John Swana

[Tom 1960]

The past few days I've been listening to a few of his releases from the Criss Cross label and getting a great deal of enjoyment from them. Seeing there hasn't been a prior discussion here, are there any other fans of this jazz trumpeter?

[Larry Kart]

I'm a fan. In addition to his many Criss Cross recordings as a leader and sideman, he's in fine form on drummer-Organissimo board member Mike Melito's "In the Tradition," where his ideal frontline partner is tenorman Grant Stewart. An excellent album.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/melito3

[John Tapscott]

I enjoy Swana's playing, but he is under-represented in my collection.

The only one I have of his is this:

Also as a sideman on the Mike Melito CD Larry mentions and on this Peter Leitch CD

[JETman]

I've been following him since his 1st Criss Cross release. Excellent player.

[Peter Friedman]

Along with his own recordings on Criss Cross, the Mike Melitto CD, and the Peter

Leitch session, I also have John Swana as a sideman on these CDs.

Benny Golson - Remembering Clifford brown - Milestone

These are all on Criss Cross

Eric Alexander - New York Calling

Presenting Chris Potter

Introducing Jimmy Greene

Eric Alexander - Full Range

Joel Weiskopf - New beginnings

Joe Magnarelli - New York-Philly Junction

As the above indicates, I very much enjoy the playing of trumpet player John Swana.

[Joe]

A very Shaw-like player, but he's definitely more than slavish Woody-isms.

If you'd like to hear him in a slightly atypical context, you might check out altoist Bobby Zankel's PRAYER AND ACTION on CIMP (though, as with all releases on that imprint, beware the "audiophile sound.")

Edited June 20, 2011 by Joe

[cymbalgroove]

John really plays great. I don't think he is playing much trumpet these days but he's playing EVI. He's a very natural player who is comfortable in any setting. I remember him bringing me to Philadelphia one weekend at Chris's Jazz Cafe a few years back when he was playing trumpet and he was killin! The band was great as well. The late great Sid Simmons on piano, Madison Rast bass, Bootsie Barnes and Jon Gordon one night and Mike DiRubbo one night. John is very hard on himself. He's a legend in Philly and well deserved I might add.