A Mack Avenue recording artist, Veronica Swift has made her mark on the international jazz scene as one of the star vocalists of her era. Her debut album, “Confessions,” was released in 2019. Her second disc, “This Bitter Earth” (2021), earned a five-star review in DownBeat magazine, which featured it on the front cover of its November 2021 issue, while JazzTimes put it on its December cover. L’Academie du Jazz named it the best vocal album of 2021.
Swift has now expanded her style, establishing herself as a skilled rock and soul singer, as well as a dynamic performer. Her third album, “TransGenre” (2023), will mix jazz and classical with rock, soul and funk while paying homage to greats like Janis Joplin, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and Duke Ellington. Swift’s ability to transcend different styles and fully embody them with authenticity to tell a story makes her one of the most skilled singers in any genre and displays her theatrical approach as a performer and artist.
Raised in Charlottesville, Virginia, Swift grew up on the road with her parents (jazz pianist Hod O’Brien and vocalist Stephanie Nakasian). At age 9, she began her performing and recording career. As a child, she headlined at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club and appeared at major U.S. festivals such as the Telluride Jazz Fest. She went on to receive a bachelor of music degree from University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.
Placing second in the 2015 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition put Swift on the map; shortly thereafter, she landed a weekly residency at the historic jazz venue Birdland. There she captured the attention of jazz icons Chris Botti and Wynton Marsalis, who featured her on their tours. Swift also toured extensively with her own band.
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSO by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
