Reg Schwager

A guitarist of significant musical relevance, Reg Schwager has spent much of his professional career living in relative obscurity in Toronto, Canada. A distinctly singular voice on his instrument, Schwager's playing reflects a thorough understanding of the entire history of the genre, from the pre-swing through the free jazz movements (Schwager spent time studying with pianist <a href="spotify:artist:5jtGuhEEDh07yaFfm8qHg7">Cecil Taylor</a>.)

Considered a child prodigy, Schwager was already performing in Canada with vibraphonist <a href="spotify:artist:4of73tRHotZpKvHKmFzYcM">Peter Appleyard</a> in his mid-teens. His reputation led to performances with <a href="spotify:artist:7fSCq6nVoFiyBqFD8fQFWR">Pepper Adams</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2Kn5swSfLmUU2WEJVlQvJY">Jon Hendricks</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0BhFfJmScFj7OzqVaDqnSv">Hank Jones</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1KTUh4AYegM2fSdac5xqPb">Junior Mance</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1A0QR12gcj2L5hYh1WWDeh">Jimmy McGriff</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1pwr5rTWLVfqhvHfB7Reap">Zoot Sims</a>, George F. Benson, <a href="spotify:artist:6mTBALrts8aIytpwqs0bLM">J.R. Monterose</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3rxeQlsv0Sc2nyYaZ5W71T">Chet Baker</a>, Dave Young, <a href="spotify:artist:0I283aIonuly1I86RkxpXr">Rob McConnell</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:72RwX1W0nXbZKYr8687l0X">Oliver Jones</a>, as well as a long-term tenure in George Shearing's working group. Schwager also holds the guitar chair in the Toronto-based <a href="spotify:artist:5bWirdAOy7SrTJtkQc6jhX">Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra</a>, to which he is a regular contributor of compositions and arrangements. ~ Dan Cross, Rovi