Showcasing his melodic approach to the bass guitar, composing and arranging, David Hughes’ new CD Swoosh features 11 contemporary jazz songs. Hughes has been a member of the Jazz Crusaders, co-creators of fusion-funk music, for the past four years and is joined on the CD by fellow Crusaders Wilton Felder and Brian Price, Grammy nominee David Benoit, Greg Mathieson and Allen Hinds.

"I enjoy composing just as much as performing" says Hughes, "and I like to think of the songs on this CD as a collection of short stories". He hopes that the music will give the listener an emotional experience and a new appreciationfor the bass guitar.

Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, Hughes has been a Californian since 1994. The listener can sense the influence of Swedish folk music in the song Clearing, which features Hughes’ voice-like fretless bass playing. "As a kid I would play every day in the forest behind our house and the clearings were like safe havens" Hughes recalls.

Most of the tracks feature Hughes playing six-string fretted and fretless bass guitars. "The two extra strings provide an expanded range suitable for playing melodies, solos and chords, tasks somewhat unusual for a bassist" Hughes informs. The music spans from Kenny, an unaccompanied solo bass piece, to Swoosh, the contemporary groovedriven title track, Carlton which features Allen Hinds’ guitar mastery, and Benoit, inspired by and featuring the distinctive sound of pianist David Benoit.

An established Los Angeles studio musician, Hughes hopes to take a significant step with Swoosh. "I have applied my 15 years of professional experience to make all the pieces of this project fall into place. Swoosh is the result" Hughes concludes.

The CD is available at several online retailers and through a special website, www.swedebass.com.

David Hughes was born and raised in Sweden, and has been a California resident since 1994. After studies at the Royal College of Music in Stockolm, Hughes left for Los Angeles and began exploring life as a studio musician. Credits include performances with Chaka Khan, Melissa Etheridge, Burt Bacharach, redordings with Ray Manzarek (the Doors) and the Jazz Crusaders and countless jingle sessions for TV and radio. He has also been an instructor at Musicians Institute and appeared in film and TV.

A composer since he was old enough to reach the piano keys, the release of Hughes debut CD Swoosh unites his greatest passions - composing and performing.

Currently Hughes fills his schedule with tours with the Jazz Crusaders, recording sessions and local performances spanning a wide stylistic range. The fall will see a US tour in support of Swoosh.