Jul 19, 2011
Indeed the star of the 1st American Beatbox Championships was master percussionist Swiss Chris!!! Swiss is well-known for his work as musical director and drummer for the nine-time Grammy winner John Legend, with whom he worked for four years. He is now concentrating on his own solo career with a forthcoming album. Swiss is also actively involved with his charitable organization, S.W.I.S.S. (Saving With Instruments, Samples and Soundz), dedicated to healing, education, and promoting communication through music for the betterment of the world.
During his tenure with John Legend, Swiss’s unique style was exposed to worldwide audiences—he performed all over the world with numerous tours both in the U.S. and abroad. Swiss performed on John Legend’s first two albums, Get Lifted (3 Grammys) and Once Again (2 Grammys), In detail, Swiss played on the Grammy award-winning hit “So High” (Get Lifted) and on the hit single “Save Room” (Once Again). In addition to that, he recorded on the John Legend “So High” (Cloud 9 remix) featuring Miss Hill.
Also, two classic DVDs were recorded: John Legend – Live at the House of Blues and John Legend – Live from Philadelphia.
Swiss Chris has had the pleasure of being able to work with artists like Sir Elton John, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Common, Wyclef Jean, Miss Lauryn Hill, Corinne Bailey Rae, Gloria Gaynor, DJ Dummy and DJ A-Trak, and many more.
Swiss Chris was also the musical director/drummer for the Home School Records/Bailey’s sponsored Tour 2008 and video featuring “Estelle” Fanta Swaray.
Swiss is currently working with Ladell Mclin, the Afro hip hop group Bajah and the Dry Eye Crew, Zimbwe Legit, Mazzi with S.O.U.L. Purpose, and his own group, The Dream Team One (Swiss Chris Freestyle Shows).
Swiss Chris stars in the hip hop/rock video with Talib Kweli’s group, Idle Warship on the track “Black Snake Moan”.
He also recently recorded with the world famous drummer Billy Cobham, DMC, and Chuck D. from Public Enemy.
Coming to New York via Boston, Swiss worked with a local funk band lead by the Jewish James Brown, Milo Z. He also worked with hip hop old school legends like Chubb Rock, Charlie Brown from Leaders of the New School, Slick Rick, Grandmaster Caz, the Rock Steady Crew and DJ Johnny Juice from Public Enemy.
While in the States, Swiss Chris earned a Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts Alumi. He further studied at Drummers Collective in New York. He received multiple awards and honors as a marching band field drummer, and as a big band and contemporary jazz drummer in Switzerland.
Swiss has studied with diverse teachers such as Bob Moses, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Kim Plainfield, Frank Katz, Ian Froman, Ron Savage, Casey Scheuerell, Kenwood Dennard, Skip Hadden, Joe Morello, Jim Chapin and last but not least, the Drumdoctor Dom Famularo.
Swiss has been on BET in a featured performance as the musical director/drummer for the Ed Gordon Show with the Last Poets, Jessica Care Moore, and Mums from the hit HBO show Oz. Swiss performed and/or recorded with conscious MCs like Mos Def, Dead Prez, Acrobatic, Afu-Ra and Milano.
Swiss was the musical director and house drummer for the legendary Lyricist Lounge. He worked for multiple fundraisers and charity events with the political activist group Earthdriver, and performed at Madison Square Garden for a Mumia Abu-Jamal Benefit.
Swiss Chris was also the musical director/drummer/programmer for Mexicano 777 (featuring KRS-One and Mad Lion) and Bazaar Royale (MTV appearance). He toured Eastern and Western Europe with the legendary James “Blood” Ulmer. He performed at the Apollo Theater with Billy Cox (Jimi Hendrix, Band of Gypsys) and Ladell Mclin, Jessica Care Moore, and Imani Uzuri with Burnt Sugar.
Television appearances included MTV’s Video Music Awards, The Soul Train Music Awards, The Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony at Oslo, Jamaican and Trinidad Festivals, DTV Royal Albert Hall Show, iTunes, Yahoo, and Verizon Promotional Tours, Tyra Banks, Ellen, The View, Jimmy Kimmel, David Letterman, Jools Holland’s BBC, Conan O’Brien, Oprah, Good Morning America, MTV Music Awards Japan, VH1 Super Bowl Pepsi Smash and The CBS Early Show, Jay Leno, BET Gospel, Oxygen Network’s Custom Concert, MTV and Grammy Appearances in the US, Europe and MTV Africa, and the Vibe Festival with Common and Kanye West.
Swiss Chris endorses Natal Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Aquarian Drumheads, Roland, Hansenfutz Foot Pedals, Alesis/Akai Electronics, CAT Mics, Apple, Ableton and Propellerhead Software.