Dave Swift

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In 1991 Swift heard that Jools Holland, ex-Squeeze keyboardist and TV presenter, was searching for a bassist who played both double bass and bass guitar. With the renowned bassist Pino Palladino then holding the “bass chair” in Holland’s band, this was a bold move on the young bassist’s part. The advantage from Dave’s position was that he also played double bass and was already highly skilled in sight-reading. Swift auditioned, was hired on the spot, and has been Jools’s bassist ever since.

Thanks to his talent and growing popularity, Swift is often invited at shows and camps. Recently, Swift was invited to appear at the annual Warwick Bass Camp in Germany in 2016 as a VIP guest, along with numerous popular bass luminaries from all over the world. The 2016 Warwick Bass Cam was held in Markeneukirchen, Germany, and had a roster of outstanding bassists. Attending professors included Alphonso Johnson, Felix Pastorius, Anthony Wellington and Steve Bailey. Swift was also a guest lecturer at the March 2016 Bass Guitar Show at Earls Court Olympia that filled the room to capacity.

Swift is still an in-demand session musician outside of Holland’s band and has also played double bass for American soul singer Gary U.S. Bonds, Ben E. King and on ex-Kinks frontman Ray Davies’s album “Other People’s Lives”.

As one of the leading bassists in the UK, Swift is part of many projects. He had a notable appearance in Thomas Solomon Gray’s debut album called “New Beginnings” which was released in 2015 and featured critically acclaimed musicians, Ivo Neame (piano) and Mike Outram (guitar).

Swift has played with Alexander Armstrong and his Band, who toured the UK in the autumn of 2013. In January and February 2016 and they completed another successful tour.

Swift made has a number of TV appearances throughout the years, including on ITV’s This Morning show. He is an active online educator and has recently become associated with LeanMusician.com, a platform focused on providing support to practicing musicians, directed by Thomas Solomon Gray and Jack Vaughan.

Since joining Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Swift has played at many prestigious events, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Dubai International Jazz Festival, Blue Note Tokyo, Amnesty International, the Montreux Jazz Festival, Glastonbury Festival and the G8 conference for world leaders including Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. Swift has notably played for Her Majesty the Queen at the Millennium Night celebration, Millennium Dome. The orchestra also played a sold-out gig at the Sydney Opera House during their 2008 tour of Australia and New Zealand

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