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Key Information

Steve Rodby (born December 9, 1954, in Joliet, Illinois) is an American jazz bassist and producer known for his time with the Pat Metheny Group.[2]

Biography

[edit]

Rodby was born in Joliet, Illinois, into a musical family. His father was a music teacher who bought him an acoustic bass, electric bass, and amp when he was 12. He heard classical music from a young age and was educated in classical until high school when he learned jazz.[3] During high school summers, he went to jazz camps, where he met Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, and Danny Gottlieb, three of the four members of The Pat Metheny Group.[4]

Rodby played acoustic bass until he graduated from Northwestern University in 1977, when he taught himself how to play electric.[4] He performed in the house band at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago, with local and visiting musicians such as Milt Jackson, Joe Henderson, and Art Farmer. He joined the Pat Metheny Group in 1981, starting on electric bass before spending most of his time on acoustic.[3] He spent the next thirty years at Metheny's side, touring, recording, and producing, in Group projects and in Metheny's other projects. With Metheny he earned multiple Grammy awards and nominations, and admiration from critics, magazines, and reader polls.[5]

Rodby collaborated with Fred Simon and Paul McCandless on two albums: Since Forever and Remember the River.[6] In 2011 he collaborated with Paul Wertico, a former drummer for the Metheny Group, and with Israeli musicians Danny Markovitch and Dani Rabin on Marbin's album Breaking the Cycle.[7]

Since 2018, Rodby has held a position as artist of residence in the faculty of Jazz Studies at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Discography

[edit]

With Ross Traut

  • Great Lawn (Columbia, 1987)
  • The Duo Life (Columbia, 1991)

As sideman

[edit]

With Pat Metheny Group

With Pat Metheny

With Simon & Bard Group

  • Musaic (Flying Fish, 1980) – bassist
  • Tear It Up (Flying Fish, 1982) – bassist
  • The Enormous Radio (Flying Fish, 1984) – bassist

With Michael Brecker

With Eliane Elias

With Lyle Mays

  • Street Dreams (Geffen Records, 1988) – bassist, co-producer, conductor
  • Fictionary (Geffen Records, 1993) – co-producer
  • Solo (Improvisations For Expanded Piano) (Geffen Records, 2000) – co-producer
  • Eberhard (KMG Distribution, 2021) – bassist, co-producer

With Pat Coil

  • Schemes And Dreams (Sheffield Lab, 1994) – bassist, co-producer
  • Gold (Sheffield Lab, 1996) – bassist

With Fred Simon

  • Usually/Always (Windham Hill Records, 1988) – bassist, producer, editing
  • Open Book (Columbia, 1991) – bassist, co-producer
  • Remember the River by (Naim, 2004) – bassist
  • Since Forever (Naim, 2009) – bassist, producer, editing

With Steve Cole

  • Spin (Narada Jazz, 2005) – bassist
  • True (Narada Jazz, 2005) – bassist

With Paul McCandless

  • Heresay (Windham Hill Records, 1988) – bassist
  • Premonition (Windham Hill Records, 1992) – bassist, producer
  • Navigator (Landslide Records, 1994) – bassist

With others

Grammy Awards

[edit]

With Pat Metheny Group:

  • Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental – Offramp
  • Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental – Travels
  • Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental – First Circle
  • Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental – Still Life (Talking)
  • Best Jazz Fusion Performance – Letter From Home
  • Best Contemporary Jazz Performance Instrumental – The Road to You
  • Best Contemporary Jazz Performance Instrumental – We Live Here
  • Best Contemporary Jazz Performance – Imaginary Day
  • Best Rock Instrumental Performance – "The Roots of Coincidence"
  • Best Contemporary Jazz Album – Speaking of Now
  • Best Contemporary Jazz Album – The Way Up[5]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Steve Rodby

