born:1967
started on violin @ age 5
added trumpet @ 9
electric bass @ 12
upright bass @ 26
i have a B.S. in Music Education from West Chester Univ.
i was a full time music teacher for 11 years-currently just teaching a few hours a week due to increased gigging schedule (4-6 times a week) and daughter
i have opened for;
Bill Bruford
Third World
The Wailers
Black Uhuru and others in the world beat style

my name is rob swanson. i am a full time bass player who plays left handed and upside down (a la jimmy haslip) so i guess i am a true bastard child. i live in the suburbs of philadelphia and play in the megalopolis east coast region. i play in a funk reggae band called "Voice of Reason", a mambo band called "Los Banditos", a "society" band to pay the bills-(but the drummer used to play with weather report!-this makes even the lame tunes cool!) and a bunch of freelancing-mostly jazz/bop/ and world beat stuff. I have my first solo CD coming out in a week or so called "My Bassic Hats"- it will feature 13 original tunes with 16 killer musicians from the philly area-it will be availibale at AMAZON.com and from my very soon to be up website (late Sept.) www.robswansonmusic.com

my main basses are: 1984 four string fretted fender jazz with a bad ass bridge and emg's
1990 5 string fretless Roscoe (EADGC)
1940 KAY Upright
2000 DeArmond Ashbory Silicone (wacky but cool)

my amp rigs are: the BIG trace elliot head (1200 watts-model ?) into a BAG END 210xd and a BAG END 15 with coax horn for the upright i use an ACOUSTIC IMAGE Contra
live effects: korg tone works ax30 studio effects: ensoniq dp4 art pro mpa

1940 KAY Upright

1984 four string fretted Fender Jazz

1990 5 string fretless Roscoe

2000 DeArmond Ashbory Silicone

Trace Elliot head (1200 watts-model ?)

BAG END 210xd and a BAG END 15 with coax horn

ACOUSTIC IMAGE Contra for the upright

live effects: Korg Tone Works AX 30

studio effects: Ensoniq DP 4

Art Pro MPA