Interview: Indy jazz musician Steve Allee explores the Naptown sound

The pianist, composer and bandleader Steve Allee has been part of the Indianapolis jazz scene since the 1960s. His latest album, "Naptown Sound," pays tribute to the rich musical heritage of Indianapolis jazz.

Allee will perform music from Naptown Sound live at The Jazz Kitchen on April 5. WFYI’s Kyle Long spoke with Allee about whether Indianapolis has its own sound.

This transcript has been edited for style and clarity.

Kyle Long: Steve, thank you for being here.

Steve Allee: Thank you for having me today, Kyle.

Long: We're going to discuss your new album with the Steve Allee Big Band, "Naptown Sound." The album pays tribute to the Naptown sound, a sound that was shaped by generations of jazz musicians in Indianapolis. As we get started, tell us why you wanted to create an album celebrating and exploring the Naptown sound.

Allee: I think of my teachers and my mentors and the sound that they had, and I guess it's coming back to me, those influences that I had really early on as a teenager, and in my 20s and 30s. I think many, many years ago, before we had mass communication, cities had kind of their identifiable sound.

There’s the New Orleans sound, and the Chicago and Kansas City sound, and New York, of course. But I think there was really an identifiable Indianapolis sound, you know, and I always equate that with a lush harmonic structure like an Errol Grandy and J.J. Johnson and Slide Hampton and those great players and writers.

So I had to pay tribute. I mean, it's in my DNA. So it was just kind of a no brainer. I mean, this is what I do already, it’s in my sound as well.

Long: I ask a lot of musicians, is there a Naptown sound? And most of them say yes, but very few people can quantify it, and you're one of the few people who's willing and able to take a shot at that.

Allee: Well, I would just say to them, put on a Wes Montgomery album, and listen to that swing feel that Wes got. I mean, he had a kind of a straight eighth note feel that was just fantastic, as well as Melvin Rhyne on organ.

Long: Did you write this music specifically for this release? And if so, how did you approach writing for this record?

Allee: I had been working on some of the charts like “Hubbub.” I had already written that song and titled it. That was named for that great club where I never was able to go to because I was too young, but where Wes Montgomery played. I knew Freddie Hubbard had played there as well, and Jimmy Coe, all the guys.

Then there was a song called "Wes at the Turf." I wanted to write a song dedicated to Wes, but maybe in the more contemporary style. So this is kind of like, I guess, would you say, “Work Song.” No, I'm sorry, “Road Song.”

The great news is we recorded 16 songs in those three days, so we had enough for two albums. So there will be another album released in August.

Long: Congrats on the release of this record. It's a monumental project, and it sounds incredible, so congratulations.

Allee: I really appreciate your support, Kyle, and your support for all of us here in Indiana. You have become the missing link for us to tell the story and the history of our music here in Indianapolis, and we're very proud to tell it.

Long: Steve, thank you again for being here.

Allee: Thank you, Kyle.

This interview originally aired on WFYI's Cultural Manifesto.