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Steve Rodby is an American jazz , , and editor, best known for his three-decade tenure with the (PMG), during which he contributed to the band's innovative fusion of , rock, and world influences. Born December 9, 1954, in , Rodby began studying classical orchestral bass at age ten, developing parallel interests in pop and that shaped his versatile musical style. He has won 13 , primarily for his work with PMG, including albums in categories such as Best Performance and Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Rodby graduated from with a degree in classical bass performance, after which he established himself as a multi-style studio musician in , performing on both acoustic and electric bass across genres. Early in his career, he played with the University of Chicago's Contemporary Chamber Players (CCP) and performed at the Jazz Showcase club alongside jazz masters, honing his improvisational skills in live settings. In , he joined PMG at the invitation of guitarist , becoming a core member alongside keyboardist , drummer , and others, and contributing to the group's signature sound through intricate bass lines and rhythmic foundations. Beyond performing, Rodby has been an active producer since the early 1980s, working on PMG recordings as well as projects for other artists, and he has served as a video editor for PBS music specials and commercial music DVDs. His production credits extend to films such as The Falcon and the Snowman (1985), where he contributed to the soundtrack, and more recent collaborations like co-producing Eliane Elias's album Time and Again. In recent years, Rodby has toured and recorded with the jazz supergroup The Impossible Gentlemen, continuing to explore improvisational and ensemble-based music.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Initial Training

Steve Rodby was born on December 9, 1954, in , a working-class suburb of where the local environment offered limited formal music opportunities but proximity to the city's vibrant scene later influenced his path. He grew up in a musical family, with his father serving as a choir director and who also played guitar, providing an early immersive environment in classical and traditions. As a child, Rodby drew initial inspiration from watching the television show , particularly the character Mr. Green Jeans demonstrating bass playing, which sparked his fascination with the instrument amid a household filled with his father's compositions and performances. At age 10, Rodby began formal studies in classical orchestral bass, initially guided by his father, who taught him foundational techniques through ear-based playing along with guitar sessions, encouraging improvisational elements from the start. His practice routines were self-directed and ear-based, often involving playing along with his father's guitar sessions to develop intonation and rhythm, progressing from basic to more intermediate classical by his early teens. This structured yet familial approach built a solid technical foundation, emphasizing precision and ensemble playing typical of orchestral training. During adolescence, Rodby cultivated parallel interests in pop and music, listening to contemporary recordings that expanded beyond his classical roots and fueled a desire for more expressive, improvisatory styles. These pursuits manifested in early collaborative experiences, such as jamming sessions in elementary school with childhood friend Peter Labella, a violinist, where they experimented with blending classical and popular elements. By his teenage years, this development led to foundational performances in , honing his adaptability across genres while still in high school. This pre-college phase laid the groundwork for his transition to university-level training.

University Studies and Early Influences

Rodby enrolled at in the early 1970s, pursuing a degree with a focus on classical bass performance. His curriculum emphasized orchestral techniques and classical repertoire under the guidance of Warren Benfield, principal bassist of the , who provided rigorous training in fundamental bass skills and ensemble precision. Complementing this, Rodby took jazz electives that introduced him to and contemporary styles, marking his transition from classical foundations—built during childhood—to applications. He graduated in 1977, having balanced academic study with practical immersion in Chicago's musical scene. A pivotal influence during his university years was mentorship from jazz bassist , a Northwestern alumnus, through private lessons from 1972 to 1974. Reid taught Rodby essential techniques, including walking bass lines for swing feel, improvisational phrasing, and integration within small ensembles, drawing from Reid's experience in professional settings. These sessions, held alongside campus activities, helped Rodby adapt his classical precision to the rhythmic and harmonic demands of , fostering a versatile approach that would define his career. Rodby also collaborated with Northwestern's director, Cliff Colnot, performing arrangements that honed his ensemble playing in a collegiate context. On campus and beyond, Rodby gained performance experience through university ensembles and local gigs, becoming the house bassist at Chicago's Jazz Showcase club by midway through his studies, where he played five nights a week with visiting jazz artists. These opportunities, facilitated by university connections to the city's jazz ecosystem, included backing acts at the venue and other downtown spots, exposing him to professional workflows and improvisational demands in real-time settings. This blend of academic rigor and practical engagement at Northwestern solidified Rodby's shift toward while leveraging his classical training as a foundational strength.

