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ACM were privileged to welcome bass guitar and session musician with Jools Holland’s His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Dave Swift to the Guildford campus on Thursday 14th November.
Already in the neighbourhood for a performance with Jools Holland & His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Dave toured the ACM Guildford facility alongside fellow bass guitarist and ACM Senior Lecturer Paul Geary.
About Dave Swift
Since turning professional at the age of 18, bass guitarist Dave Swift quickly became an in demand session bassist, playing on film soundtracks, TV adverts and radio jingles. Helped by his excellent sight-reading skills and ability to play any style of music, Dave has played in numerous bands and travelling around the world on the most prestigious luxury cruise ships building his musical repertoire and improvisational abilities.
In 1991, Dave heard that Jools Holland was looking for a bass player, particularly one that played acoustic bass as well as bass guitar. With the renowned bassist Pino Palladino holding the bass chair in Holland’s band originally; the advantage from Dave’s position was that Palladino didn’t play upright acoustic bass. Dave went for the audition and got the gig there and then.
Since joining Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Dave has played at many prestigious events including North Sea jazz Festival, Dubai International Jazz Festival, Blue Note Tokyo, Amnesty International, the Montreux Jazz Festival, Glastonbury Music Festival, the G8 conference for world leaders including Tony Blair and Bill Clinton, also at theMillennium Night celebration at the Millennium Dome for Her majesty the Queen. The band also played a sold-out gig at the Sydney Opera House during their 2008 tour of Australia and New Zealand. Dave was also the house bassist for the primetime Saturday night Chris Evans’TV show ‘Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush’, ‘Name That Tune’ on Channel 5, and since 1991 on Jools’ hugely popular and long-running TV show ‘Later…with Jools Holland’ on BBC2 as well as constantly touring around the UK and internationally. Dave also performs on ‘The Jools Holland Show’, Jools’ popular BBC Radio 2 program.
During his time with Jools, Dave has played on several British movie soundtracks including: Secret Friends (Dennis Potter), MILK(Dawn French), Kevin and Perry Go Large (Harry Enfield, Cathy Burke), Hunting Venus (Martin Clunes). Most recently Dave played bass on the soundtrack to the period drama ‘Me & Orson Welles’ (staring Zac Efron, Christian McKay and Claire Danes). Set in 1937, Dave and the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra also make an on screen appearance as a dance band in the ballroom scene. The band have also played on and appeared in several TV commercials, including two for Bells Whiskey. Dave was also the house bassist on the Johnny Vaughan Tonight series on BBC3, but it’s his time as bassist on Jools’ ‘Later TVshow’ that has given him the biggest exposure.
Dave is still an in demand session musician outside of Jools’ band and has an enviable list of musical credits to his name.
A Summary of Dave Swift’s Artist Credits
Emeli Sande, Bobby Womack, Damon Albarn, Lianne La Havas, Gabrielle Aplin, Tori Amos, Amy Winehouse, Jessie J, Tom Jones, Rumer, Paloma Faith, James Morrison, Cee Lo Green, Mick Hucknall, Lily Allen, Paulo Nutini, Nik Kershaw, Gary Numan, Seasick Steve, Florence Welch (Florence and the Machine), Phil Collins, Paolo Nutini, Sam Sparro, Adele, Boy George, Billy Bragg, Mary J Blige, Duffy, Mika, Paul McCartney, Bryan Adams, Chris Rea, Craig David, Ray Lamontagne, Sheryl Crow, KT Tunstall, Katie Melua, Joss Stone, Kylie, Paul Young, BB King, Lionel Ritchie, Jamie Cullum, Noel Gallagher, Skunk Anansie, Bob Geldof, Corinne Bailey Rae, Lulu, Rick Astley, Jeff Beck, Sharleen Spiteri (Texas), Gabrielle, David McAlmont, lvis Costello, Norah Jones, Julio Iglesias, Rick Wakeman, Sting, George Harrison, Van Morrison, Jay K (Jamiroquai), Marianne Faithful, Badly Drawn Boy, Bono, Beverly Knight, Barry White, Eric Clapton, Annie Lennox.
ACM would like to thanks bass guitarist Dave Swift for popping by ACM and hope he enjoyed his time time with us.
For more information about Dave Swift, visit his website or follow him on Facebook and YouTube.
