Dave Swift
Dave Swift, born 11 January 1964, is a British bassist. He is best known for his work on the BBC2 Television program Later... with Jools Holland as part of Jools's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.
Life and career
Born in Wolverhampton, England, Swift's musical experience started with singing in the local school choir and later at church. Throughout his childhood he was exposed to the acoustic guitar, which both of his brothers played at their home. Swift was fourteen when he decided to take up the trombone at school. Later on, some friends formed a band and needed a bass guitarist so Swift volunteered. When Swift’s trombone teacher saw how he’d progressed on bass guitar, he advised him it would a be a wise move to take up double bass as well, knowing that he would benefit from playing both instruments as he’d get many more gigs as a professional musician.
Swift turned professional aged 18. Being highly skilled at sight reading and extremely adept at each of his three instruments, he became a session bassist in and around the Midlands. In 1988 he moved to London and quickly became involved in the session and jazz scene there.
In 1991 Swift heard that Jools Holland, ex-Squeeze keyboardist and TV presenter, was looking for a bassist who played both Double Bass and Bass Guitar. This was a prestigious gig and demanded a strong bass player. With the renowned bassist Pino Palladino holding the bass chair in Holland’s band originally; the advantage from Swift’s position was that Palladino didn’t play upright acoustic bass. Swift auditioned, got the job there and then, and has been Jools's bassist ever since.[1]
Since joining Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, he 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, the G8 conference for world leaders including Tony Blair and Bill Clinton and also at the Millennium 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.
Swift 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 the hugely popular and long-running TV show ‘Later…with Jools Holland’ on BBC2 as well as constantly touring around the UK and internationally.
Swift also performs on 'The Jools Holland Show', a popular BBC Radio 2 program.
During his time with Holland, Swift 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 Swift played bass on the soundtrack to the period drama ‘Me & Orson Welles’ (starring Zac Efron, Christian McKay and Claire Danes). Set in 1937, Swift 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 whisky. Swift was also the house bassist on the Johnny Vaughan Tonight series on BBC Three.
Swift is still an in demand session musician outside of Holland’s band and has also played double bass for the 80’s pop star Rick Astley, American soul singer Gary U.S. Bonds, Ben E. King and on ex-Kinks frontman Ray Davis' album Other People's Lives.
Dave also played with Alexander Armstrong and his Band who toured the UK in the autumn of 2013 and made a number of TV appearances including ITV's This Morning show.