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Andrew Swift: Swift Kick

By Edward Blanco
May 8, 2012
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Currently the drummer for saxophonist

Sharel Cassity

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Sharel Cassity and her quintet, the

" data-original-title="" title="">Matthew Garrison Project as well as being the drumming voice for many nationally syndicated television commercials, Australian drummer Andrew Swift unveils his debut with Swift Kick, a remarkably engaging piece of musical mastery. There's no doubt about this outing, critics and audiences alike will devour this with pleasure—and why not? The compositions and arrangements are sophisticated, the cast of all-star veterans first rate, and the artist himself, gifted with the pen, the slit drum, timpani and guitar. Delivering a powerful kick sure to resonate, Swift's first effort is a jewel of an album containing that certain blend of excellent music, great players and performances putting a shine on every piece.

Produced by New York trombonist

Michael Dease

trombone
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Dease for D Clef Records, the album cover alone provides a clue of what is in store listing only a handful of the musicians gracing this recording. Aside from Dease, Cassity and Garrison, pianist

George Cables

piano
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">George Cables, trombonist extraordinaire

Wycliffe Gordon

trombone
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Wycliffe Gordon, bassist

Dwayne Burno

bass
1970 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Dwayne Burno, saxophone great

Eric Alexander

saxophone, tenor
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Alexander and guitarist

Yotam Silberstein

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Yotam Silberstein are but a few of the stars appearing here. Contributing five modern originals along with new treatments of several uncommon standards and covers, Swift gathers a terrific selection of material designed to maintain interest and engagement.

The program opens up with "Kisor The Despiser," penned by Cassity specifically for this album as a tribute of sorts to trumpeter

Ryan Kisor

trumpet
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Ryan Kisor, with whom she exchanges competing solos on an aggressive hard-bop starter. Vocalist

Vanessa Perea

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Vanessa Perea appears on two wonderful songs, sharing the limelight with Silberstein on "The Rio Dawn" and Gordon on

Burt Bacharach

composer / conductor
1928 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Burt Bacharach's pop classic "Alfie." A trombonist of the first caliber, Gordon lends his gruff vocals on "Brandy" which also features a fine solo from Burno.

Swift's talents as a composer come to the fore on "Soldier" and "Song For Sherin," two dynamic charts revealing a funky swing on the first and an intricate somewhat avant-garde tone on the latter. The

Helio Alves

piano
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Helio Alves arrangement of

Duke Pearson

piano
1932 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Pearson's "Is That So?" features Dease , Alexander and the crashing cymbal accents of the drummer in an sizzling nod to the hard-bop genre. "Baptized With Fire" is another hot number and clear highlight of the album burning with torrid solos from several members of the group. Cables, Burno and saxophonist

Tim Mayer

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Mayer heat up Swift's last original, "Goodbyes," which starts out slow and mellow then develops its own bop texture.

The set winds down on the sprite "As The Deer" and the ambitious John Lee composition "Understanding," a tribute to the jazz-rock music of the '70s featuring

Jeb Patton

piano
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeb Patton on Fender Rhodes and one last solo encounter for both Dease and Cassity, in an enchanting finale to a truly enchanting Swift Kick.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Kisor The Despiser; The Rio Dawn; Soldier; Slit Drum Interlude; Song For Sherin; Is That So?; Alfie; Baptized With Fire; Brandy; Goodbyes; As The Deer; Understanding.

Personnel

Andrew Swift

drums

Andrew Swift: drums, timpani, electric guitar; Sharel Cassity: soprano saxophone, bass clarinet; Michael Dease: trombone, electric trombone; Tim Mayer: alto flute; Evan Sherman: percussion, gong; John Lee: electric bass, composer; Jeb Patton: Fender Rhodes; Curtis Stewart: violin; Matt Garrison: baritone saxophone; Tony the Hawk: hawk.

Album information

Title: Swift Kick | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: D Clef Records

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