SoundClick artist: swingjazza - "Original melodic jazz"

Swing jazz music with original melodic tunes.

swingjazza - it's an identity and outlet for my music on the internet, an opportunity to compose and arrange tunes that have never been heard before (they even takes me by surprise sometimes), and give them to the world.

I've had a guitar since I was 15, and started playing in the folk/folk-rock and ragtime fingerpicking styles of the time, writing songs and tunes, as I have done ever since.
In my mid-thirties I took up the saxophone and started playing it, and guitar, in various bands that have come and gone; 'The Sugarfoot Stompers' (trad and dixie), 'Just Jazz' (smooth and pop), and more recently with 'Emma & the Footnotes' (jazz and soul).
With an ear for chord sequences and harmonies I was able to analyse and notate tunes that we'd go on to play - valuable lessons for my current project.
Being creative, by writing and arranging tunes and songs, has always been more important to me than playing them in front of an audience, but the internet now allows me the freedom to do both, in a semi-detached kind of way where you, the listener, can be in control.
So, under the banner 'swingjazza' here is some of my music.

Visit my blog for further details about the tunes and how they're created, or The Footnotes for my other band, where you'll find a varied collection of tunes and songs in other styles - I don't just do jazz.

And if you love music, you probably love art as well, so why not visit Kathy Lowe Artwork to see a selection of great paintings.

Why this name?

I wanted a name to reflect the main style of music I'd been composing.

Do you play live?

I did for about 15 years, from solo, trio jazz, blues, soul and pop, to 7-piece jazz bands.
Jazz and weddings seem to go well together. We played lots of them, too many to remember.

Would you sign a record contract with a major label?

Band History:

Hippy
Folk
Rock
Jazz
www

Your influences?

Influences ? I've no idea. I create my own music, my own way without trying to copy anyone, but I do try to create it in the traditional way with a start, middle and end, with chord sequences and progressions, melody, harmony and variations. My biggest influence is probably the guitar chord progressions that I've learned and experimented with over the years.

Inspirations ? Well that's a different question. I'm inspired by Glenn Miller, Billie Holiday and Django, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Motown, great guitarists and great Rock, Pop and Film music composers. Great tunes and arrangements inspire me.

I sometimes get ideas from a piece of music I've never heard before, and think, yes, I could create something with that kind of feel to it, and take it from there.

Favorite spot?

Home.

Equipment used:

I've got various guitars, saxophones etc. and recording equipment that anyone could buy. None of it is very expensive.
The Zoom MRS-1044 (or more modern equivalent) multi-track recording studio is a great piece of kit that I've had for many years. It's a stand-alone device that doesn't need a PC, but can also provide input to a PC.
On the PC, I use Magix music studio software and various VST instruments (mainly IK multimedia at the moment).
I try to make my music sound as realistic and authentic as possible. Some of it is VST, some audio, and some is a mix of the two.
I base the arrangements around my experience of not only being a sax and guitar player but also of having 'had a go' on bass, piano, trumpet, trombone, clarinet (or anything else I can find), and having played extensively with some great players of these, and other instruments.

Anything else...?

These are all original compositions (unless otherwise stated).
I hope you like what you hear.
If you've any helpful technical, or musical tips, or comments, please feel free to add comments, or contact me.
Any feedback is welcome.

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Photos