Lloyd Swanton
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Stuart Swanton is an Australian jazz double bass
ist/bass guitar
ist and composer
, based in Sydney. Swanton was a member of Dynamic Hepnotics
in 1986 and co-founded, jazz trio The Necks
in 1987 with Chris Abrahams
and Tony Buck.
with Chris Abrahams
on keyboards and Tony Buck on drums. In 1991 he formed his own group, The catholics. He has performed solo improvisation
concerts on double bass. Swanton has performed with The Benders
, Clarion Fracture Zone, Sydney Symphony, Vince Jones
, Alpha Centauri Ensemble, the Mighty Reapers, the Seymour Group, Tim Finn
, Stephen Cummings
and Wendy Matthews
. He is also a long-serving member of the Bernie McGann
Trio and the Bernie McGann
Quartet.
As well as music for his own bands, Swanton has composed several film soundtracks. Swanton hosts the radio show Mixed Marriage on Eastside Radio
in Sydney, a weekly program looking at crossings of jazz with other musical styles.
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
ist/bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, based in Sydney. Swanton was a member of Dynamic Hepnotics
Dynamic Hepnotics
The Dynamic Hepnotics were a successful Australian soul/blues/funk band during the 1980s. They had major success with their chart topping song Soul Kind Of Feeling in 1984 and 1985, followed up by Gotta Be Wrong later that year....
in 1986 and co-founded, jazz trio The Necks
The Necks
The Necks are an experimental jazz trio from Sydney, Australia, comprising Chris Abrahams on piano and Hammond organ, Tony Buck on drums, percussion and electric guitar and Lloyd Swanton on bass guitar and double bass...
in 1987 with Chris Abrahams
Chris Abrahams
Chris Abrahams is a Sydney-based pianist, best known for his jazz work.Abrahams has been a member of the Benders, the Laughing Clowns, The Sparklers and The Necks. He has recorded several solo albums, as well as collaborations with Melanie Oxley from the Sparklers...
and Tony Buck.
Biography
In 1987 he co-founded jazz trio The NecksThe Necks
The Necks are an experimental jazz trio from Sydney, Australia, comprising Chris Abrahams on piano and Hammond organ, Tony Buck on drums, percussion and electric guitar and Lloyd Swanton on bass guitar and double bass...
with Chris Abrahams
Chris Abrahams
Chris Abrahams is a Sydney-based pianist, best known for his jazz work.Abrahams has been a member of the Benders, the Laughing Clowns, The Sparklers and The Necks. He has recorded several solo albums, as well as collaborations with Melanie Oxley from the Sparklers...
on keyboards and Tony Buck on drums. In 1991 he formed his own group, The catholics. He has performed solo improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
concerts on double bass. Swanton has performed with The Benders
The Benders
The Benders were a British comedy sketch group who performed on the London comedy circuit between 2000 & 2002.This sketch group comprised the following comic actors and writers:*Neil Edmond *Stephen Evans...
, Clarion Fracture Zone, Sydney Symphony, Vince Jones
Vince Jones
Vince Jones is an Australian jazz artist. He is a singer, songwriter, and trumpet/flugelhorn player. His music includes both original music and new contemporary versions of jazz standards. His themes are often love, inequity, injustice, peace and anti-greed.He attributes his love of jazz to...
, Alpha Centauri Ensemble, the Mighty Reapers, the Seymour Group, Tim Finn
Tim Finn
Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
, Stephen Cummings
Stephen Cummings
Stephen Donald Cummings is an Australian rock singer-songwriter and writer. He was lead singer of Melbourne-based rock band, The Sports, during 1976–1981, followed by a solo career which has met with critical acclaim but has had limited commercial success...
and Wendy Matthews
Wendy Matthews
Wendy Joan Matthews is an Australian adult alternative pop singer originally from Canada who has been a member of Models and Absent Friends and is a solo artist...
. He is also a long-serving member of the Bernie McGann
Bernie McGann
Bernie McGann is an Australian jazz alto saxophone player. He began his career in the late 1950s and is still active as a performer, composer and recording artist.- Biography :...
Trio and the Bernie McGann
Bernie McGann
Bernie McGann is an Australian jazz alto saxophone player. He began his career in the late 1950s and is still active as a performer, composer and recording artist.- Biography :...
Quartet.
As well as music for his own bands, Swanton has composed several film soundtracks. Swanton hosts the radio show Mixed Marriage on Eastside Radio
Eastside Radio
Eastside Radio is a community radio station based in Paddington and broadcasting to the Eastern suburbs of Sydney. This includes the municipalities of Botany Bay, Randwick, Waverley, Woollahra and the City of Sydney....
in Sydney, a weekly program looking at crossings of jazz with other musical styles.
External links
- Swanton, Lloyd (Stuart) biography at jazz.com