My musical influences are, in no particular order: Yes, King Crimson, Kate Bush, Bruce Cockburn, Larry Norman, The Beatles, John McLaughlin, John Zorn, U2, Led Zeppelin, John Coltraine, Bill Bruford, Rush, Bill Laswell, Alice Bartels, Masada, Emmett Chapman, Tony Levin, Furgus Marsh, Mark Breckenridge, Terry Bozio, Buckethead, Jonas Hellborg, Trilok Gurtu, Bill Connors, Peter Gabriel, Lori Carson, Judee Sil, Bill Frisell, Joey Baron, Ken Schweighardt, Stravinsky, Sam Phillips, T Bone Burnett, Johnny Cash, and host of others who inspire me to see the beauty and wonder of God's gift of music.
Sounds Like
Mostly instrumental. A little rock, a little jazz, a little of this and that.
Before I began focusing my interests on Reformed Theology and apologetics, I spent much of time involved with music. I play guitar, bass, and Chapman Stick. On the tracks posted here, I played everything except the drums and saxaphone. I even sing on one of the tracks (my German Shepherd used to howl when he heard me singing).
For the guitar tracks, I used a left-handed Gibson Les Paul, and a late 50's Gibson L-4 acoustic. For the bass tracks I used a Fender right-handed Fender P-Bass strung up left handed. The Chapman Stick I play right handed, because I couldn't figure out how to reverse the strings to make the instrument function for a left-handed person.
The first song "Sparta on Stick" was one of the first things I wrote on Stick. I had probably been playing the instrument a few months. It may sound like a guitar, or keyboards and bass, but it is actually just Stick and drums. The Stick is an incredible instrument, and can sound like different instruments at the same time.
The second cut, "Possible Worlds" is actually an edited version of a 13 minute acoustic track I put together. I had planned on doing a bass line to it, but never got around to it. I used my Gibson L-4, which gives it a different sound than say, your typical Martin acoustic.
The third track, "Choirs and See What I See" is three songs combined. The track begins with an instrumental new age stick thing featuring a sample of the late Walter Martin (author of "Kingdom of the Cults), called "A Miracle Could Happen". Don't ask me why I picked him- it was actually an improv'd thing I did on a Tascam 4 track recorder one night. If I recall, the Martin tape just happened to be within reach. The second song "Choirs" is kind of like a Yes meets U2 instrumental. I recorded all the bass parts, and then recorded the guitar parts. The third song, "See What I See" is my only attempt at doing something very "hard rock". I wrote the lyrics while going through the Philosophy program at college. The lyrics speak of my worldview confusion at the time. Now, by God's grace, I look back at the person I was, and praise God for His salvation in Christ. Feel free to howl along like my German Shepherd did.
"Then Get Out" is a 4 track Stick recording that I improv'd one night with a drum machine. The sampled vocal is an avant garde Jazz musician being interview on the radio. I always found it funny how the avant garde crowd takes their noise so seriously. They have such a contradicting worldview. The play (allegedly) without rules, while when they discuss their music, they do so with much logic and thought. Kinda like how John Cage would've never applied his musical standards to collecting mushrooms.
For more information about me, visit my blog: Beggars All: Reformation and Apologetics (http://beggarsallreformation.blogspot.com/)
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”
Well, the heading says "Post a Comment About James Swan" so here goes.... 1. He's the only Chapman stick player I know, therefore, the best 2. He's got a funny, cute wife 3. He's got nerve, lots of blonde Clairol nerve 4. Does not like River Rats (except one) 5. Loves pontificating about doctrine but we like him anyway.
