Long a valuable sideman, Lynn Seaton has thus far just led one set as a leader, 1991's Bassman's Basement (Timeless). He started playing classical guitar when he was seven but switched to bass two years later. Seaton attended the University of Oklahoma and played locally. In September 1980, he moved to Cincinnati where he worked with the Steve Schmidt Trio and the Blue Wisp Big Band. He was a faculty member at the College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati from 1982-84 (and has continued teaching) but left in September 1984 to join Woody Herman's orchestra. Ten months later, he departed from Herman to start a two-year world tour with Count Basie's big band. Since then, Seaton (a very supportive and swinging player who can also take strong solos) has freelanced with quite a few major artists including Tony Bennett, George Shearing (for a six-month tour), Joe Williams, Ernestine Anderson, Monty Alexander, Diane Schuur, the Buck Clayton Big Band, Scott Hamilton, Bud Shank, Mark Murphy, Teddy Wilson and a variety of top bop, swing and mainstream names. The many musicians he has recorded with include Basie, Herman, Schuur, Howard Alden, the Blue Wisp Big Band, Cal Collins, Ted Des Plantes, Tim Hagans, Bobby Shew, Maxine Sullivan and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. ~ Scott Yanow