trombone might have faded away when bebop came along. Bebop--all those rapid-fire notes from trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and alto saxophonist Charlie Parker. At that time, the trombone was considered too cumbersome to navigate the chord changes and the rhythmic fury of the new music. J.J. Johnson proved otherwise, starting with several recording dates for Prestige and Savoy Records from 1946 to 1949.

321
Album Review

Steve Allee Trio: Dragonfly

Read "Dragonfly" reviewed by Woodrow Wilkins


Music is a listening experience, but sometimes it can create a vivid, visual image. So it is with “Bus to Belmopan," the opening track to Steve Allee Trio's Dragonfly. Its engaging Latin beat creates an instrumental story about an interesting bus trip to the capital city of Belize.Pianist/composer Steve Allee is a fixture on the Indianapolis scene. Inspired by pianist Erroll Grandy among others, Allee is a veteran with more than 35 years of musical experience. Working mostly ...

332
Album Review

Steve Allee Trio: Colors

Read "Colors" reviewed by John Kelman


Steve Allee's biggest claim to fame is his collaborative big band album with reedman Chuck Carter and drummer John Von Ohlen, Downtown Blues (Sea Breeze, 1999), which garnered a Grammy Award nomination. Still, while he's far from a household name, the west coast-based pianist has been working in the trenches, scoring for film and television, and working with artists ranging from James Moody and Slide Hampton to Randy Brecker and Tim Hagans. Colors is his third release as a leader ...

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Music Industry

Steve Allee on The Baron

Steve Allee on The Baron

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Back in March, I posted on The Baron, a terrific Fender Rhodes album led by drummer John “The Baron" Von Ohlen. It was recorded for Stan Kenton's Creative World label in January 1973. The Baron featured Claude Sifferlen (Fender Rhodes), Steve Allee (keyboard bass, piano, organ), Von Ohlen (drums) and Mary Ann Moss (vocals). Prior, I posted on the Steve Allee Big Band's terrific new album, Naptown Sound. Recently, I asked Steve about The Baron and how it came to ...

Performance / Tour

Steve Allee's compositions - and playing - in the spotlight

Steve Allee's compositions - and playing - in the spotlight

Source: Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes

Pianist Steve Allee is a musical quadruple threat- as a player, arranger, composer and educator. All four of those roles were on display on Monday, March 26 when he was the featured artist at the University of South Florida in Tampa. The Indianapolis native, now an assistant professor of music at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, held a master class for jazz students at USF, then performed Monday night with the excellent USF Jazz Ensemble I, a big ...

130
Recording

On March 9, 2010 - Motema Music Will Release Rufus Reid's out Front Featuring Steve Allee and Duduka Da Fonseca

On March 9, 2010 - Motema Music Will Release Rufus Reid's out Front Featuring Steve Allee and Duduka Da Fonseca

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

On March 9, 2010 - Motema Music will release RUFUS REID'S OUT FRONTFeaturing Steve Allee and Duduka Da Fonseca“Reid is the man to call for any musical situation that demands both the utmost skill and impeccable taste...his luscious sound and buoyant swing can levitate an ensemble clear off the bandstand." - The New Yorker-    “His work is a virtual catalog of modern bass technique, tempered by his infallible musicianship.  The man has taste...he consistently offers up ...

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Recording

Steve Allee's Versatility Shines on "Dragonfly"

Steve Allee's Versatility Shines on "Dragonfly"

Source: Michael Bloom Media Relations

The Steve Allee Trio Dragonfly Owl Studios July 22 Release date Mention Indianapolis, and chances are good that eight out of ten people will associate the central Indiana city with motor sports, or sports in general (lest we forget about the Indianapolis Colts or Indiana Pacers). For an ardent, longtime jazz fan, Indy brings to mind some of the mighty-talented musicians who were raised and cut their musical teeth there, including brothers Wes, Buddy ...

As a pianist, Steve Allee is world-class and definitely demands respect from all who hear him perform.” Rufus Reid - internationally renowned bassist and composer.

“Steve Allee is one of my favorite musicians and friends. He is who I think of calling FIRST when I'm asked to play anywhere near Indy. He always makes the gig HAPPEN!!! And a great guy to hang with as well.” Bobby Shew - Trumpeter, Educator, Recording Artist.

“He works beautifully within a wide range of styles and idioms; Traditional Swinging Big Band, Jazz - Fusion, and his very original and innovative composition - orchestration style.”
Gary Campbell - Saxophonist; Miroslav Vitous Group

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