Professional Career

Chicago Jazz Scene and Early Gigs

After graduating from in 1977 with a degree in classical bass performance, Steve Rodby fully entered the vibrant jazz circuit, building on connections formed during his studies. His university mentor, jazz bassist , provided a crucial bridge to professional opportunities in the city. Rodby's breakthrough came when Reid relocated to New York, vacating the house bassist role at the renowned Jazz Showcase club on Chicago's North Side. He quickly filled the position, performing five nights a week with three sets each evening alongside a rotating house band of veteran musicians, including drummers who had backed and pianists with decades of experience. This steady gig allowed him to accompany prominent visiting artists such as vibraphonist , saxophonist , saxophonist Sonny Stitt, and trumpeter , honing his improvisational skills in a demanding live environment central to Chicago's ecosystem during the late 1970s. In addition to club performances, Rodby pursued initial studio work, contributing to television commercials and pop- fusion recordings that diversified his experience and strengthened his local reputation before larger opportunities arose. These early endeavors in Chicago's community, characterized by rigorous nightly routines and exposure to established figures, laid the foundation for his professional growth.

Role in the Pat Metheny Group

Steve Rodby joined the in 1981, replacing bassist who had departed the previous year after contributing to the band's early albums. Metheny, seeking to incorporate more acoustic bass into the ensemble's sound, contacted Rodby—an acquaintance from a pre-college music camp—and invited him to audition in ; Rodby impressed during the single session and was hired on the spot. Rodby appeared on every studio album from Offramp (1982) through The Way Up (2005), providing foundational bass lines that anchored the band's fusion of , rock, and elements. On Offramp, his debut recording with the group, Rodby played both acoustic and electric bass, contributing to the album's innovative textures alongside Metheny's guitar work and Nana Vasconcelos's percussion; tracks like "Are You Going with Me?" showcased his role in supporting extended improvisational sections and harmonic arrangements. Throughout his tenure, Rodby often participated in refining compositional structures, offering input on bass voicings and balance during rehearsals, which helped evolve the group's signature layered sound. In addition to his performative contributions, Rodby served as co-producer on the Pat Metheny Group's final five albums—We Live Here (1995), Quartet (1996), Imaginary Day (1997), Speaking of Now (2002), and The Way Up (2005)—where he handled audio editing, mixing oversight, and facilitation of band dynamics to capture the group's live energy in the studio. His production approach emphasized precise digital to enhance rhythmic interplay and spatial depth, as seen in Speaking of Now, while fostering collaborative sessions that allowed newer members like Cuong Vu and Antonio Sanchez to integrate seamlessly with veterans Metheny and . On The Way Up, a continuous 68-minute suite, Rodby's editing techniques helped maintain narrative flow and dynamic contrasts reflective of the band's improvisational . Rodby's three-decade involvement extended to extensive live performances and international tours, from the group's ECM-era outings supporting albums like First Circle (1984) to the 2010 disbandment following the "Songbook Tour." Highlights included appearances at major festivals such as the in 1989, where the band performed expanded arrangements from Letter from Home (1989); the in 2005, closing with the full The Way Up suite; and the Jazz Festival in 2010, featuring career-spanning setlists with Rodby on acoustic bass driving pieces like "Last Train Home." These tours, often spanning hundreds of dates worldwide, underscored Rodby's steady ensemble playing amid evolving lineups, culminating in the group's farewell performances that celebrated its harmonic and improvisational legacy.

