Moo'd Swing

Moo’d Swing, now in it’s 12th year consists of Donna Green, Mike Sanderson, Bob Birnie and Rachel Melas. If you love the old swing from the 20’s and 30’s, a peppering of 1950’s country against a lush backdrop of harmony singing and picking, you’ll love this band.

Moo’d Swing’s previous incarnation, the Buckaroos, was the merging of Mike and Donna’s musical past. Mike Sanderson, a singer, ukulele and guitar player has spent a lifetime playing with friends whose musical styles include old time, country and bluegrass - a healthy mix of roots music. But his true roots in music have come from years around the piano with family members belting out the old’ popular and jazz chestnuts from the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s.

This influence ultimately resurfaced in Moo’d Swing.

Donna Green’s musical past also started at an early age but took a more professional turn after winning a local radio contest as best songwriter. Her first performance, backed by the renowned Ian and Sylvia Tyson band, the Great Speckled Bird, included a mix of country, folk and pop music. She made her rounds at the folk festival circuit, Toronto bars, radio work and recorded with the likes of Gwen Swick (Quartet), Colin Linden, Chris Whiteley and Daniel Lanois who produced her first demo. Donna brings her vocals and guitar playing to Moo’d Swing but also her vocal arrangements, which adds to the unique band sound.

Mike and Donna met through common musical friends and ultimately merged members of his band, the Don Valley Ramblers, with members of her band, the Fabulous Cowbelles. This became the melting pot of 1950’s country music with 1930’s swing and popular jazz, hence the name and creation of Moo’d Swing.

Donna and Mike met Bob Birnie at ‘song circle’ a neighbourhood jam. ‘Banjo’ Bob, a multi-talented instrumentalist, playing guitar, banjo and mandolin for over 40 years, also sings and writes his own material and co-writes with many local Toronto singer-songwriters. He shares a similar musical background in folk and old’ time music, which makes for a perfect fit with Moo’d Swing. As luck would have it, the vocal blend of Bob, a tenor, Mike a baritone and Donna, an alto, makes for the perfect three part harmony singing, a trademark of Moo’d Swing’s sound.

The band members enjoy re-arranging the old classics but also love digging for more obscure songs from the past.

Moo’d Swing tries to deliver the music with a little twist. This was enhanced when Drew Jurecka, nominated as Canada’s most gifted jazz violinist in 2008 joined the band for the recording of this C.D. The icing on the cake has been working with Rachel Melas (Swamperella), our regular bass player who is a great musician and a pleasure to work with.

We hope you enjoy the music.

For more information call 416 461-5083 or go to moodswing.ca.