JSWISS
Hip-hop's most versatile MC. Awthentic.
08/10/2023
COMMUNITY. Face-to-face connection wins no matter what technology we have available to us. This weekend I went down to Durham, North Carolina to hold an exclusive listening session and conversation at American Underground titled "Gather Round".
Friends, family and new faces all together, and it was an engaged group, which is exactly what I wanted. It's not just about the listening, but having a conversation around the subject of the music. Even had a couple of current students/artists from my alma mater The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Excited to take "Gather Round" to more cities!
In Lagos, Nigeria teaching the art of MCing to a group of 14 amazing students over 2 weeks, I got the opportunity to be educator and diplomat through this art and practice I love so much. ARTISTS we have so much to give.
Shoutout to Next Level for the opportunity and my incredible multi-disciplinary artist educator team who crushed it out there.
🎥 Bao Pham
For years I've made it a point to call myself an "MC" and not a "rapper". In my sit down with Sweetwater I talked about why.
FULL INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpJ8U3E1Pg4
21/08/2023
You are your wildest dreams. Brand new song "bigger than that" from Ross Pederson featuring myself and Melissa McMillan is out now on all platforms.
📸 Braïce Bee
Had the extreme pleasure of sitting down with Sweetwater about the beauty of the collaborative process with geniuses like Michael Leonhart and Sly5thAve, songwriting, storytelling and much more.
Check out the full interview here: https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/jswiss-storytelling-michael-leonhart-collab-the-art-of-the-emcee/
28/07/2023
Just wrapped up an international summer run of shows with Michael Leonhart, and I’m feeling two things.
First off, grateful to be able to take my passion around the world. Second, we’re really building something monumental. Every new release and performance, more of the possibilities of our collaboration are revealed, and the impact brings goosebumps
📸 Clara Lafuente
Michael Leonhart and I are dropping a super exciting record this Friday! "The Chase (Strings Attached)" with Keyon Harrold, DJ Logic and an all-star string quartet!! Check it out Friday, July 21st!
Then I'm performing with the Michael Leonhart Orchestra at Marseille Jazz des cinq continents next week on the 26th!
Michael Leonhart and I are up to something...
Got together an all-star string quartet along with Keyon Harrold and DJ Logic in the mix. Coming soon...
Also catch the Michael Leonhart Orchestra and I at Marseille Jazz des cinq continents July 26th!
Video shot by Shuhei Hayashi
13/06/2023
Some of Michael Leonhart and my LIVE performance on FIP radio in Paris, performing music from our "Bona Fide" album. Shoutout to FIP for having us! Can't wait to play Marseille Jazz des cinq continents July 26 with the Michael Leonhart Orchestra
And yes, 'JSWISS' is still spelled with all caps, no spaces
Club JazzaFIP : Michael Leonhart & J-Swiss - Better & Bonafide Une session live d'exception dédiée au festival Marseille Jazz Cinq Continents, avec le grand trompettiste new-yorkais Michael Leonhart & le MC de Brooklyn J...
25/05/2023
"A very high end concert"
"A 5-star flow, humor, tragedy, and a gift to put the public in his pocket as we hardly do today."
Thank you Jazz Magazine for the glowing review of Michael Leonhart and I's concert in Paris at Sunset Sunside to close out our run in France.
https://jazzmagazine.com/jazzlive/michael-leonhart-jswiss-be-bop-hip-hop/
23/05/2023
Shots from United Music Of Deauville festival, which was a great time.
Michael Leonhart and I are in Paris at Sunset Sunside TONIGHT at 21h, doing two sets, with guest Max Pinto on sax
https://www.sunset-sunside.com/2023/5/artiste/4373/9188/
Photo credits IG: & FilZik - magazine et blog musical
17/05/2023
Loving Deauville already. They rolled out the red carpet and the big flags for us. Michael Leonhart and I perform at the United Music Of Deauville festival Saturday at Les Franciscaines - Deauville with special guest Casey Benjamin aka stutzmcgee
https://unitedmusicofdeauville.com/billetterie/michael-leonhart-orchestra-jswiss/
Last week in LA was love! Dope show, fun studio session, beautiful people and places.
Next up Michael Leonhart and I are in France at
United Music Of Deauville this weekend with Casey Benjamin aka stutzmcgee
https://unitedmusicofdeauville.com/programmation/ #/detail/michael-leonhart
06/05/2023
Michael Leonhart and I are in Los Angeles this Thursday at Hello Stranger, bringing our "Bona Fide" album live experience AND the Leonhart Brass Band will also be playing a dope set. Tickets in the comments!
The "Bona Fide" title track single with Michael Leonhart is out now on 7-inch vinyl through Mighty Eye Records / Fat Beats. Full song and instrumental 🔥
https://www.fatbeats.com/products/michael-leonhart-j-swiss-bona-fide-7
"Blame Me" featuring Natalie Oliveri song and video are out now exclusively on Bandcamp for Bandcamp Friday. The song is a pair of hypothetical open letters written to my grandson and the current boyfriend of an ex.
https://jswiss.bandcamp.com/track/blame-me-f-natalie-oliveri-prod-paul-bloom
28/02/2023
Michael Leonhart and I are doing our debut France performance for the first ever United Music Of Deauville festival on May 20th with special guest Casey Benjamin aka stutzmcgee! It's going to be an amazing time performing our "Bona Fide" album. Vas-y!
Rocked with Elvis Costello during his run of sold out shows at The Gramercy Theatre, alongside Michael Leonhart, Donny McCaslin and Stuart Bogie. We did a fresh take on Karriem Riggins' remix of “Come The Meantimes” from Elvis’ album with The Roots. Enjoy!
10/02/2023
Just dropped a brand new EP with producer Dj Dacel from Santiago, Chile! "Do It Now" is out now on Bandcamp and all platforms.
New project alert for Bandcamp Friday! Teamed up with producer DJ Dacel for Santiago, Chile for the new EP "Do It Now". The full project drops Tuesday, but pre-order on Bandcamp and get an immediate first listen and download of the title track
01/02/2023
Thank you Sofar Sounds for the love for "Golden"!
New Music Alert February Did you miss us? We’re back with our New Music Alert February, filled with tunes we love.
"Golden" was definitely a hit for Michael Leonhart and I's NYC Winter Jazzfest performance. The energy was electric all night.
Our "Bona Fide" album is available now on Bandcamp in digital form, and physical CDs
20/01/2023
Some sights from a phenomenal NYC Winter Jazzfest show at Nublu with Michael Leonhart, performing our "Bona Fide" album.
Thank you to everyone for packing the room, and of course our fam Gintas Janusonis and Ian Forde for holding it down in the band as usual.
📸 Kevin Mathews, Lilly Charnas and Seth Pomerantz
14/01/2023
“Always Knew” featuring Nicholas Payton is available now on vinyl, with “Once Again” ft. Mark Whitfield on the flip side. Limited edition
"Shut Him Down" from the Michael Leonhart orchestra with Elvis Costello, myself and Chris Potter drops on vinyl this Friday, and we celebrate at NYC Winter Jazzfest Saturday at Nublu.
Doing a set with Michael performing our duo album "Bona Fide" and then guesting with some bars with the orchestra right after. Come through!!
07/01/2023
“In the spotlight this year are: Maurice "Mobetta" Brown, Michael Leonhart and JSWISS, Rich Ruth, Surya Botofasina, and Ben Wendel”
Shoutout to Time Out New York for spotlighting Michael Leonhart and I’s Winter Jazzfest set at Nublu on the 14th as a highlight of the festival. Come through!
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