Steve Allee on the Naptown sound

March 26, 2025

Explore a new album from the Steve Allee Big Band, titled Naptown Sound. The project pays tribute to the musicians, teachers, mentors, history, and places that contributed to the development of the Naptown sound. 

The pianist, composer and bandleader Steve Allee has been part of the Indianapolis jazz scene since the 1960s. He came of age at a time when many historic Naptown jazz players were still active on the scene. Allee was befriended and mentored by legendary Indianapolis musicians, including Jimmy Coe, Claude Sifferlen and Errol Grandy.

Allee began performing professionally as a teenager, touring with the legendary jazz drummer Buddy Rich. His debut recording, a 1973 session with the the Baron Von Ohlen Quartet, remains a favorite among jazz fans around the world, with original copies seeking for over $200 on the collector’s market. 

Over the years, Allee has worked with a long list of jazz luminaries, including Slide Hampton, James Moody, Rufus Reid, Curtis Fuller, Jeff Hamilton, Milt Hinton and many others. Allee has also gained notoriety for his work as a composer. He’s written work for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and his compositions have been used in documentaries and television programs.