Born in Farrell, Pennsylvania, Steve Novosel began studying trumpet at age thirteen, inspired by listening to Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Max Roach and Horace Silver. From Pennsylvania he went to New York where almost every night he listened to the jazz giants of the time.  When he was twenty, he was accepted into the U.S. Army Band as a trumpeter and came to Washington for three years of service. Soon after, he began playing steadily as a bassist in the fertile DC jazz club scene.

Steve moved up rapidly in the world of jazz bassists, playing and recording with Trio ESP, Andrew White, Roland Kirk, Stanley Cowell, David "Fathead" Newman and Eddie Harris. Other jazz greats he has performed with include Cedar Walton, McCoy Tyner, Hank Jones, Milt Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Sonny Rollins, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Harry "Sweets" Edison, James Moody, Archie Shepp and Blue Mitchell. Steve is also in great demand as an accompanist for singers; he has played with everyone from Billy Eckstine, Joe Williams and Donny Hathaway to Anita O'Day, Roberta Flack, Betty Carter and Shirley Horn. Steve has toured with Red Norvo, Tal Farlow, Al Grey and with David "Fathead" Newman. He has performed on over 60 recordings.

 

Washington Conservatory's director, Kathy Judd, talks to Steve Novosel about his career as a musician and teacher:

 

K.J.: When did you first know you wanted to be a musician?
S.N.: I was about 13 and music picked me; I didn't pick music. At that time I played in the Farrell (PA) high school band. I came to love music in all forms -- but especially jazz. My first instrument was piano. I started when I was just old enough to sit on my grandfather's lap. When I was a kid everyone had a piano in their house. My grandfather would come home every night, sit at the piano to play, and wake everybody up. And I loved it!

K.J.: When did you decide you wanted to be a bass player?

S.N.: I was a trumpet player in the 75th Army Band in Fort Belvoir. They needed a bass player and asked for a volunteer. That's how I got started.

K.J.: Who taught you how to play bass?
S.N.: I was self-taught at first.  Then somebody in the band said, "Kid, you need some lessons!" I got my first formal lessons then, later studying with DC bassist Joe Willens.