Swing State is a dynamic quartet that serves up vintage and original swing, Dixieland, and old-time country music, with Greg Schochet on archtop guitar and mandolin, Bill Pontarelli on clarinet, Nancy Thorwardson singing lead vocals and socking out the rhythm on guitar and ukulele, and Aaron Keim rocking the bottom end on bass. This band soars, with Billl and Greg weaving intricate and inspired melodies, while Aaron and Nancy create a landslide of swing rhythm. This is a happy collusion—a swinging synergy that makes everybody want to hoot, holler, and shake that thing!

Swing State on myspace: www.myspace.com/swingstatecolorado

Greg is an integral part of Colorado's thriving music community, in demand as a performer, producer and teacher. A wizard on both guitar and mandolin, Greg is fluent in many acoustic and electric styles, including swing, honky tonk, country, bluegrass, folk, and blues. Born and raised in New York, Greg's first musical influence was his father's record collection--ranging from Bob Dylan to the Band. During college years, Greg got exposed to traditional and roots music, which launched him into acoustic music and bluegrass festivals. He now brings his wizardry to swing and honky tonk music, and makes everybody want to hoot and holler when his fingers fly over the strings.

Bill has played music with greats of all genres--everyone from Doc Watson to Bob Wilber, encompassing swing, Dixieland, bluegrass, and rock n roll! He swings and soars, and travels across the world to play his clarinet like nobody else. Bill's musical career began in grade school with piano lessons, followed by the study of accordian. Nevertheless, the clarinet called to him, and his love of the instrument comes shining through in every note he blows.

Aaron has a habit of getting himself into situations that he is not ready for and then, when the heat is on, he lives up to these high expectations and explores his new path. This has lead him to a diverse and fulfilling career as performer, writer/scholar, teacher, and luthier. Aaron is a total high-energy performer, clearly loving every note and always open to new ideas and interpretations. His energy and musical ability combine to make him an exciting bottom end for the band!

Nancy has been a performing musician for many years, working in combos large and small, playing and singing western and standard swing music, old country and honky-tonk, old-timey and Cajun dance music, and folk music. She has a true talent for composing songs which fit perfectly within the genre, so her original numbers are always highlights of any show. Growing up in North Dakota and Minnesota, Nancy listened to big band and show tunes recordings, then got inspired by western swing when she moved to Oklahoma for graduate school, where she began playing music herself. Once she got bitten by the swing bug, she was off and running, and takes great joy in providing the back beat with her rhythm guitar. Ukulele is icing on the cake!