Biography of Swagato (a.k.a. Dr. Uli Bracher) Born on June 13, 1949 in Heidenheim, South West Germany, Swagato has been a jazz musician since the age of 15, when he played trumpet after studying classical flute for 2 years as a teenager. But with 17 years the saxophone became his favourite instrument. Besides his musical career he studied Sociology and Philosophy and worked as a research scientist and lecturer. After 1980 Swagato studied, played and recorded Indian music, New Age and World Music. In 1992, after recording his first album „Black Inside“ with an internationl band, he started playing with the German harp player Frauke Horn. With her he recorded three CD’s and gave numerous concerts in Germany and other European countries. Between 1997 and 2000 he also performed with the „World Percussion Project OGUM“ and recorded the CD „GeoRhythm“. In January 2001 he visited Cabo Verde for the first time, and immediately received a warm welcome and invitation from many Cabo Verde musicians. From the beginning Swagato has been a very appreciated soloist in Bau’s Band. With Bau, who became the greatest inspiration to his own musical development he also recorded numerous albums: „Silencio“, the fifth Solo Album of Bau, then with Dulce Mathias, Nando da Cruz, Tcheka, Homero Fonseca and the Carnival songs of Tchala. But he also enjoyed the special friendship of Luis Morais, the great Cape Verdian clarinettist and saxophonist, with whom he played many concerts and thus picked up the Cape Verdian saxophone style. On stage in Cape Verde and Europe he performed many times with Mayra Andrade, Ildo Lobo, Marianna Ramos, Lura, Dudu Araujo, Bana, Bius. With Bau and Dudu he has been touring in Cape Verde, Europe and United States. And of course he has been fully enjoying and appreciating the numerous visits and chats with the unique and loveable Cesaria Evora. In 2005 Swagato invited Hernani, Ze Paris and Micau, fellow band members of Bau, who wanted to take a break, to start a new instrumental Project with the name OLINOS („Look at us!“ – or „Here we are“) . He recorded a CD „Amazed by your Face“ and organised two tours in Europe in the same year. From 2006 on he joined Bau again in various projects and bands and on several tours in CV and internationally. From duo with Bau to bigger groups to backing up various singers, which also led him to Brazil in 2008. In December Swagato launched together with Bau a Project „Homenagem to Luis Morais“ a new interpretation of the legendary CV saxophonists compositions. Now, for his 60th birthday on June 13, 2009, he has invited Bau and other musician friends to join him in a new OLINOS Qunitet with the name Midje ma F’jon (Maize and Beans), the CD to be recorded in August and to be released in Europe in October 2009. For more info please visit www.swagato.com and www.myspace.com/olinos. ABOUT OLINOS AND THE CD AMAZED BY YOUR FACE: OLINÔS is the name of our musical Project: musicians sharing a longing to play Cape Verdean music in a more personal and innovative way. The musicians of OLINÔS who recorded this album with me all come from Mindelo the musical capital of Cabo Verde, home of Cesaria Evora and many other artists including Bau, Dudu Araujo , Manuel Novas, Marianna Ramos, Tito Paris, Vasco Martins, Voginha. Sabura d’Soncent is our message: the fragrance of joy, the groove for dancing, the emotions of „Sodade“, the longing, is felt in this unique music from the island of Sao Vicente. We have recorded this album with the intention to give the listener the sensation of being in a live concert with us and a „natural listening sensation.“ We recorded bass, drums and rhythm guitar at the same time with saxophone and flute playing along - but without recording. Then Hernani recorded his second guitar and his solos, while Micau was adding some percussion. Jenifer sang to this recorded basis and then I recorded my sax or flute solos. It was almost always the first take, as we had no ambition to perfect the recording when the first take already had the right spirit.