Some say that every song is essentially a love story interpreted in different ways. The story can be about a girl, a boy, a mood or a theme.
Many of our songs have been covered by outstanding musicians in the past. We believe that a song that has entered the pantheon of standards is always flexible enough to be reinterpreted by different generations of musicians.
Swing East was born in Taiwan but our format has always been to introduce musicians from all over the world who share our passion.
The band producer, Mo Khashoggi began his dedication to these songs in the late seventies. First recording in France in the early eighties and eventually performing a Cabaret show in New York in the nineties.
The songs are mostly recorded for listening and Swing East appears from time to time all over the world for intimate evenings showcasing our sound.
Swing East is a platform aimed at transmitting the knowledge and experience of a generation that learned from the legends—Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, and Dean Martin—many of whom Mo had the honor and pleasure of meeting and learning from.
Mo Khashoggi studied music in New York in the late 1980s. In the early 1990s, he was encouraged by his great friend Tony Bennett to put together a small trio and work his way through New York's fringe cabaret scene. Deeply committed to the Great American Songbook while also exploring European songwriters from the same era, Mo’s trio soon evolved into a quartet. During their first year, they paid tribute to the Hot Club of France. After recording his debut album with only strings, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, and violin, the show went on the road.
By the late 1990s, a full-blown swing orchestra with a six-piece horn section was swinging through New York, eventually culminating in a successful performance on Broadway, marking the pinnacle of Mo's music career.
Mo then shifted to writing for films and eventually produced one of the most iconic musical comedies in Spanish cinema, *The Other Side of the Bed.
After taking a long break from performing and the entertainment industry to travel and develop a career in media, Mo, like many others during the COVID pandemic, found himself isolated at home and began writing music again.
This year, he is launching a tribute to the Great American Songbook in Taiwan. Returning to the intimate mood that suits the genre so well, he will feature string duos and trios for live performances and quintets for recording.
Yifang Ko earned her Doctor of Arts degree in classical guitar from Ball State University, Indiana, in 2009. Since then, she has dedicated her career to both teaching and performing. Currently, she teaches at the School of Music at Fu Jen Catholic University, Aletheia University, and various high schools. From 2019 to 2022, she served as the director of the Taiwan Guitar Society.
She also founded the Con Brio Guitar and Ukulele Orchestra to inspire more people to enjoy playing music.
As a professional classical guitarist, Ko is expanding her musical horizons by studying jazz and composition. Though still a beginner in these areas, she is committed to becoming a more well-rounded musician. For her, music is about sharing and connecting with people.
Music is the way to express your emotions and the thing you enjoyed most in life – it’s one of the most important parts of our lives.
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