The Sea

Double-bass player and composer, Jonathan Swartz has played with many of the "greats" of music … Branford Marsalis, Mark Murphy, Nigel Kennedy, Cleo Laine, Johnny Dankworth, Pharoah Sanders, Kurt Elling, Johnny Griffin, Vince Jones, James Morrison, etc.

Planning an album for over 20 years is unusual, and for the results to be some of the most beautiful, rewarding music of this, or any year, says much about the vision of its creator. 'The Sea' is the superb debut from Australian-based New Zealander, Jonathan Swartz.

'The Sea' is a musical story of Jonathan's life. Across the eight compositions the mood is relaxed, the music ebbs and flows with warm, gentle rhythmic currents of latin, bossa and rhumba supporting lyrical melodies that, like the sea itself, shimmer and change … The Sea, Epic, Chester, Martha's Lullaby, Traveling Song, Hummingbird, Musica Para Meu Pai and A Sereia.

"The leading Sydney bassist has readily attracted high-calibre collaborators who, of course, all record with sensational clarity. Their collective restraint generally makes the music placid as a pond with such solos as Barney McAll's gorgeous story-telling on Chester barely ripping the surface. It could have become too docile without a climax of some sort and the way Zwartz ups the stakes without destroying the mood is a marvel ….BEAUTIFUL"
- Sydney Morning Herald

"From haunting strings to upbeat bass, Jonathan Zwartz evokes a range of emotions with his instrumental album. Zwartz has gathered together some of his friends to provide a stunningly intimate album.
- Daily Telegraph (4 Stars)