"John Swana is one of the most exciting trumpeters to arrive for a decade," declares Mark Gardner, co-author of Blackwell's Guide to Recorded Jazz.

Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, Swana took up Trumpet at the age of 11. He was drawn to jazz at the age of 17 after hearing Dizzy Gillespie, and the interest developed into a passion while he was in collage. There he began transcribing the solos of Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, and Tom Harrell.

Swana has performed in the Philadelphia and New York areas with well known jazz names such as Don Patterson, Shirley Scott, Mickey Roker, Cecil Payne, Johnny Coles, Ralph Peterson, Charles Fambrough, Bobby Watson, Trudy Pitts, Bootsie Barns, Craig Handy, Chris Potter, Stephen Scott, Tim Warfield, Eric Alexander, Sam Newsome,Vincent Herring, Uri Caine, Peter Leitch Ralph Bowen, and Robin Eubanks. He has also been heard with Freddie Hubbard, Phil Woods, Ronnie Cuber, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Clark Terry, Frank Foster, John Faddis, Slide Hampton, J.J. Johnson, Bob Minzer, and Charlie Persip as a member of the Joe Sudler Swing Machine, a 16-piece big band based in Philadelphia.

John Swana can be heard on recordings with: Benny Golson, Grover Washington Jr., Charles Fambrough, Craig Handy, Tito Puente, Bill O'Connell, Lenny White, Ricky Sabastian, Marlon Simon, Ed Simon, Dave Valentin, Cafe', Art Webb,Adam Holtzman, Ralph Bowen, Ron Blake, Peter Bernstein, Carl Allen, Mulgrew Miller, Benny Green, Kenny Barron,Tim Warfield, Lewis Nash, Clarence Penn, Kevin Hays, Chris McBride, Uri Caine, Peter Leitch, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Ralph Peterson, Bobby Zankel, and Tom Harrell.

Selected Discography

As a Leader

"Introducing John Swana" - Features: Benny Green (Piano), Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums), and Billy Pierce (tenor sax).

"John Swana And Friends" - Features: Mulgrew Miller (piano), Ira Coleman (bass), Billy Drummond (drums) Tom Harrell (trumpet), and Billy Pierce (tenor sax).

"The Feelings Mutual" - Features: Steve Giordano (guitar), Dave Posmontier (B-3 Organ), Billy Drummond (drums), and Chris Potter (Tenor sax, soprano sax, and alto flute).

"In The Moment" - Features: Kenny Barren(piano), Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums), Steve Davis (trombone), and Eric Alexander (tenor sax).

"Philly-New York Junction John Swana-Joe Magnarelli Sextet" - Features: Eric Alexander (tenor sax), Joe Magnarelli (trumpet), Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums), and Joel Weiskopf (piano).

"Tug of War" - Features: Chris Potter (tenor sax, soprano sax, and alto flute), Byron Landham (drums), David Hazeltine (piano), and Dwayne Burno (bass).

As a Sideman

• With Charles Fambrough: "Keeper of the Spirit" Audio Quest Records; "City Tribes" Evidence Records; "Escue" A group colaboration on K-Jazz; "The K-Jazz Allstars" K-Jazz
• With Peter Leitch: "Trio/Quartet 91" Concord Records
• With Chris Potter: "Presenting Chris Potter" Criss Cross Jazz
• With Eric Alexander: "New York Calling" Criss Cross Jazz; "Full Range" Criss Cross Jazz
• With Mike Boone: "Better Late Then Never"; "Old Head"
• With Benny Golson: "Brown Immortal" Key'Stone
• With Bobby Zankel: "Prayer and Action" Creative Improvised Music Projects
• With Clarence Penn: "Penn's Landing" Criss Cross Jazz; With Pete Smyser: "Out of Nowhere"