Production Work and Side Projects

Throughout his career, Steve Rodby has applied the production expertise honed during his tenure with the to a range of projects, serving as co-producer, additional , and on several acclaimed recordings. His work often emphasizes meticulous sonic balance and collaborative input, contributing to albums that blend with structured arrangements. For instance, Rodby co-produced Michael Brecker's 2001 ballad collection Nearness of You: The Ballad Book alongside , overseeing sessions that featured intimate interpretations of standards with guest artists like and , resulting in a Grammy-nominated release celebrated for its warm, acoustic textures. Rodby's production collaborations extend to pianist , where he has co-produced multiple albums, including Dreamer (2004) and Something for You: Eliane Elias Sings & Plays (2007), partnering with Elias and her husband Marc Johnson to shape her distinctive bossa nova-infused sound. On Dreamer, Rodby's role involved co-production duties that supported Elias's original compositions and covers, with engineering contributions from Joe Ferla ensuring a polished mix that highlighted her and vocal interplay. These efforts underscore Rodby's versatility in studio settings, where he also handles audio editing to refine performances without overpowering the artists' expressive qualities. Additionally, he provided additional production on Lyle Mays's 1988 solo album Street Dreams, conducting orchestral elements and contributing bass lines that enriched Mays's fusion-oriented compositions, such as the title track's layered dreamscape. Beyond production, Rodby has engaged in diverse side projects that showcase his bass playing in non-Metheny contexts, particularly during the and . He appeared as a on Lyle Mays's Street Dreams, delivering acoustic bass on tracks like "Feet First" and supporting the album's blend of , classical, and pop influences through studio sessions that featured musicians such as and . In the , Rodby contributed bass to Chicago guitarist John Moulder's recordings, including sessions for albums that explored melodic ; notable examples include his work on Moulder's 2016 release Earthborn Tales of Soul and Spirit, where his lines provided rhythmic foundation amid Moulder's soaring guitar work. Rodby's involvement in these projects often extended to informal studio collaborations, reflecting his preference for intimate, exploratory environments over large ensembles. A significant side endeavor for Rodby has been his role in the transatlantic ensemble The Impossible Gentlemen, formed in 2011 by British musicians Gwilym Simcock (piano), Mike Walker (guitar), and drummer Adam Nussbaum, initially with bassist . Rodby joined as bassist and producer starting with the group's second album, Internationally Recognised Aliens (2013), where he played acoustic bass on select tracks like "Just To See You," complementing Swallow's electric lines in a "Steve Squared" configuration and producing the overall session to capture the band's dynamic range from brooding ballads to energetic swings. He continued on the third album, Let's Get Deluxe (2016), providing bass throughout and helping evolve the group's sound with influences from swing, , and modern . The ensemble's formation emphasized camaraderie among international players, with Rodby's addition bringing a Midwestern sensibility to their UK-rooted aesthetic. In recent years, Rodby has maintained activity with The Impossible Gentlemen through live performances, including a 2016 tour featuring stops at venues like the 606 Club in and the Old Market in . In 2025, he performed with pianist Marc Seales and drummer D'Vonne Lewis in September, in a duo with drummer in October, and was associated with the EFG Festival (November 14-23). These engagements highlight his ongoing bass contributions alongside occasional guest spots in jazz festivals that draw on his production background for curated sets. Rodby's multifaceted skills also include for promotional materials and live , as seen in his work enhancing visual content for artists' releases and performances.

Teaching and Later Activities

Following the disbandment of the in 2010, Steve Rodby transitioned toward educational roles while maintaining select performance and production engagements. In 2019, he joined the faculty of the School of Music in as in Jazz Studies, a position initially supported by a 2020 grant from the Raynier Foundation for a three-year artist-in-residence initiative. His residency in has allowed him to integrate his professional experience into academic settings, emphasizing practical training for emerging musicians. At the , Rodby focuses his teaching on acoustic and electric bass techniques, , and ensemble leadership as Director of the Jazz Workshop program. This curriculum adopts an ensemble-based approach to develop students' skills in combo performance, , and collaborative through small group rehearsals and performances. He mentors students by ensembles, guiding them in original compositions, homages to jazz icons, and innovative arrangements during events such as the annual Jazz Innovations series. For instance, in the 2025 edition of Jazz Innovations, Rodby advised student combos performing on November 12 and 13, showcasing their development in creative expression. Beyond academia, Rodby has sustained post-2010 professional activities, including touring and recording with the international jazz ensemble The Impossible Gentlemen, where he contributes on bass alongside members like Gwilym Simcock and Mike Walker. He has also pursued occasional production work, applying his expertise to contemporary jazz projects that inform his educational demonstrations on recording and arrangement techniques.

