Veronica Swift with the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra

LISTEN TO VERONICA SWIFT

“She has a miraculous voice, musical ability and technique, as well as an innate gift for entertaining a crowd.” — The Wall Street Journal

Veronica Swift has established herself as one of her generation’s most distinctive voices in jazz. Throughout her childhood, she toured nationally with her parents, jazz musicians Hod O’Brien and Stephanie Nakasian, performing at renowned clubs and festivals. She recorded her first album at age nine, launching a career that has included a second-place finish at the 2015 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition, a twice-yearly residency at Birdland Jazz Club, performances with Chris Botti and Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and recordings with Jeff Goldblum.

Her 2021 album, This Bitter Earth, received a five-star review and the cover of DownBeat magazine, and in 2024, she was honored with a French knighthood as Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters.

While her first two Mack Avenue releases established her as a master of scat improvisation and conceptual song cycles, her self-titled 2023 album revealed an artistic direction extending beyond jazz into theatrical glam rock. She also co-founded the band DAME with The Dresden Dolls’ Brian Viglione. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2022, Swift has pursued rock collaborations with artists including David Bowie pianist Mike Garson, Luke Spiller of The Struts, guitarist John Notto of Dirty Honey, and The Lemon Twigs. Her expansive artistic voice remains firmly intact regardless of genre.

Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra

Founded in 2012 by bandleader Art Bouton, the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra (CJRO) brings together some of the region’s finest musicians and world-renowned guest artists to perform dynamic big band classics and contemporary jazz. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Drew Zaremba, the ensemble blends the music of jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Stan Kenton with original compositions and arrangements. From traditional swing and big band jazz to Latin jazz, R&B, and soul, CJRO delivers vibrant performances that celebrate jazz’s rich history while exploring new musical directions.