Bio
Luke Schwartz is a New York-based guitarist, composer, and producer. After spending years writing and performing experimental guitar music in NYC's new music scene, Schwartz joined the Glenn Branca Ensemble in the early 2010's, subsequently touring Europe and recording Branca's final album, The Third Ascension. Several collaborations emerged through his work with Branca. Schwartz connected with longtime Branca-alum, Greg McMullen (Chris Whitley, Reeves Gabrels) to form Grease Trap, a heavy-hitting quartet pushing the boundaries of pedal steel and guitar. He also worked with Arad Evans (Rhys Chatam, Glenn Branca) in many formations, the current being Whimbrels, an art-rock band formed with Matt Hunter (J Mascis, Wharton Tiers, Savak, Silver Jews), Norman Westberg (Swans), and visual artist/drummer Steve DiBenedetto. Schwartz also met Wharton Tiers (Sonic Youth, Glenn Branca, Helmut, Dinosaur Jr, Theoretical Girls, Laurie Anderson) while working with Branca, and was invited to join the Wharton Tiers Ensemble after Whimbrels was formed. Currently, Luke’s solo project – Luke Schwartz & The Review – pulls from all of the above experiences to present original music and retrospective guitar-centric reinventions of music spanning the 20th-century and beyond.
As Schwartz continued work in the art-rock and no wave arenas he also took gigs as a sideman and session guitarist for jazz and improvised music projects, eventually leading several of his own (Hive Trio, Quiet City). During this time, Scott Chayet, a dear friend and the former road manager for The Cars, took note of Schwartz’s eclectic sensibilities and inclination for improvising/composing. Chayet set up a meeting between Schwartz and acclaimed LA-based sound designer Rick Cox (Thomas Newman, Jon Hassell, Ry Cooder). Schwartz and Cox immediately hit it off and began collaborating. Through Cox, Schwartz was introduced to Hollywood film-scoring giant Thomas Newman, and virtuoso Fourth World trumpeter Jon Hassell, both of which led to numerous and on-going collaborative sessions. In 2019, prior to Jon Hassell's passing, Schwartz, Cox, and Hassell composed an epic 30-minute long piece for artist/sculptor Charles Long that was installed in Tonya Bonakdar gallery in Los Angeles. A cut from the piece was released on Hassell's label, Ndeya, with imminent plans for a full release.
Taking cues from Cox, Hassell, and Newman, Schwartz began scoring films with long-time collaborator Evan Joseph. Schwartz and Joseph formed a film-scoring duo and have since worked on numerous productions, earning an award for Best Original Score (Inheritance, 2021) from Forman Empire Production's film festival based out of Atlanta.
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