Musical Style and Contributions

Bass Techniques and Approach

Steve Rodby demonstrates proficiency in both upright and electric bass, drawing from his classical training while adapting to diverse and fusion contexts. He began studying classical orchestral bass at age 10 and earned a degree in classical bass performance from , which laid the foundation for his precise tone production and intonation on the upright bass. In live performances with the , Rodby frequently switches between upright and electric bass to suit the evolving demands of the music, contributing to the band's dynamic sound across albums like Still Life (Talking) and tours in the 1980s and 1990s. His approach emphasizes groove-oriented playing, particularly walking lines that provide a melodic foundation in fusion settings. This style is evident in his contributions to the Group's signature sound, where he avoids fretless electric bass in favor of fretted instruments for a rock-influenced pop clarity. For amplification, Rodby prioritizes setups that preserve natural tone, especially on upright bass during high-volume tours. In the and , he used Walter Woods solid-state power amps set to 1 megaohm to match pickups like those from Don Underwood, optimizing low-frequency response and minimizing feedback. These choices enhance his electric bass tone by emphasizing for fuller lows, allowing seamless integration in live fusion environments without heavy effects pedals, focusing instead on clean signal paths. Rodby's adaptation of classical techniques to highlights his emphasis on intonation and tone as core elements of melodic expression. His classical background informs a "beautiful " style on upright bass, translated into improvised solos that function as high-quality melodies suitable for any instrument, as exemplified in his live rendition of "How Insensitive." has praised this relentless pursuit of precise intonation and sound, which ensures Rodby's lines maintain structural integrity amid the Pat Metheny Group's complex harmonies.

Influences and Innovations

Steve Rodby's musical style was profoundly shaped by his early classical training, which began at age 10 with orchestral bass studies under his father's guidance, providing a foundation in precise technique and ensemble support. This classical background intersected with parallel interests in , particularly rock acts like , which influenced his rhythmic sensibility and melodic approach to bass lines, allowing him to infuse jazz with accessible, groove-oriented elements. At , he studied privately with from 1972 to 1974, absorbing fundamentals of walking bass, improvisation, and harmonic navigation that emphasized over theoretical rigidity. Broader jazz influences included vibraphonist , saxophonists Sonny Stitt and , whose recordings Rodby encountered during his formative Chicago gigs, inspiring a blend of swing and fusion exploration while prioritizing melodic solos that could translate across instruments. These influences converged in Rodby's genre-blending philosophy, merging pop's rhythmic drive, classical structure, and to create supportive foundations in ensemble settings rather than virtuosic displays. Rodby's innovations lie in his seamless integration of production techniques into live bass performance, where he applied studio-honed editing and mixing insights to enhance real-time dynamics, such as balancing amplification for upright bass in high-volume fusion contexts without phase issues or feedback. He has worked on for music documentation, including specials and DVDs from the onward, preserving improvisational performances with a producer's ear for narrative flow. Critically, his style has been lauded for its understated excellence; described him as the "perfect bass player" for the group's sound due to his musical curiosity and supportive precision, while reviewers have noted his underrated mastery in defining fusion grooves across acoustic and electric realms. In 2021, Rodby contributed to ' posthumous orchestral tribute "Eberhard," honoring the atmospheric bass style of Eberhard Weber, who influenced Mays and the broader sound.

