Reg brother-in-law

Reg Schwager (born May 7, 1962 in Leiden ) is a Canadian jazz musician (guitar, composition, arrangement). He is considered one of the leading jazz guitarists in Canada.

Live and act

Schwager grew up in New Zealand from the age of three and in Sudbury (Ontario) from the age of seven , where his father, the sociologist Walter Schwager (* 1940), taught at the university. He first received basic musical training on the recorder and learned the flute and piano before concentrating on the guitar as the main instrument. At the age of 15 he was already playing concerts with big band and combo and in a duo with his sister Jeanette .

In two workshops, which Phil Nimmons conducted at the University of Toronto in 1978 and at the Banff Center in 1979 (1978), Schwager met musicians such as Renee Rosnes , Ralph Bowen, Dave McMurdo , Herbie Spanier and Pat LaBarbera , with whom he wanted to play; in the same year he moved to Toronto to become a member of the local scene. Soon he was playing in Peter Appleyard's band , with whom he also went on tour. He also accompanied Pepper Adams , Jon Hendricks , Hank Jones , Jimmy McGriff , Zoot Sims , George Benson , JR Monterose , Chet Baker and Oliver Jones . For many years he was part of George Shearing's band , with whom he also recorded albums. He replaced Ed Bickert in Mike Murley's trio . He toured with Shearing, Diana Krall , Rob McConnell , Emilie-Claire Barlow, and many others; he can be heard on albums by Junior Mance , Gary Burton and Mel Tormé .

On his 2011 album Duets he can be heard with bassists Pat Collins, Neil Swainson , Don Thompson and Dave Young . On the album Trio Improvisations (2012) he and Michel Lambert presented trios with Misha Mengelberg , Kenny Wheeler and Michael Stuart .

Schwager wrote numerous jazz compositions; some of them were captioned by Jeannette Lambert. Arrangements by him have been recorded by Dave McMurdo's big band, of which he is a member, and by Mike Murley. He is married to the cellist Kiki Misumi.

Discographic notes

Resonance ( Justin Time Records 1986)
Border Town (Rant 1997)
Reg Schwager / Don Thompson Live at Mezzetta (Sackville Records 2002)
Reg Schwager / David Restivo Arctic Passage (Rant 2014)

Prizes and awards

Schwager won the Canadian National Jazz Awards as “Guitarist of the Year” between 2005 and 2008 .

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Brother-in-law, reg
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Canadian jazz musician (guitar, composition, arrangement)
DATE OF BIRTH	May 7, 1962
PLACE OF BIRTH	Leiden (city)