SWP Records

05/01/2025

.....and here is the trailer of the docu film 'Mutanuka and Syasiya' which will be shown on ZNBC TV1 this Thursday January 9th at 21.05 hours. Watching it will cost you 57 minutes of your life.....

The cd SWP 066 'Mutanuka and Syasiya' contains all the music in the film, plus all the other audio recordings of the two made over the years by Michael Baird, with a 20-page booklet - available through https://www.swp-records.com and the music is downloadable via https://swp-records.bandcamp.com/ .

The 58-minute documentary film 'Mutanuka and Syasiya' portrays two old master musicians among the Leya people, who live next to the Victoria Falls in Zambia...

04/01/2025

The award-winning documentary film 'Mutanuka and Syasiya' will be shown on ZNBC TV1 (Zambian state television) on Thursday January 9th at 21.05 hours.
If you are in Zambia, watch it! Globalisation is destructive to local culture! Mutanuka has already passed away, his unique silimba knowledge has died with him, Syasiya is the last kanimba player and he will be succeeded by no one.
Please comment on what you thought of the film.....

03/01/2025

This was yesterday morning, live on ZNBC TV (Zambian state television) - an excerpt from the cultural program The Update promoting our docu film 'Mutanuka and Syasiya' which will be shown next week on ZNBC TV.....

You can hear the music in the film plus all other audio recordings made by Michael Baird over the years of silimba master Crispin Mutanuka and kanimba master Edwin Syasiya on the cd SWP 066 'Mutanuka and Syasiya' at https://swp-records.bandcamp.com/album/mutanuka-and-syasiya

11/12/2024

Yesterday I finally was able to show the documentary film 'Mutanuka and Syasiya', made by myself and Engel Mulder, to Edwin Syasiya in Mukuni village near Livingstone. Also present were his wife the Bedyango (Chieftainess) of the Leya people, son-in-law Justin, and various grandchildren. They all loved the film! Edwin was very moved, Crispin Mutanuka passed away in 2019.
We filmed in November 2018, released the film in September 2020, covid lockdown kind of killed the film as cinemas were closed then open then closed, however the film won two awards at film festivals in the USA, and we managed a Dutch Première in October '21.
The film trailer can be seen at https://youtu.be/pGZo8bLKPo0?si=1iKHjtK1c1bQq7gO . All the music in the film - plus the complete recordings I made over the years of both master musicians (Mutanuka on the silimba xylophone and Syasiya on the kanimba lamellophone) - is on the cd SWP 066 'Mutanuka and Syasiya', available through our website and at https://swp-records.bandcamp.com/album/mutanuka-and-syasiya , also for downloads.

03/11/2024

Nice review in the world's leading bells magazine The Ringing World (GB):
"The care that went into the production of this CD is evident. All the bells can clearly be heard. The sound of the city is present in the background, and there is a fine sense of space making it seem that we are actually there in the cathedral square. There is a growing sense of anticipation as each of the bells start to sound, until finally Salvator, the biggest bell, joins the ensemble. The sound of the 14 bells together is arresting. As the sound dies away after 15 minutes we can reflect on the skill needed to cast these huge bells half a millennium ago, and the efforts of the two dozen ringers swinging them today. After hearing this CD, I must go to Utrecht to hear the bells in person!"

Well we fully agree with this reviewer - so get up off your Sunday arses and buy this celestial music! Cd or download, for only 5.20 euros, via https://swp-records.bandcamp.com/album/dom-tower-bells or cd via https://www.swp-records.com/music/070/dom-tower-bells !

30/09/2024

Nice review of SWP 069 'Resonance Vibration Frequencies' by Michael Baird in this month's Festival Info magazine (NL/BE):

"Is it music or is it a collection of sounds that Baird presents with his 'Resonance Vibration Frequencies'? It's not important: music is nothing other than a collection of sounds which fit together well. Perhaps this has never before been explained as well as Baird does here. Should you ever wish to find inner peace of mind, then this is a good soundtrack for that."

09/09/2024

Group photo from last week's successful recording session in the new Le Roy Studios, led by Michael Baird, for a new album to be released by SWP Records early next year: from l to r Michael Moore, Jon Birdsong, Hans Hasebos, Michael Baird, Henk Raven. (Photo by Mikel Le Roy).
Michael Baird calls it 'modern music'. When we asked him what exactly he means by that, he said: "No dogmas allowed!" Oh well, we hope that has cleared up any possible misunderstandings.....

06/09/2024

The past two days Michael Baird was recording an new album of modern music in the wonderful new Le Roy Studios, in Amsterdam, with Hans Hasebos (NL) - vibraphone, soprano sax, small percussion, Michael Moore (USA) - clarinet, alto sax, bass clarinet, Jon Birdsong (USA) - cornet, cornetto, Henk Raven (NL) - tuba, euphonium, tenor sax, Michael Baird (ZAM/GB) - drumset, small percussion. It was a grand success!
If you want to hear what on earth Michael Baird means by 'modern music', watch this space. Coming soon.....

28/06/2024

After the release of the SACD SWP 069 'Resonance Vibration Frequencies' by Michael Baird (a SACD comprises 96kHz/24bit audio, 44.1kHz/16bit, and 5.1. surround sound), we were soon approached by the Spiritual Arts Foundation with the request if Michael Baird would write a piece in their magazine, introducing himself and also explaining his 'spirituality'. We managed to get him to do so - here 'tis!

I am a drummer, composer, producer, field recordist, writer, photographer, and documentary film maker. I was born in what was then the British Protectorate of Northern Rhodesia, since 1964 the Republic of Zambia. Ohhh I had a carefree childhood, looked after by my African nanny who took me down the....

