Stomvi Trumpet Artist
Brian D. Swartz
Trumpet, EVI, Composer, Arranger, Instructor
Los Angeles, CA
BSTPT@aol.com
Born December 16, 1967, Brian is a second generation trumpeter. His
father, CMSgt Lawrence Swartz (1937-1992), was a 30 year trumpeter in
the United States Air Force. Brian's early exposure to music made a
profound influence on him and he started playing trumpet at the age of
ten. As a teenager, his family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area
where he attended Armijo High School. He played all through his high
school years and won many honors and accolades. He graduated from
Armijo in 1986 and began his music education at Solano Community
College. In 1988, he moved to Los Angeles to attend California State
University at Northridge where he could further hone his craft. He
also attended the University of Southern California.
Brian started his own group in 1996 and has become an accomplished
composer and arranger and he has performed at most of the major jazz
venues in Los Angeles leading his own groups including; The Catalina
Bar & Grill, The Jazz Bakery, Spazio, Steamer's Cafe, The Baked
Potato, Lunaria, The Jazz Spot, Fais Do Do and King King. Brian's
quintet has featured some of LA's top sideman such as saxophonists
Keith Fiddmont, George Harper or Ben Clatworthy; pianists Brad
Mehldau, Billy Childs, John Beasley, Bob Florence Theo Saunders or
Bill Cunliffe; bassists Jeff Littleton, Kevin Axt, Jeff D'Angelo or
Darek Oles; and drummers Lorca Hart, Dick Weller or Aaron Serfaty. In
May, 2000, Brian completed his debut CD as a leader,”There's Only Me”
, which was released worldwide on Noir Records. Recently, Brian
hosted a series at Lunaria in Century City called “The Best of LA's
Trumpets” which featured his quintet backing up many of LA's greatest
jazz trumpeters.
Brian's versatility as either a jazz soloist or a powerful section
player has made him a much sought after sideman. He can be heard on
recordings with Jane Getz, Dale Fielder, Todd Hunter, Joe Henry, the
Buddy Childers Big Band, Red and the Red Hots, Rebecca Kyler Downs,
Teddy Thompson, Dave Sherr's Artmusic Ensemble, Josh Nelson, Raya
Yarbrough and numerous other TV and film studio dates.
As a sideman, Brian has performed with Buddy Childers, Jack Sheldon's
Big Band, Bob Florence's “Limited Edition,” Canadian “crooner”
Michael Buble', Francisco Aguabella's Latin Jazz Sextet, Jane Getz,
Todd Hunter, Buddy Montgomery, Carmen Lundy, Dale Fielder, Black/Note,
Don Rickles, Phil Vieux, Bruce Lofgren's “After Burner,” Bobby White,
Chuck Flores, The Jazz Spot Orchestra, Rebecca Kyler Downs, Bruce
Eskovitz's Jazz Orchestra, Dina Deluxe, Sandra Booker and Raya
Yarbrough. Since 1996, Brian has been a core member with the
critically acclaimed Jazzantiqua, an ethnic dance company which
performs extended works live with a jazz quintet. The company has
performed to rave reviews at the L.A. Theater Center and at the John
Anson Ford Amphitheater.
For three years Brian was a regular member of one of LA's best swing
bands, Red and the Red Hots, with whom he appeared on the “Donnie and
Marie Show” and “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Brian also performed at
the 1999 Playboy Jazz Festival with actor/pianist Jeff Goldblum's
Miriam Schnitzer Orchestra. Brian played and acted as contractor for
the Tom Harrell Big Band which performed music from Harrell's Grammy
nominated CD “Time's Mirror” (RCA/Victor), at the Jazz Bakery in
December of 1999. This band also performed at the 2000 Monterey Jazz
Festival in September of 2000. More recently, Brian performed at the
2001 Playboy Jazz Festival in Pasadena with Bruce Lofgren's fusion
orchestra, After Burner.
In 2002, Brian formed “The Quorum” in which he explores his “fusion”
roots. Brian uses this new group to feature his nimbleness on his
Akai/Steiner EVI, a wind driven synthesizer based on, but not sounding
or looking like the trumpet. He continues to compose for this group
and it is a source of intense and powerful music. In 2003, Brian
began working a new quartet featuring Bob Florence on piano. This
group plays only standards but with a unique twist that only Brian
Swartz and Bob Florence can provide.
Brian has performed as a guest artist/clinician with Saugus H.S.,
Valencia H.S., the Los Angeles H.S. for the Arts, Santa Monica
College, Occidental College and Cal State University at Northridge.
He has also participated as a guest artist/clinician at the Pink Pop
International Jazz Exchange which brings dozens of jazz students every
other year from Germany to CSUN for a two week jazz camp.
For five years, Brian studied with trumpet guru Bobby Shew. Bobby
showed him the importance of passing down the tradition of trumpet
playing and Brian maintains a very busy schedule of private students
in the Los Angeles area. Brian has also studied with John Coppola
(SFO), Bill Bing (CSUN), and LA studio legend Uan Rasey. Brian's
dedication to mastering his craft and continually building upon his
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