Discography

As Leader or Co-Leader

Steve Rodby's output as a leader or co-leader is notably sparse compared to his extensive catalog, reflecting his preference for collaborative ensemble settings, such as those in the , where collective improvisation takes precedence over individual spotlighting. Over his career, he has helmed or co-helmed fewer than a dozen projects, prioritizing intimate duos and quartets that highlight interactive dialogue and his acoustic and electric bass foundations. These releases showcase his compositional voice through bass-driven grooves and harmonic explorations, often blending standards with original material. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Rodby co-led a series of duo recordings with guitarist Ross Traut, emphasizing stripped-down interplay between bass and guitar without additional instrumentation. Their debut collaboration, Traut / Rodby (1988, Columbia), served as a promotional sampler introducing their synergy, featuring concise originals and covers that underscore Rodby's walking bass lines and Traut's melodic phrasing. This was followed by the full-length The Great Lawn (1989, Columbia), recorded in Chicago studios, where Rodby's bass-centric arrangements propel tracks like the title cut—a mid-tempo original evoking urban landscapes—and a reimagined "'Round Midnight," highlighting his intuitive support for Traut's improvisations in a contemporary jazz style. The duo's final effort, The Duo Life (1991, Columbia), expanded on this format with broader influences, including fusion-tinged takes on "People Make the World Go Round" and a medley from Porgy and Bess ("I Loves You, Porgy" into "Bess, You Is My Woman Now"), where Rodby's electric bass adds rhythmic propulsion and textural depth to the 10-minute suite. These projects, produced by the pair, exemplify Rodby's focus on bass as a narrative lead in minimalistic settings, allowing space for spontaneous composition. Later in his career, Rodby co-led two quartet albums with Fred Simon and reedist , blending and ambient elements with Rodby's production oversight. Remember the River (2004, ), recorded live on March 25–26 at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall in , and Pro Musica in , features the core trio augmented by drummer Mark Walker; standout tracks include the lyrical title opener, a Simon original with McCandless's weaving through Rodby's warm acoustic bass ostinatos, and "Double Dream," which highlights the group's chamber-like intimacy and Rodby's subtle harmonic anchoring. The follow-up, Since Forever (2009, ), taped on September 2–3, 2008, in , continues this stylistic focus with personnel including Walker on drums; key highlights are the Zawinul cover "," where Rodby's bass provides a meditative pulse, and the title track, an original emphasizing collective improvisation and Rodby's role in shaping the ensemble's flowing, introspective sound. In both, Rodby's self-production notes reveal a commitment to acoustic clarity and spatial dynamics, underscoring bass as the compositional spine in these bass-forward group explorations.

As Sideman and Producer

Steve Rodby has contributed as a on more than 18 albums outside his leadership roles, providing acoustic and electric bass lines that enhance ensemble dynamics across fusion, , and contemporary styles. His production credits number in the dozens, including mixing, editing, and co-production on Grammy-winning projects, resulting in 15 Grammy and for his collaborative efforts. Rodby's sideman bass work in the 1980s focused on fusion explorations. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he extended into world and improvisational jazz, producing Oregon's Northwest Passage (1997), which underscored the quartet's acoustic textures. His production on Oregon's live recording Oregon in Moscow (2000) involved detailed editing to capture the group's collaborative essence during performances in Russia. He also played bass and co-produced Fred Simon's Usually/Always (1988, Windham Hill) and Open Book (1991, Columbia), contributing to their contemporary jazz sound. Transitioning to Latin jazz in the 2000s, Rodby co-produced Eliane Elias's Fantasia (1992), handling mixing and editing to highlight her vocal and piano interpretations of standards, earning acclaim for its intimate Brazilian-inflected sound. He also co-produced Michael Brecker's Nearness of You: The Ballad Book (2001), assembling digital elements for the saxophonist's Grammy-winning ballad collection, and Pilgrimage (2007), a posthumous release that secured another Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album through his meticulous oversight of arrangements and final assembly. In the 2010s and beyond, Rodby's bass appearances included John Moulder's Metamorphosis (2021), where his acoustic bass anchored suites with pianist Richie Beirach and drummer Paul Wertico, evoking transformative themes through resonant, lyrical playing. Most recently, he provided contrabass on Lyle Mays's posthumous Eberhard (2021), a 13-minute orchestral tribute featuring shimmering interplay amid cellos and synths, co-edited by Rodby to honor Mays's compositional vision. These roles underscore Rodby's versatility in supporting diverse artistic visions, from fusion ensembles to intimate sessions, while his production emphasizes clarity and emotional fidelity in recordings.