18/06/2024

Nice review of SWP 071 'Danceables' in JazzFlits:
"The music that the Brit born in Zambia makes, approaches the phenomenon rhythm from very many sides, and danceability is just one of them. He also deals in bizarre, but at the same time memorable melodies...The album as a whole sounds like you have a film in your head, with a large variety of moods, from distinctly cheerful to confusing and obscure. Recommended to anyone wanting to organise a weird party."

15/06/2024

One of 19 tracks on the double-cd SWP 071 'Danceables', every one tumbling with rhythm! A total of 108 minutes 30 seconds of music, also downloadable - to add to your library/playlist.....

from the album Danceables

10/05/2024

Nice review in WrittenInMusic:
"With 'Danceables' drummer and composer Michael Baird has released an exceptionally rhythmical double album. In fact every track is rhythmically different...as is every region in Africa. Pan-African.....jazzy.....light and floating."

Drummer en componist Michael Baird heeft met Danceables een bijzonder ritmisch dubbel album afgeleverd met ritmes uit Zambia, Senegal, Congo en Rwanda. Het is een compilatie van tracks, opgenomen van 1987 tot en met 2022. Michael Baird is geboren in Zambia maar woont al lang in Nederland en Afrika l...

06/05/2024

Recensie MixedWorldMusic:
Voor de cds https://www.swp-records.com/music/071/danceables en
https://swprecords.bandcamp.com/album/danceables voor downloads én de cds

06/05/2024

Nice review of SWP 071 'Danceables' in MixedWorldMusic:

"Danceables delivers what it promises and more. The music breathes Africa, but without constantly labouring the point. The secret to that is to be found in the authentic traditional rhythms that Baird mastered during his many trips in mainly the southern part of the continent, moreover it's where he was born (in today’s Zambia). Baird LIVES Africa. It gives his playing an extra dimension which can’t easily be imitated.
The dance fans amongst the readers will in particular be interested that it all swings like mad, but the more demanding listener will also be well satisfied. Indeed, the clever instrumentation ensures layering and abstraction in the music, something that can also be attributed to the impressive list of guests."
Click on the link for the original (Dutch) review.....
Go to https://www.swp-records.com/music/071/danceables and/or https://swprecords.bandcamp.com/album/danceables to buy the album physically and digitally, and to listen.....

MixedWorldMusic.com

03/05/2024

Today 3rd May is the official release (both physical and digital) of the double-cd SWP 071 'Danceables by Michael Baird and friends.....
Moreover Bandcamp Friday has started 5 minutes ago - from between 09.00 hours CET today and Saturday 09.00 hours CET you can order the new physical & digital release the double-cd SWP 071 'Danceables', by Michael Baird and friends! 108'30" of original groovy music! So for the physical 2-cd album and for downloads go to https://swprecords.bandcamp.com/album/danceables and/or for the physcial 2-cd album https://www.swp-records.com/music/071/danceables .
Put on yer dancin' shoes!

01/05/2024

1. The Bandcamp Listening Party is this evening! Or whatever time zone you are in - it starts at 20.00 hours CET. You can listen to the whole album for free, with no chase-up & or secret police surveillance, and you can interrupt your dancing to chat with Michael Baird throughout the 108'30" of very danceable music! Via https://swprecords.bandcamp.com/merch/danceables-listening-party .....
2. The release of the double-cd SWP 071 'Danceables' by Michael Baird and friends is on May 3rd - yes this coming Friday! Also happens to be a Bandcamp Friday, so please do any purchasing (physical or digital) between 09.00 hours CET Friday morning and 09.00 hours CET Saturday morning, as Bandcamp then waives their 15% commission.........And the friends with contributions on this compilation album of the most danceable Michael Baird tracks from between 1987 and 2022 are: David Tronzo (USA), Hans Hasebos (NL), Mark Lotz (D), Kofi Ayivor (GHA), Ousmane Seye (SEN), Russell 'Konkie' Halmeyer (CUR), Jeroen van Vliet (NL), Sophie de Vries (NL), Nusch Baird (NL), Yvonne 'Niobe' Cornelius (D), Michael Moore (USA), Vitold Rek (PL), Michel Massot (B), Arnold 'Broer' van den Bogaart (NL)!

30/04/2024

1. The release of the double-cd SWP 071 'Danceables' by Michael Baird and friends is on May 3rd - yes this coming Friday! Also happens to be a Bandcamp Friday, so please doing any purchasing between 09.00 hours Friday morning and 09.00 hours CET Saturday morning, as Bandcamp then waives their 15% commission.....
2. There will be a Bandcamp Listening Party on Wednesday May 1st starting at 20.00 hours CET: you can listen to the whole album for free, with no chase-up & or secret police surveillance, and chat with Michael Baird throughout the 108'30" of very danceable music! Via the SWP Records Bandcamp.com page.......And the friends with contributions on this compilation album of the most danceable Michael Baird tracks from between 1987 and 2022 are: David Tronzo (USA), Hans Hasebos (NL), Mark Lotz (D), Kofi Ayivor (GHA), Ousmane Seye (SEN), Russell 'Konkie' Halmeyer (CUR), Jeroen van Vliet (NL), Sophie de Vries (NL), Nusch Baird (NL), Yvonne 'Niobe' Cornelius (D), Michael Moore (USA), Vitold Rek (PL), Michel Massot (B), Arnold 'Broer' van den Bogaart (NL)!

28/04/2024

Coming Wednesday May 1st, at 20.00 CET the listening party of the complete double-cd album SWP 071 'Danceables' by Michael Baird and friends! Michael Baird will be 'in the chat' to answer any questions.
The official release is on May 3rd, which also happens to be a Bandcamp Friday - so please wait until then (09.00 Friday May 3rd until 09.00 May 4th CET) before purchasing the physical album and/or the digital album. Enjoy!

Listening Party from Michael Baird.