Born: Trenton, New Jersey - January 21, 1943
Steve's musical experiences began at age twelve when he played in Pennsbury (Pennsylvania) High
School's progressive music program. By age fourteen he was being hired to play at the local beer hall for
eight or ten dollars a night. A few years later he expanded his playing to area symphony orchestras and
local big bands. Living close to Philadelphia enabled him to hear such fine players as John Coltrane, Max
Roach, Sonny Rollins and Wynton Kelly, integrating what he was hearing into his own music. After high
school, Gilmore spent a short time in Toronto attending the Advanced School of Contemporary Music, then
staffed by The Oscar Peterson Trio. Ray Brown was his teacher.
Upon his return to Pennsylvania in 1961, Steve worked the Pocono Mountains
resorts, developing by
playing regularly, and with, some very fine musicians including Bob Newman, Jerry
Dodgion, Ray Bryant
and Jerry Segal.
In 1967, Steve left the Poconos for Miami, Florida without any real plans and
stayed for four years, working
with jazz great Ira Sullivan and other fine jazz artists including Joe Diorio,
Chuck Marohnic, Flip Phillips,
Paul Winter and Vince Lawrence. Another move back to the Poconos in 1971 associated
him with
drummer Bill Goodwin for the first time, and together they formed the rhythm
team for several bands
including The Chamber Jazz Quintet, Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, Tom Waits, Mose Allison
and The National
Jazz Ensemble (under the direction of Chuck Israels). In February, 1974 Gilmore
and Goodwin both
joined The Phil Woods Quartet at it's inception and anchor the Quintet to this
day.
When Steve's schedule permits, he can be found working with Dave Liebman, Tal
Farlow, Lou Levy, Lee
Konitz and other jazz greats.
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY
- Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra: SUITE FOR POPS; NEW LIFE
- Richie Cole: TRENTON MAKES, THE WORLD TAKES; ALTO MADNESS
- John Coates, Jr.: POCONO FRIENDS
- Al Cohn: NO PROBLEM
- Bill Goodwin: SOLAR ENERGY
- Hal Galper: DREAMSVILLE
- Bob Kindred: THE BOB KINDRED JAZZ QUARTET
- Phil Woods/Chris Swansen: CRAZY HORSE; PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN
- Phil Woods Quartet: THE NEW PHIL WOODS ALBUM; LIVE FROM THE SHOWBOAT; SONG FOR
- SISYPHUS; I REMEMBER; LIVE, VOLUME I; MORE LIVE; BIRDS OF A FEATHER;
- AT THE VANGUARD; LIVE FROM NEW YORK
- Phil Woods Quintet: INTEGRITY; HEAVEN; GRATITUDE; BOP STEW; BOUQUET; FLASH;
- ALL BIRDS CHILDREN; FULL HOUSE; AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER;
- THE PHIL WOODS QUINTET PLAYS THE MUSIC OF JIM McNEELY; MILE HIGH JAZZ
- THE PHIL WOODS QUARTET/QUINTET 20TH ANNIVERSARY ALBUM
Phil Woods' Little Big Band: EVOLUTION; REAL LIFE; THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT QUINCY
- Steve Gilmore/Harry Leahey: SILVER THREADS
- Steve Gilmore: I'M ALL SMILES; SILHOUETTE;
- REFLECTIONS IN THE NIGHT
Copyright © 2005. Phil Woods Enterprises. All Rights Reserved.