Live Interview with The Legendary Steve Cromity

Steve was born in Bed-Stuy,Brooklyn where he grew up.His family’s apartment was over a tavern named Jack’s Bar and Grill. He remembers hearing Coltrane,Miles,and Nina on the juke box that had the latest jazz releases on them.Those sounds seeped into his soul forever.He played drums in junior high and high school and his musical appreciation and musical knowledge was that much more established.

However,years passed with no musical involvement,and he had a family to raise.But, then he heard Eddie Jefferson,“the godfather of vocalese”.That was the seed that blossomed into where Steve is today. His other influences were Oscar Brown,Jr,Johnny Hartman,and Billy Eckstine.

Steve’s foray into the world of jazz started his debut CD,

“Steppin’ Out,”which garnered him considerable accolades. Steve worked with several leading NYC jazz musicians. 

He’s performed at many of NYC's venues,including Birdland,Smoke,Cleopatra’s Needle,Katano,Lenox Lounge and Jazz 966. He has performed with many of NYC’s finest jazz artist: including,Paul Beaudry, Richard Clements,Bruce Cox,Alex Layne,Marcus Persiani,James Weidman,Having used the time since his last CD preparing by “wood-shedding”and on the stage.On this CD he has with him several great NYC musicians:Kenyatta Beasley,trumpet;Patience Higgins,flute,ts and  soprano;Eric Wyatt,ts;Marcus Parsiani,p;Eric Lemon,b;and Darrell Green,d.

• “What Steve presents to us is Pure Honesty in his music’Jazz is a cat being honest with himself’ (and thereby with us). And the hip part is that it works”!–Rob Crocker,WBGO FM-Radio personality

• “I listened to“Steppin’Out” in its entirety and I think your phrasing and your selection of material are in the hippest tradition of the art”.Oscar Brown, Jr., the late,legendary singer and composers