Photo by Anna Yatskevich

Steve Cardenas has been an integral part of the New York City jazz community since 1995. 

Steve was a longstanding member of the Paul Motian Electric Bebop Band, Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra and Steve Swallow Quintet and is currently a member of Ben Allison and Think Free, John Patitucci Electric Guitar Quartet, Jon Cowherd Mercy Project, and Adam Nussbaum Lead Belly Project. He has also performed regularly with such diverse artists as Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux, Eliane Elias and has toured extensively performing at countless international music festivals, theaters and clubs. 

Steve has six recordings as a leader, as well as appearing as a sideman on over one hundred recordings. His recently released album, “Blue Has A Range,” is on Sunnyside Records. 

Additionally, Steve is on faculty at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary in New York since 2007.

Release Speak is a new series of conversations with Soapbox host Tracey Yarad. Tracey will dig deep into the processes and history behind the making of an album and how musicians make decisions to arrive at a final destination.

Jon Cowherd - piano
Ben Allison - bass
Allan Mednard- drums