Rob's life is music. At age 5, he began his formal training on violin. At age 9, he added cornet, and later at 12, he began playing the electric bass. His first professional gig was at age 14 and since then, bass has proven to be the dominant instrument. In 1989, Rob received a B.S. in Music Education from West Chester University. This led to many musical contacts in both performance and education. Throughout the early 90's, Rob spent much of his performance time with "Voice of Reason", a popular world beat band, which released 3 albums and shared the stage with such acts as The Wailers, Third World, Judy Mowat, and others. Rob also took on the role of bass player in the house trio at the Capricorn Lounge in South Philadelphia and began to seriously shed on the jazz standards repertoire. It was at this time that he began to double on upright bass to accommodate the growing calls for straight ahead work. In 1994, Rob took the spot as house bass player for Wilmington's premiere jazz club, "Bourbon Street Cafe". lie held this chair until the club closed in 1999.
Currently, Rob has been freelancing a great deal in the Philadelphia Megalopolis Area and can be regularly seen in his supporting role with many of the area's top jazz musicians. Rob has performed onstage with John Swana, Dennis Fortune, Monette Sudler, Mark Adler, Dan Klieman and Siora, Don Eaton, Tony Smith, Ron Thomas, Giacomo Gates, Matt Niess, Glenn Ferracone, Andrew Neu, Kristina Pruitt, Gina Roche, Shawn Qaissaunee. Los Banditos, The Clifford Brown/Stan Getz All-Stars, Val Ray, Chris Farr, Barbara Montgomery, Connie Ranis, Cartoon Christmas Trio, Phyllis Chapell and countless others. With the release of "My Bassic flats", Rob Swanson plans on stepping to the front (figuratively-as he prefers standing next to the drummer) and spreading his own flavor of multi-influenced jazz in clubs and festivals throughout the region.
The music on "My Bassic Hats" is a compositional reflection of life in and out of the bass chair. The tunes are inspired by Rob's role as a working bass player in the swirling mire of multi-influenced jazz that exists in the greater Philadelphia area. So put on your hat and dig the gig, 'cause whatever the flavor may be, it's all jazz.
