|
Biography |
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Winner of the 2008 Canadian Maple Blues
Award
for New Artist of
the Year
-
Winner of the 2008 East Coast
Music Award
(ECMA) for Blues Recording
of the Year
-
Winner of a 2008 CBC Galaxy
Rising Star Award
With his well-travelled guitars, rich and
soulful voice, insightful
writing and casual wit, Swift warms
audiences everywhere he
performs.
In the spring of 2007, Swift teamed up with
producer/engineer
Charles Austin (Buck 65, Joel Plaskett, Matt
Mays) to record ten
original songs at Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Echo
Chamber Studio.
Released in stores
nationally on August 28 by Festival Distribution, Swift’s
much-anticipated solo debut Into the Dirt
features some of Canada’s top musical artists. Swift, who plays
acoustic guitars, resonator guitars, banjo and mandolin on the
recording, is joined by six talented friends, including 2007
Canadian Maple Blues Award-winning drummer/ percussionist Geoff
Arsenault (Ray Bonneville, Mary Jane Lamond), Brian Bourne electric
bass and chapman stick (Rawlins Cross, DRUM!), Chris Corrigan
electric guitar (Rita MacNeil, Mary Jane Lamond), PEI songstress
Rose Cousins vocals, New York blues artist Guy Davis on didgeridoo
and harmonica and B3/piano legend Bill Stevenson.
From the brawny groove of the title track
“Into the Dirt”,
which
takes a dark look at the inevitable cycle of life, to the
infectious
ragtime-inspired
guitar work showcased on “Hackett’s Cove Rag”,
to the country-roots feel and dobro highlights
of “Crying Shame”
to the
uplifting stride piano piece “My Sweet Baby You”,
this is an album that will engage all who listen.
Drawing inspiration from finger-style master
Mississippi John Hurt, the essential songwriting of Tom Waits and Emmy
Lou Harris, the melodies of jazz great Charlie Haden, and his
father’s operatic voice, Swift delivers a distinctive blend of roots,
country-blues and rag style.
"Masterfully produced Into The Dirt sonically alludes to
what
might happen if Tom Waits and Mark Knoffler ever
put
themselves in the hands of legendary Canadian producer
Daniel
Lanois. An impressive, rewarding listening experience for
those
who enjoy tonally-textured song and soundscapes,
classily
performed." - JazzEast Rising Magazine,
Halifax, NS
Swift is also a member of the 2007 Canadian
Maple Blues Award-winning and ECMA-winning group Hot Toddy
Trio
. With
eight
albums to their credit and a career that spans over 12
years, the
group is a regular on festival scenes. They have
played the
prestigious Newport Folk Festival in the United
States, the Blue
Balls Festival in Switzerland, the Vienna Jazz
Festival in Austria,
along with many Canadian jazz, blues and
folk festivals. |
