STARS | Colorado Symphony Mini Música: The Ugly Duckling
Tuesday Apr 30, 2024 12:30 pm
“…a jazz lioness with a pure tone, large lungs, a knowing sense of repertoire, and sure swing style.” — JazzTimes
Details
Performing holiday hits, timeless jazz classics and her signature style of contemporary swing!
VERONICA SWIFT is a Mack Avenue recording artist who’s debut album “Confessions” was released in 2019. Her second release, “This Bitter Earth” (2021), earned her a five-star review in DownBeat magazine including the front cover on their November 2021 issue, the JazzTimes December cover, and L’academie du Jazz “Best Vocal Album” award in 2021.
Having made her mark on the international jazz scene as one of the star vocalists of her era, Veronica 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 venture into mixing jazz and classical with rock, soul, and funk paying homage to greats like Janis Joplin, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and Duke Ellington. Veronica’s ability to transcend different styles, and fully embody them with authenticity to tell a story makes her one of the most skillful singers in any genre, and displays her theatrical approach as a performer and artist.
Raised in Charlottesville, VA and having grown up on the road with her parents (jazz pianist Hod O’Brien and vocalist Stephanie Nakasian), Veronica began her performing and recording career at age nine. As a child, she headlined at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club, and appeared at major US 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 2nd in the 2015 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition put Veronica on the map, contributing to her landing a weekly residency at the historic jazz venue Birdland. It was there where she captured the attention of jazz icons Chris Botti and Wynton Marsalis who featured her on their tours throughout the following years as Veronica also toured extensively with her own band.
“It’s as good a job of reconciling the past and the present as I have ever heard, and goes a lot further than anything else I’ve encountered in the past 12 months toward making sense out of a world gone wacko.” — Wall Street Journal
“Veronica Swift is a woman of many voices, and she uses every one of them to refract a dizzying kaleidoscope of moods on ‘This Bitter Earth…’” — DownBeat
“‘This Bitter Earth’ is more universally-minded as she tackles sexism, racism, domestic abuse and other social issues via carefully curated materials.” — Jazziz
“…it takes an artist of sure and rising stature to curate one hell of a coherent protest album.” — All About Jazz
H2 BIG BAND are a first-rate studio big band bringing new and classic arrangements from leaders Al Hood on trumpet and master writer/pianist Dave Hanson utilizing a variety of styles from swing to contemporary and performed with virtuoso musicality and superb blend! Based in Denver, CO, the big band has two acclaimed CDs to their credit and has appeared at a multitude of festivals and venues throughout Colorado. It is comprised of many of the finest jazz musicians in the state.
Ticketing
RESERVED SEATING | Starting at $48
CHILD | $25
STUDENT | $25
TICKET 4-PACK | $142
This show is part of our PICK 3/5/8 winter ticket package. Learn more about this cost-saving offering at: vilarpac.org/packages
ALL TICKET SALES ARE FINAL. NO REFUNDS. NO EXCHANGES. TICKET PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. VISIT VILARPAC.ORG/VENUE-POLICIES BEFORE ATTENDING FOR CURRENT VENUE POLICIES