Always Pack Your Uniform on Top is a live album by bassist Steve Swallow recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in December 1999 and released on the Xtra Watt label in 2000.[1][2][3]

Always Pack Your Uniform on Top
Live album by Steve Swallow
Released	June 5, 2000
Recorded	April 1999
Studio	Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London England
Genre	Jazz
Length	47:32
Label	Xtra Watt 10
Producer	Steve Swallow
Steve Swallow chronology
Are We There Yet? (1998) Always Pack Your Uniform on Top (2000) Damaged in Transit (2001)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[5]

Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars and the review by David R. Adler states: "This is Swallow's third standards-derived quintet album, following in the footsteps of 1994's Real Book and 1996's Deconstructed... Although there's a brand new batch of tunes, Swallow applies the same approach, using familiar progressions as the basis for clever original music".[4] In JazzTimes Bill Bennett wrote: "His gifts as a composer is equally evident in this set... Throughout, the ensemble work is outstanding, with Goodrick and Nussbaum in constant touch".[6] On All About Jazz Glen Astarita noted: "Always Pack Your Uniform On Top is a class act - as the band most assuredly brought down the house at this time-honored jazz venue".[7]

Track listing

All compositions by Steve Swallow.

1. "Bend over Backward" - 11:29
2. "Dog With a Bone" - 6:12
3. "Misery Loves Company" - 7:48
4. "Reinventing the Wheel" - 7:48
5. "Feet First" - 7:26
6. "La Nostalgie de la Boue" - 6:49

Personnel

• Steve Swallow - bass guitar
• Barry Ries - trumpet
• Chris Potter - tenor saxophone
• Mick Goodrick - guitar
• Adam Nussbaum - drums

References