Jazz & Storytelling feat. Veronica Swift

At age 26, Veronica Swift has become one of the world’s most sought-after jazz talents. At age nine, she recorded her first album, and began professionally touring with her parents, as well as The Young Razzcals Jazz Project. At age 11, after recording her second album, she headlined her first show at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Just before graduating from the University of Miami, Veronica was awarded second place at the Thelonious Monk 2015 Jazz Vocal Competition, landing her a showcase at the esteemed Birdland Jazz Club in New York City, where she maintained a weekly residency while touring internationally with famous trumpeter, Chris Botti. Over the past few years, Veronica signed a record deal with Mack Avenue Recordings, and released her 2019 album entitled, “Confessions” with them. She has also toured and performed on numerous occasions with Michael Feinstein, Benny Green, Wynton Marsalis, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, appearing at many of the world’s legendary jazz festivals and clubs.

Veronica and I go way back, all the way back to 6th grade at Henley Middle School. A simpler time, and a more awkward time to be sure, but it looks like we’ve both turned out okay. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, discussing what it means to be a storyteller, to be an artist, the comparisons between jazz and operatic lifestyles, international tours, going to school in Miami, and much more. We went out to dinner the day after this interview, and she casually clued me in that the week prior, she went out to dinner with Sting while she was in New York. I’m obviously a much more exciting dinner date than Sting, but save some fame for the rest of us, would ya? Please welcome Veronica Swift.