Cinematic Jazz by Max Swan: ‘Slow Jail’ Album, ‘Live From The Church’ session, And ‘Legend’ Single

Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Max Swan consistently serves up ear-perking, genre-bending tunes. Like ‘Legend’

‘Legend’ isn’t even his newest stuff, despite how much he demonstrates his skill in his song.

In the aptly title song he chants the proclamation, “This is the stuff of Legends.”

In context, it’s likely he’s attributing his relationship/a relationship to that of legend—to an everlasting love, something greater than a ring. Or, out of context, he’s a cocky shit calling himself a music legend at the ripe age of not even 35. Let’s go with that.

Swan is calling his shot so early in his music career that you simply have to tip the cap to a supreme confidence rather than shush the audacity.

Indulging in his sound, you’ll notice his work rumbles off the eardrums at a higher, engaging frequency. Despite the 60k songs uploaded daily to Spotify, this has the ability to grip you. If 10% of those songs engage the ear, I think his music could be in that top tier percentile. But unlike most of that top 10%, he doesn’t grip you from the moment song starts. When the next song leaps back out of his cinematic jazz is when you realize how much you miss it already. It’s like a long hug you didn’t know you needed.

Cinematic Jazz.

Calling his shot or not, it’s all impressive.

His new album, ‘Slow Jail’ has that feel.

Something for a night cap on the record player. Surely, a solid vinyl pickup.

It’s big and smooth and purrty. His “Live At The Church” session, included at the top AND bottom of this page is spectacular. NPR Tiny Desk worthy-stuff.

Beyond the tunes, in several of his music videos, Max is living life outdoors. Paddle boats, campfires, leafy walks. That kind of thing. A woodsy dude for sure and the music can certainly fit that mold, but I imagine a sleeker appeal for his sound. My mind jumps to a swanky but comfortable cocktail lounge… Leda & The Swan-like.

We follow him on instagram, as you should too, and for some reason, I’m inclined to believe he built that boat in the “Slow Jail” video? I could be wrong, but I’m going to choose to believe that was the case.

He also put out “Two for the Road” — A black & White Beauty, Documenting an Empty Philadelphia

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