Biography
For more than half a century, The Swingles have pushed the boundaries of vocal music. The seven young singers that make up today’s London-based group are driven by the same innovative spirit that has defined the five-time Grammy® winners since they first made waves in the 1960s. At a time when a cappella music is more popular than ever, The Swingles are recognised as masters of their craft.
In 1963, American-born Ward Swingle first assembled a group of Parisian session singers to sing Bach’s keyboard music. The resulting album, Jazz Sebastian Bach, launched the Swingle Singers to fame. Since then, they have won five Grammy® awards and made more than 50 recordings, with a repertoire that has grown to include a huge variety of music, including new original songs. They have also appeared on numerous film and TV soundtracks, including Sex and the City, Milk, Grey’s Anatomy and Glee. In 2017, they co-wrote and performed a song for the end credits of Alexander Payne’s film Downsizing.
Released in March 2017, The Swingles’ latest project is Folklore, a diverse collection of folk music from around the world, inspired by their international travels and featuring collaborations with traditional artists. With creative arrangements that transport these well-loved songs into the group’s unique and rich sound world, the results are powerful and surprising.
The group’s versatility has led to collaborations with artists as diverse as the Modern Jazz Quartet, Jamie Cullum and Labrinth. Luciano Berio was one of the first composers to explore the sound of the Swingles’ amplified voices in an orchestral setting with his groundbreaking Sinfonia. The group continue to perform the piece to great acclaim around the world, with recent performances at San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall, London’s Royal Festival Hall and Milan’s La Scala; they look forward to bringing it to new audiences for its 50th anniversary in 2018-19.
In addition to a busy touring schedule that regularly takes them to North and South America, Europe and Asia, The Swingles present their own London A Cappella Festival at Kings Place each January in partnership with Ikon Arts Management. The festival is the first of its kind in the capital, welcoming the finest vocal talent from around the world.
Recent News
The Swingles to Perform at this Year’s London Jazz Festival
The five-time Grammy® award winners, The Swingles, are to make their debut at The EFG London Jazz Festival on Saturday 23 November. Regarded as masters of their craft, the London-based a cappella group will perform in a three part concert that showcases...
Christmas with The Swingles – Hometown Christmas Show in London this Friday
The Swingles kick off the festive season with an intimate hometown Christmas show at St. James Church, Islington, on Friday 21st December. The five-time Grammy award winning group will perform a range of folk and jazz-inspired originals in addition to traditional...
The Swingles Embark on UK Tour with Gareth Malone
Five-time Grammy® award winning group The Swingles begin their UK tour with singer Gareth Malone today. The septet's first concert is a warm-up show at the new Pizza Express Live jazz venue tonight in Holborn, London, followed by appearances in Salford, Cambridge and...
Reviews
”After the interval came Berio’s Sinfonia, for which the LPO was joined by the Swingles, heirs to the original Swingle Singers for whom the work was written … this was a performance of great passion and elan, superbly played and sung”
“Stunning reinventions of songs by the likes of John Martyn, Elbow and Mumford & Sons, with subtle beatboxing and audacious harmonies… superhero singing to truly raise goosebumps.”
“The orchestra and the Swingle Singers…gave a stellar performance, full of color, vitality, and drama.”
More Reviews
“Stunning reinventions of songs by the likes of John Martyn, Elbow and Mumford & Sons, with subtle beatboxing and audacious harmonies… superhero singing to truly raise goosebumps.”
“The orchestra and the Swingle Singers…gave a stellar performance, full of color, vitality, and drama.”
““The vocal and choral world has changed considerably in the last 50 years… But The Swingles have managed to hold onto to their distinctive niche and continue to thrive.” “
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
““Whether performing with the National Symphony Orchestra or in a cappella settings, The Swingle Singers were never less than dazzling” “
WASHINGTON POST
““Talented, talented people””
JAMIE CULLUM
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Contact
Anna Purefoy - General Management
apurefoy@imgartists.com
+44 (0) 20 7957 5809
Sofia Oikonomopoulou - Managerial Associate
sofiao@imgartists.com
+44 (0) 20 7957 5817
U.S. Bookings
Sara Barasch - Midwest
sbarasch@imgartists.com
+1 212 994 3506
Thia Knowlton - South
tknowlton@imgartists.com
+1 212 994 3505
Lindsay Kratz - West
lkratz@imgartists.com
+1 212 994 3528
Derrick McBride - Northeast
dmcbride@imgartists.com
+1 212 994 3526
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