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Jonathan Ng

Jazz violinist, vocalist, and bandleader Jonathan Ng has spent the majority of his life making music that moves people. He specializes in the traditions of swing and gypsy jazz, combining musical virtuosity with emotional expression. Jonathan also possesses a unique knowledge of swing dance bandleading founded on his expertise as a lindy hop, balboa, and blues dancer. Whether playing for a seated audience or a crowded floor of dancers, Jonathan seeks to share the spark which made him first fall in love with the recordings of Django Reinhardt and Count Basie.

Jonathan's performances combine a musical acuity born from years of classical training with a captivating showmanship honed playing to countless packed rocked clubs. As a member of the swing-ragtime band Ellis Dyson & the Shambles, Jonathan toured throughout the Eastern United States playing venues ranging from the Cat's Cradle in North Carolina to the Mercury Lounge in New York.

Jonathan has performed with many of the foremost musicians of both the swing and gypsy jazz scenes, including Gordon Webster, Greg Ruby, Casey MacGill, Christiaan Van Hemert, and Katherine Whalen (of the Squirrel Nut Zippers). He has also performed as a part of festivals from Djangofest Northwest to IBMA World of Bluegrass. Jonathan is currently based in Seattle, Washington.

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Album Review

Jonathan Ng: Dreaming on My Feet

Read "Dreaming on My Feet" reviewed by Martin McFie


Jonathan Ng arrived at his album Dreaming on my Feet by following his dual passions for dancing and music. Classically trained as a concert violinist, he was later captivated by the freedom of jazz. Where would a classical violinist go to look for the best jazz dance music? The answer is, to romantic jny:Paris where the violin of Stéphane Grappelli once played with guitarist Django Reinhardt in the Hot Club of France and often included the sweet strains of the ...

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"[Jonathan] knows his audience, from the dancers in front of the bandstand, to listeners at home. And he’s a knockout lead on violin." - Joe Bebco, the Syncopated Times

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