Steve Uccello

Steve Uccello is a versatile upright and electric bassist, multi‑instrumentalist, composer, sound designer, and engineer based in the Monterey–Santa Cruz area. He began on drums at age 10 and by 13 was studying guitar and tape‑manipulation techniques, laying the groundwork for his sound‑design approach.

A trailblazer in formal jazz education, he earned the distinction of being CSU Monterey Bay’s first Jazz Studies graduate in 2007, having studied under renowned bassists Stan Poplin and Ray Drummond.

Throughout his career, Uccello has recorded and performed with a wide array of artists and groups—ranging from the singer-songwriter Dayan Kai (touring the U.S. and Canada) to award-winning Nashville songwriter Keith Greeninger, gospel ensemble Voices of Joy (on an Italian tour), and Latino jazz, theatrical, and mariachi ensembles in the Bay Area. A prolific festival performer, he’s appeared at High Sierra, Telluride and Mandolin Symposium in Santa Cruz, among others

Uccello leads several original and collaborative projects: “Clarified Birds” (an ensemble exploring alchemists’ music), “Ash On Dust” with bassist/composer Jeff Schmidt, the duo “sung” with Australian percussionist Nat Grant, and work with Welsh guitarist David Cooper‑Orton. He’s also licensed original music to Wondery podcasts such as Inside Psycho and Inside The Exorcist.

Uccello continues to perform with Monterey–Bay theater and gospel ensembles, serves as bassist for the Monterey Bay Jazz Orchestra, and teaches upright and electric bass through schools like Cabrillo College, Hollister Music, and Pacific Grove’s high school orchestras.