Meet Jon Steele Bass

In the early days, it was curiosity of harmony and love of rhythm that inspired Jon to listen to any music available. Growing up in different parts of the Southeast U.S. meant getting in where you fit in. Jon found himself in the garage band, school orchestra and jazz bands with various high schools in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. 

These were formative years as a player and for taste in music, having worked with all kinds of styles and musicians. There were lots jazz gigs for a small town like Knoxville and regional symphonies too. In this part of the country you'll hear bluegrass and string music, but also steel pan, blues and jam bands. 

For a while, Jon toured with a big band hitting cities like New York and Boston. When a bus of 20 musicians was done, he went back to the south to a van of seven and hit the college circuit with a popular jam band. About that time, he began teaching at local colleges while attending the University of Tennessee for his Masters Degree in Double Bass performance.

After a brief time in Los Angeles, he found himself in Washington D.C. where jazz greats like Duke Ellington, Benny Golson, Shirley Horn, and Butch Warren once made music. There is still a heavy scene and Jon found some great musicians to help realize his music on recordings released 2016 and 2023.  Things were busy with straight-ahead jazz, world music, R&B, pop and funk along U St. and Adams Morgan, with players coming  from Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Europe, West Africa, the Middle East and other parts of the world. 

In 2023  life took Jon to St. Louis, where the jazz audience isn't as concentrated.  Playing rock, blues, and country made more sense. Not knowing much country, Jon decided that Nashville was the place to go.

Having learned a lot of country music, he moved to Nashville in early 2025. It was both familiar and strange, reminiscent of the old days. Things were busy on Lower Broadway and on the road. Jon spends most of his time in the Southeast and Midwest working with various groups and artists.