Interview Dave Swift

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Interview with Dave Swift: the bass giant behind Jools Holland

As the bassist for Jools Holland's orchestra, he plays all over the world, and in the TV program Later... with Jools Holland, Dave Swift accompanies the biggest artists. On Saturday, May 30, he will be giving a masterclass at the Guitar Convention! This article was written in collaboration with De Bassist.

Bald head, grey goatee, black suit, usually a six-string bass guitar or an (electric) double bass. Bassist Dave Swift towered over Jools Holland’s band. He accompanied the greatest artists: from all the remaining Beatles and Stones to Joss Stone and Amy Winehouse.

From trombone to bass guitar

The bass guitar was not the first instrument Swift learned to play: ‘I actually didn’t want to become a musician at all back then – it happened by accident. I was mainly focused on sports. I took trombone lessons and played trombone in the school orchestra, because that worked out. Actually, I mainly enjoyed playing many different kinds of music, so around the age of sixteen I played in orchestras and brass bands, as well as in funk and pop bands. It became clear to me then that the bass guitar is a cooler instrument than the trombone, so when one of the bands needed a bass guitarist, I was ready for it. I hadn’t had any bass lessons, but I had played through a few books on my own. I could read sheet music perfectly well, and that helped enormously.’

Masterclass

On Saturday, May 30, we welcome Dave Swift to the Guitar Convention, where he will be giving a masterclass.  It will be an hour full of stories, behind-the-scenes experiences, career advice, and music. Educational, inspiring, enlightening, and undoubtedly with many great anecdotes. You won’t want to miss this!

Read the full interview with Dave Swift on the Bassist website.

 

Free masterclass