Awards and Recognition

Grammy Awards

Steve Rodby has won 13 and received 11 nominations throughout his career, primarily for his contributions as a with the and as a on various albums. His victories span categories such as Best Jazz Fusion Performance and Best Contemporary Jazz Album, reflecting his integral role in innovative and contemporary recordings. Rodby's 10 Grammy wins with the Pat Metheny Group highlight his foundational contributions to the band's sound from 1981 onward, where he played bass on all their albums and co-produced several. These include seven consecutive wins from 1983 to 1998 for albums Offramp (1983, Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental), Travels (1984, Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental), First Circle (1985, Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental), Still Life (Talking) (1988, Best Jazz Fusion Performance), Letter from Home (1990, Best Jazz Fusion Performance), The Road to You (1994, Best Contemporary Jazz Performance), and We Live Here (1998, Best Contemporary Jazz Performance), establishing the ensemble's commercial and critical dominance in jazz. Additional PMG wins include Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "The Roots of Coincidence" from Imaginary Day (1999), Best Contemporary Jazz Album for Speaking of Now (2003), and The Way Up (2006). These awards underscored Rodby's ability to blend acoustic and electric bass techniques in expansive, melodic compositions. As a , Rodby earned three additional Grammy wins, expanding his influence beyond performance. In 2008, he co-produced Michael Brecker's posthumous album , which won Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group, showcasing Rodby's production expertise in capturing Brecker's final recordings with a stellar ensemble including . He secured Best Latin Jazz Album for co-producing Eliane Elias's (2016), a homecoming project blending Brazilian rhythms with , and again in 2022 for Mirror Mirror (2021), featuring Elias's piano duets with and , highlighting Rodby's skill in engineering intimate yet vibrant sessions. Rodby's Grammy nominations, totaling 11, occurred across a timeline from the through the , often in jazz instrumental and fusion categories tied to releases like (1997) and production efforts such as Eliane 's Dance of Time (2018) for Best Latin Jazz Album. These recognitions, while not all resulting in wins, affirmed his consistent excellence in production and performance. The cumulative impact of his Grammy successes significantly elevated his production career, leading to collaborations with artists like Eliane Elias and , and opening doors to engineering and mixing roles on high-profile projects that further solidified his reputation in the genre.
YearCategoryAlbum/ProjectRoleNotes
1983Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or InstrumentalOfframp (Pat Metheny Group)BassistFirst win with PMG
1984Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or InstrumentalTravels (Pat Metheny Group)Live album capturing group's energy
1985Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or InstrumentalFirst Circle (Pat Metheny Group)Part of seven consecutive wins
1988Best Jazz Fusion PerformanceStill Life (Talking) (Pat Metheny Group)Part of seven consecutive wins
1990Best Jazz Fusion PerformanceLetter from Home (Pat Metheny Group)Part of seven consecutive wins
1994Best Contemporary Jazz PerformanceThe Road to You ()Live album; part of seven consecutive wins
1998Best Contemporary Jazz PerformanceWe Live Here ()Concludes seven consecutive wins
1999Best Rock Instrumental Performance"The Roots of Coincidence" from Imaginary Day ()Track award
2003Best Contemporary Jazz AlbumSpeaking of Now ()Reunion album
2006Best Contemporary Jazz AlbumThe Way Up (), Co-ProducerSuite-based composition
2008Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or GroupPilgrimage ()Co-ProducerPosthumous Brecker release
2016Best Latin Jazz AlbumMade in Brazil ()Co-ProducerBrazilian influences prominent
2022Best Latin Jazz AlbumMirror Mirror ()Co-ProducerDuets with Corea and Valdés

Other Honors and Nominations

In 2019, Steve Rodby was appointed for bass in the and Improvised Music program at the School of Music. Rodby's production work has earned recognition beyond standard Grammy categories, notably a Latin Grammy Award for Best Latin /Jazz Album in 2017 for his contributions to Eliane Elias's Dance of Time. As co-producer alongside Marc Johnson, Rodby helped craft the album's blend of , , and elements, drawing on Brazilian musical traditions to create a homage to 100 years of the genre's evolution; the project featured guest appearances by artists like Toquinho and . This accolade highlights his expertise in producing recordings that bridge cultural influences and achieve international acclaim.

