This group has morphed into MVP... Formerly...
Put on your swim caps and dive into a heady mix of jazz and R&B with one of the hottest bands to hit Chicago for a while. Fronted by acoustic guitarist/singer Nicholas Barron, this sextet has enough collective experience to make Stevie Wonder proud and bring down the house into a pool of soul wrenching funk whenever they play (now every Thursday night at the Elbo Room).
Swimmer is:
- Barron
- drummer Steve Gillis
- Rob Hagopian on bass
- saxophonist Tom Guillion
- trumpet player/vocalist Peven Everett
- Rick Gehenbeck on keyboards
Self-proclaimed "acoustic hip hop and soul," Swimmer evokes a rich heritage (Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Al Green, Wonder) with Barron's rich, soulful voice and some kick-ass horns. The result is a visceral and complex sound.
Their name summarizes their approach. Explains Barron:
"Swimmer means a lot of things. It's a movement, actions and swimming through the unconscious. Hip Jazz or Soul Hop, call it what you want. It?s strong soul, strong jazz, strong hip hop fusing together spoken words, poetry and rap. And definitely stream of consciousness."
Barron has been a fixture of the Chicago music scene since the late '80s. He started off as a street musician, playing at El stops. (His street career actually started a few years earlier when a European vacation became an extended stay, financed by subway-going patrons in London and Paris.) Finding himself harassed by Chicago police for practicing his art, the articulate, energetic musician founded Coalition for the Advancement of Street Art (CASA). This group enlisted the support of an alderman, got the police to back off, and Barron was free to polish his guitar and his voice.
Equally impressive, Barron was able to support himself through his performances. From these beginnings, Barron moved up to playing clubs six or seven nights a week, joined a few bands and even put out a jazz album.
Bristling when labeled "a white guy with soul," Barron describes his - and Swimmer's - musical influences. "You learn to talk like you do because who your parents are. If the people you admire sound a certain way, you try to, also. Most modern musicians, everyone from Elvis Presley to Joe Cocker, were influenced by blues and soul singers. Me, too. They were my musical parents."
The first thing you notice about Swimmer is Barron - a tall, commanding presence with swim goggles perched atop his shaved pate. But there's a lot more depth than just the front man in this band's waters.
Just 21-years-old, trumpetist Peven Everett has plenty of notches in his musical belt. He's played with musical greats Betty Carter and Branford Marsalis, had a No. 2 dance single in England under the name Gypsy Lace, and has mastered eight instruments. Everett plays with such poise, he's a riveting figure to watch.
Rob Hagopian on bass was the second member of the band. He and Barron have played together for several years. Though he "did some time" in an alternative band, his heart lies in R&B, soul and jazz.
Drummer and Swimmer's co-leader, Steve Gillis is rumored to be one of the most sought-after musicians in town. Gillis used to play with the band Inner City which had six top 10 R&B singles.
Tom Guillion on sax played with legendary jazz trombonist JJ Johnson along with his own jazz quartet. He writes all of his own original music.
And keyboardist Rich Gehrenbeck adds some '60s and '70s grooves of his own. His vintage Hammond B3 organ, Clavinet and Fender Rhodes keyboards each contribute its own unique sound.
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