FRIDAY MUSIC: Veronica Swift, by JD

Not all Swifts can sing but this one certainly can. At age 23, Veronica Swift is now being recognized as one of the top young jazz singers on the scene. Not only is she a fine singer she is reviving the ‘lost art’ of scat singing (originating in vocal jazz, scat singing or scatting is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all. In scat singing, the singer improvises melodies and rhythms using the voice solely as an instrument.)

Her parents are renowned jazz pianist Hod O’Brien and celebrated jazz singer and educator/author Stephanie Nakasian. She has appeared on stage with Jon Hendricks, Annie Ross, Esperanza Spalding, Joe Lovano, Bob Dorough, Kim Nazarian, Danilo Perez, and others. With her family she has appeared at The Great Waters Music Festival in NH, Blues Alley Jazz Club in DC, the Jazz Standard in NYC, the Jazz Cruise, and for the New Jersey and Hilton Head Jazz Societies.

https://www.veronicaswift.com/bio

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica_Swift

(There are not many good quality videos so this is but a small selection and as Wiggia has already noted she needs to find better backing musicians although in the last video below she shares the stage with Wynton Marsalis and he looks suitably impressed by her performance.)

At Last – Live at the Strathmore (A Glenn Miller Swing Celebration) Ft. Veronica Swift

Veronica Swift – Moanin’

Veronica Swift sings “This Bitter Earth” at the 2023 SFJAZZ Gala

Veronica Swift ‘Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me’ Blue Note NYC [Night 3]

“I Just Found Out About Love” Veronica Swift and the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble

Véronica Swift & Wynton Marsalis “Cherokee” @Jazz_in_Marciac 2019