References

  1. https://music.washington.edu/people/steve-rodby
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  3. https://www.grammy.com/artists/steven-rodby/15232
  4. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0734446/
  5. https://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/northwestern/summer2004/alumninews/rodby.htm
  6. https://www.bloomschoolofjazz.com/home/bid/101758/Steve-Rodby-Joins-Bloom-School-Faculty
  7. https://archive.org/download/annualcommenceme1977nort/annualcommenceme1977nort.pdf
  8. https://accugroovellc.com/pages/steve-rodby
  9. https://www.stevelawson.net/2007/11/steve_rodby_int/
  10. https://markegan.com/basses/
  11. https://www.patmetheny.com/music/detail.cfm?id=39
  12. https://ecmrecords.com/artists/steve-rodby/
  13. https://bobgluck.com/2024/06/25/pat-metheny-stories-beyond-words-reflection-14-bassist-steve-rodby/
  14. https://www.discogs.com/master/169774-Pat-Metheny-Group-We-Live-Here
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  21. https://www.sessiondays.com/2018/10/1988-lyle-mays-street-dreams/
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  26. https://www.instagram.com/p/DOsidoJjhjb/
  27. https://www.nielslandoky.com/news/rodby-wertico
  28. https://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/artists/steve-rodby
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  30. https://music.washington.edu/news/2020/11/13/giving-spotlight-raynier-institute-foundation
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  32. https://music.washington.edu/events/2025-11-12/jazz-innovations-i
  33. https://music.washington.edu/events/2025-11-13/jazz-innovations-ii
  34. https://music.washington.edu/events/2023-06-02/jazz-innovations-part-ii
  35. https://www.jazzwise.com/articles/jazz-breaking-news-the-impossible-gentlemen-step-out-with-new-album-and-uk-tour
  36. https://www.talkbass.com/threads/steve-rodby-on-amplification.689751/
  37. https://doublebassguide.com/?p=343
  38. https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2021/08/30/lyle-mays-final-composition-eberhard-features-jimmy-johnson-steve-rodby/
  39. https://www.discogs.com/master/818570-Traut-Rodby-The-Great-Lawn
  40. https://www.discogs.com/master/1408182-Traut-Rodby-The-Duo-Life
  41. https://www.allmusic.com/album/remember-the-river-mw0000760491
  42. https://www.discogs.com/release/2232942-Fred-Simon-Since-Forever
  43. https://music.washington.edu/events/2026-05-13/jazz-innovations-i
  44. https://www.discogs.com/release/3236391-Oregon-Northwest-Passage
  45. http://oregonband.com/wp-content/uploads/oregon.pdf
  46. https://jazztimes.com/features/profiles/eliane-elias-her-song-of-singing/
  47. https://www.sessiondays.com/2025/03/2001-michael-brecker-nearness-of-you-the-ballad-book/
  48. https://www.bloomschoolofjazz.com/home/topic/chicago-jazz
  49. https://originarts.com/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=82832
  50. https://downbeat.com/reviews/detail/eberhard
  51. https://www.npr.org/2008/11/23/97311659/three-producers-one-goal-great-sound
  52. https://grammy.com/artists/steven-rodby/15232
  53. https://grammy.com/artists/pat-metheny-group/15894
  54. https://www.patmetheny.com/awards/
  55. https://grammy.com/awards/50th-annual-grammy-awards
  56. https://grammy.com/awards/58th-annual-grammy-awards
  57. https://music.washington.edu/news/2022/04/04/jazz-studies-faculty-steve-rodby-2022-grammy-winner
  58. https://grammy.com/awards/25th-annual-grammy-awards
  59. https://grammy.com/awards/26th-annual-grammy-awards
  60. https://grammy.com/awards/27th-annual-grammy-awards
  61. https://grammy.com/awards/30th-annual-grammy-awards
  62. https://grammy.com/awards/32nd-annual-grammy-awards
  63. https://grammy.com/awards/36th-annual-grammy-awards
  64. https://grammy.com/awards/40th-annual-grammy-awards
  65. https://grammy.com/awards/41st-annual-grammy-awards
  66. https://grammy.com/awards/45th-annual-grammy-awards
  67. https://grammy.com/awards/48th-annual-grammy-awards
  68. https://grammy.com/awards/64th-annual-grammy-awards
  69. https://www.latingrammy.com/awards/18th-annual-latin-grammy-awards-2017
  70. https://elianeelias.com/jazz-give-dance-time-5-stars/
  71. https://www.allaboutjazz.com/news/latin-grammy-awards-2017-complete-list-of-winners/
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