Andrew Swift is a quiet, humble, Australian-accented man. It might not surprise you that Swift is a musician. But, it’s unlikely that he would be a drummer. Swift was born with a love for percussion. Swift began his career banging on the pots and pans of his mother with…chopsticks! Swift was still making music, even though most people were eating with him. They couldn’t withstand his passion for percussion and he retired from music in his childhood. Andrew ended up in 5th grade at a school with a band. He states that he was thrilled to find that playing in school bands sometimes meant that he missed academic classes. The band director informed him that they needed a drummer and that rekindled his childhood passion for drumming. After all, he was a drummer. He discovered that his passion for music was more important than any career goals and began to study university jazz. Swift graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor and a Master’s degree in music performance. He left Australia in 1998 and moved halfway across the globe to settle in New York. He was offered a job as a teacher of music and technology at Immaculate Conception School, Tuckahoe. His passion for music is passed to many young minds every day. Swift also directs a jazz group that uses computers and other instruments. Swift shines at night and weekends. Swift’s “gig schedule” can make anyone dizzy. He plays in venues throughout Manhattan and Westchester. Swift considers himself fortunate to have shared the stage with many of his favorite jazz musicians, such as Wycliffe Gordon and Sharel Cassity. He is currently the drummer for the Matt Garrison Project as well as the Sharel Cassity Quintet. from http://westchester.happeningmag.com
