Presenter
The 51st Annual International Trumpet Guild Conference
Lexington, KY (USA)
Elliott Bild
From Car Licks to Conversation: John Swana’s Approach to Jazz Language and Improvisation
Elliot Bild is a trumpeter, educator, bandleader, and composer. He earned his undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree from Temple University.
An active performer on the Philadelphia and national jazz scenes, Elliot has appeared with Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band, Don Braden, Duane Eubanks, Tim Warfield Jr., Conrad Herwig, Randy Brecker, Norman David and The Eleventet, Zaccai & Luques Curtis, Byron Landham, Behn Gillece, Myron Walden, Mark Whitfield Jr., Pablo Batista, and many others. He has performed at renowned venues and festivals including the Kimmel Center, Chris’ Jazz Cafe, the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, Smalls Jazz Club, Smoke Jazz Club, Exit Zero Jazz Festival, and the Litchfield Jazz Festival.
Elliot can be heard on recordings by Richard Hill, Mike Boone, Nick Krolak, Lucas Brown, Nick Lombardelli, Michael Hudson-Casanova, Skyler Hagner, V. Shayne Frederick, the South Philly Big Band, and the Peter Frank Orchestra featuring Lucas Beltran.
As a leader, Elliot released ISMS in 2020, an album of original compositions that received a 4½-star review from All About Jazz. In 2024, Elliot Bild & the Zone released their second album of original music, Sound Picture, produced by Tim Hagans. He is also the author of Car Licks, Volumes 1 & 2, featuring transcriptions of trumpeter John Swana.
In addition to performing, Elliot serves as an educator with the Philadelphia Orchestra School Ensemble Program, Gwynedd Mercy Academy, Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY), and the Litchfield Jazz Camp, and is an adjudicator for Cavalcade of Jazz.
John Swana
Co-Presenter
John Swana is a trumpeter and EVI (Electric Valve Instrument) artist born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. He began playing trumpet at age 11 and developed a passion for jazz at 17 after hearing Dizzy Gillespie. During college, he immersed himself in the music of Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, and Tom Harrell through extensive transcription and study. At age 26, he added the EVI to his musical voice.
Throughout his distinguished career, Swana has performed and toured with the Mingus Big Band and Dave Holland Big Band, and has shared the stage with many of jazz’s leading artists, including Freddie Hubbard, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, J.J. Johnson, Stanley Turrentine, Bobby Watson, Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, Tim Warfield, Eric Alexander, Ravi Coltrane, Donny McCaslin, Robin Eubanks, and Uri Caine.
As a recording artist and sideman, Swana can be heard on albums featuring an impressive roster of musicians, including Benny Golson, Grover Washington Jr., Chris Potter, John Patitucci, Tito Puente, Lenny White, Peter Bernstein, Mulgrew Miller, Benny Green, Kenny Barron, Tim Warfield, Lewis Nash, Kevin Hays, Tom Harrell, and many others.
Widely respected for his virtuosity, creativity, and distinctive voice on both trumpet and EVI, John Swana remains one of the most influential and versatile improvisers on the contemporary jazz scene.
Tony DeSantis
Co-Presenter
Tony DeSantis earned his Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance from the University of the Arts and has been an active member of the Philadelphia music scene for more than forty years. Throughout his career, he has performed with the Woody Herman Orchestra, The Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Artie Shaw Orchestra, The Philly Pops, and The Glenn Miller Orchestra.
In addition, Tony has shared the stage with many of jazz’s most respected artists, including Slide Hampton, J.J. Johnson, Al Grey, Bill Watrous, Clark Terry, Jon Faddis, Richie Cole, Frank Foster, Stanley Turrentine, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Bob Mintzer, Joey DeFrancesco, Charles Earland, Trudy Pitts, Don Patterson, Natalie Cole, Terell Stafford, Kenny Barron, Freddy Cole, and Johnny Mathis.
Tony can be heard on recordings with Clark Terry, Phil Woods, Buddy DeFranco, Denis DiBlasio, John Swana, Larry McKenna, and Robben Ford.
He currently performs with The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Eleventet, The Andrew Neu Big Band, City Rhythm Orchestra, Swingtopia, and Chico’s Vibe. In addition to his performing career, Tony serves on the faculties of Moravian University, Swarthmore College, and Widener University. He is also a frequent performer at Chris’ Jazz Cafe, appearing with many of the region’s leading jazz artists.
Tony DeSantis is a proud Soulo Mute Artist