When he released his solo debut Into the Dirt in 2007, Swift's musical reputation had already been established with years of touring and recording with the acclaimed bluesjazz group Hot Toddy Trio, balancing sophisticated playing with an earthy intensity and the stinging buzz of a 1930s National Steel. On blue sky day, the multi-award-winning singer-songwriter challenges himself and the collaborators who made Into the Dirt such a success to take his songs to an even higher level.

The insights are deeper, the emotions are rawer, and the sound is bigger than before, as Swift and his group of some of the East Coast best musicians sought to take his reputation for honest, intimate songs and shake it by the roots, with vibrant surprises like the fierce electric blues "One Way Track" and the flat-out rocker "Killer".

"When I was explaining how I wanted to record and mix this record, I just wanted everything to be bold," says Swift, who returned to Halifax's Echo Chamber Studio to record with producer/engineer Charles Austin (Buck 65, Joel Plaskett) and build on the foundation he'd established with Into the Dirt. "I wanted everything to be bigger and better and I knew Charles and the players were more than up to the task."

Into the Dirt was a landmark record for Swift, picking up an East Coast Music Award, a Maple Blues Award and a Galaxie Rising Star prize in 2008. Listeners were pleased to hear Swift's soulful voice in a fresh musical context, blending his vivid story-telling and his blues and folk influences in new combinations for a rewarding aural experience. Blues Revue praised it for its "dark, brooding, pop-inflected tunes that sit atop rich, multitextured arrangements, elevating each composition beyond anything seen as fleeting."

On blue sky day, his first release through GroundSwell Music, Swift digs deep to chronicle a life's progress, from leaving the nest to battling your demons and ultimately finding hope in love and family. Home is a treasured memory of being a child with an itch to wander, while the title tune is like a dream of being with your loved ones in a seaside paradise. In between are the hard lessons and little victories that had to come between then and now.

"I don't even know if I was consciously aware that I was doing that, but anything I do is going to be real," says Swift. "There's not going to be a whole lot of fiction. It's going to come out of my life; what I see, what I experience, what I feel. It's real from my perspective, it's my life."

Reteaming with Austin was a no brainer for Swift. "Charles' is so inspiring to work with
and his knowledge base and work ethic was crucial to making this album. It sounds like
it does because of him." Swift also returned to the core of musicians that helped set his
songs apart on Into the Dirt. Percussionist Geoff Arsenault (Ray Bonneville, Mary Jane
Lamond), Brian Bourne (Rawlins Cross) on bass and Chapman stick, guitarist Chris
Corrigan (Rita MacNeil, Mary Jane Lamond) and keyboard guru Bill Stevenson on
piano and organ, formed his "dream band."

"I met all these guys through music, but they're all dear friends of mine too, which makes it really cool," he says. "It's like sitting down and talking to someone you've known for 20 years. You know who they are and you know their families. So when you
can call on your best friends to come in and they're feeling good about the music, I know I've been blessed that way."

Included on this project is friend and fellow New Brunswicker Matt Anderson, who graces three songs with distinctive backing vocals. "I met Matt when he was a kid just starting out. I have a great respect for the man and his talents and it was important for me to have him on the album."

Also featured is multi-talented Nova Scotia musician J.P. Cormier, who contributes mandolin on "Blue Sky", violin on "Seafoam", and both on the folk standard "No Depression in Heaven". "J.P. came in the studio and he was so gracious, giving, open and excited. The timing was perfect to do something together."

Swift is no slouch either when it comes to letting his fingers do the talking on resonator, acoustic and archtop guitars. blue sky day features a trio of instrumentals – "Down the Road", "Seafoam" and "Dawson's Arrival" -- that display his ease at painting
pictures with his guitar. And with this sophomore release, he has his eye on a bigger canvas on which he can stretch his songs.

"I feel that it's time for me now," says Swift of his desire to build on the inroads made with Into the Dirt on blue sky day. "I'm still learning, that never stops; learning about performance, songwriting, musicianship, the whole thing. The first album won a bunch of awards, which is nice, but I'm so focused on taking my music to another level that I can't stop to think about it. "There is urgency, personally, to do what I've got to do and say what I want to say."

                               JACK THOMAS BOND

                               CD RELEASE SHOW

                                       GREEN ROOM

                      MARCH 26/8PM

Crossing genres, Jack Thomas showcases his versatile song writing in his new debut solo album "Stay". In a style of its' own, this album takes us through a journey of genres; acoustic, rock, jazz, blues and orchestral with resonating influential overtones of The Beatles and Billy Joel. 

Limited tickets will be available March 2 and will be $10 each plus applicable service fees. On sale at Glasgow Square Theatre, Big Al's Convenience, online at www.ticketpro.ca or by phone 1-888-311-9090.