Dave Swift

Thanks to his talent and growing popularity, Swift is often invited at shows and camps. Recently, Swift was invited to appear at the annual Warwick Bass Camp in Germany in 2016 as a VIP guest, along with numerous popular bass luminaries from all over the world. The 2016 Warwick Bass Camp was held in Markeneukirchen, Germany, and had a roster of outstanding bassists. Attending professors included Alphonso Johnson, Felix Pastorius, Anthony Wellington and Steve Bailey. Swift was also a guest lecturer at the March 2016 Bass Guitar Show at Earls Court Olympia that filled the room to capacity.

Swift currently performs on The Jools Holland Show, a BBC Radio 2 program. Swift and Holland appeared on the front cover in the June 2016 issue of the British publication Bass Guitar magazine. This feature was Swift's fourth interview in the magazine and his second cover feature.

Since August 2016, Swift has been supporting up and coming UK artist Georgia Crandon, (aka Georgia) whose music is best categorised as retro jazz and swing. Swift continues to be an in-demand session musician, bass clinician and music educator.

As one of the leading bassists in the UK, Swift is part of many projects. He had a notable appearance in Thomas Solomon Gray's debut album called New Beginnings which was released in 2015 and featured Ivo Neame (piano) and Mike Outram (guitar).

Swift has played with Alexander Armstrong and his Band, who toured the UK in late 2013. In January and February 2016 and they completed another tour.

Since joining Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Swift has played at many prestigious events, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Dubai International Jazz Festival, Blue Note Tokyo, Amnesty International, the Montreux Jazz Festival, Glastonbury Festival and the G8 conference for world leaders including Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. Swift has notably played for Her Majesty the Queen at the Millennium Night celebration, Millennium Dome. The orchestra also played a sold-out gig at the Sydney Opera House during their 2008 tour of Australia and New Zealand.

In 1991 Swift heard that Jools Holland, ex-Squeeze keyboardist and TV presenter, was searching for a bassist who played both double bass and bass guitar. With the renowned bassist Pino Palladino then holding the “bass chair” in Holland's band, this was a bold move on the young bassist's part. The advantage from Swift's position was that he also played double bass and was already skilled in sight-reading. Swift auditioned, was hired on the spot, and has been Holland's bassist ever since.

Swift was the house bassist for the primetime Saturday night Chris Evans's TV show Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, Name That Tune on Channel 5. Since 1991 he has featured as house bassist on Later… with Jools Holland on BBC2. The band continues to tour both nationally and internationally.

Swift turned professional aged 18. As a highly skilled sight-reader, and being well acclimatised to each of his three instruments, he became a session bassist in and around the Midlands. In 1988 Swift moved to London and quickly became involved in the session and jazz scene.

Dave Swift (born 11 January 1964) is a British bassist. He is best known for his work on the BBC2 Television program Later... with Jools Holland as part of Jools's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.

Most recently, Swift played bass on the soundtrack to the period drama Me & Orson Welles (starring Zac Efron, Christian McKay and Claire Danes). The period drama, set in 1937, features Swift and the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra making an on-screen appearance as a dance band in the ballroom scene.