The Big Swifty
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{{Infobox musical artist
| name = The Big Swifty
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| origin = Florida, United States
| genre = Experimental music, drone
| years_active = 1995–1999
| label = Cherry Smash
| associated_acts = Meringue
| website =
| current_members = Pat Pagano
| past_members =
}}
The Big Swifty was a Florida-based ensemble that played loosely structured or improvised music.{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0002295209|pure_url=yes}}|title=Big Swifty |publisher=Allmusic |access-date=June 28, 2016}} Led by multi-instrumentalist Pat Pagano, the group drew influence from minimalist and experimental music composers such as LaMonte Young and Terry Riley. The project also took its name from the composition by Frank Zappa, whose early compositions Pagano admired.{{cite journal |first=Jim |last=Doherty |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19960913&id=yAwzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NusDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3602,2589540&hl=en |title=Out Late |journal=The Gainesville Sun |date=September 13, 1996 |page=8 |access-date=June 28, 2016}} Their entire output was issued by Cherry Smash Records.
History
The Big Swifty was formed by composer Pat Pagano in the mid-1990s, taking its name from Frank Zappa' 1972 composition from Waka/Jawaka. The ensemble featured an ever rotating line-up, with different musicians participating in live performances every show. The ensemble released their debut album Akroasis in 1999.{{cite web |url=http://industrial.org/releases.php?t=5086 |title=Akroasis :: Cherry Smash :: Big Swifty |publisher=industrial.org |date=September 9, 1998 |access-date=June 28, 2016}}{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FN84AQAAIAAJ |title=Inside |journal=The Wire |publisher=The Wire Magazine Ltd. |date=1998 |volume=167-172 |page=5 |access-date=June 28, 2016}} The Big Swifty also recorded under the moniker Shri Swifty And The Mandali of Mantra and issued a second full-length album called The Canals of the Atlantean Plain in 1999.
Discography
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;Studio albums
- Akroasis (1997)
- The Canals of the Atlantean Plain (1999)
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;EPs
- Movies for Your Ears (1995)
- Experimental Art Film (1996)
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References
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External links
- {{Discogs artist|artist=Big Swifty|name=The Big Swifty}}
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Category:Musical groups established in 1995
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1999
Category:1995 establishments in Florida
Category:Musical groups from Florida
Category:American experimental musical groups
Category:Free improvisation ensembles
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