Born on June 13, 1949 in Heidenheim, South West Germany, Swagato has been a jazz musician since the age of 15, after studying classical flute for 2 years as a teenager.
Besides his musical career he studied Sociology (Diploma in 1975) and Philosophy (Doctorate in 1978) As Dr. phil. Uli Bracher he worked as a research scientist and lecturer at J.W.v.G. University in Frankfurt/Main.
In February 1980 he met his spiritual Master Osho on his journey to India, who gave him the new name «Swagato» which means «Welcome». He lived in the international commune of Osho in India, Italy and United States, where a very creative group of people from around the world.
had been gathering.
In this period Swagato studied, played and recorded Indian music, New Age and World Music.
In 1989 and 1990 he toured Europe with his own «Ah, This!»- Band inspired by the «Music from the World of Osho». This beautiful band disbanded after Osho’s death in 1991 and Swagato continued to perform with the Brazilian band «SambaZen», based in Amsterdam.
In 1992 he moved back to Freiburg, Germany and soon after 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.
In 1994 he founded his own World Music and Jazz label «Global Music», which he now will transfer to Cabo Verde.
Between 1997 and 2000 he also performed with the «World Percussion Project OGUM» and recorded the CD «GeoRhythm».
In this period he also worked as a business consultant in the field of philosophical counselling and project management and worked for two years as CEO of a software company. This later on became the background of his business and management experience which he now wants to bring to his new project «Global Music».
In January 2001 he visited Cabo Verde for the first time, and immediately received a warm welcome and invitation from many Cape Verdean musicians.
He decided to settle down in Mindelo, S. Vicente and with his partner Roshani J. Hetzel he created the Marketing-Project «Cabo Verde is Music» to give support to the musical scene and thus to Cabo Verde itself.
Already in the first year 2001 he performed at the Gamboa Festival with Tito Paris and on the Baia das Gatas Festival with Bius and Gabriela Mendes.
In the same year he also began his co- operation with Bau and has ever since 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 Cabo Verde and Europe he performed many times with Ildo Lobo, Marianna Ramos, Lura, Dudu Araujo, Bana, Bius, Kompass, and has been enjoying a continuous cooperation with the young singer Mayra. With Bau and Dudu he has been recently touring in Cabo 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 March 2004 he was invited to accompany the Brazilian singer Mauricio Mattar on his first tour in Cabo Verde, and has been invited by Mauricio to join his band for extensive touring.
From the beginning of his stay in Cabo Verde he wanted to create a professional recording studio in Mindelo. He found a German investor, and the studio, «Palacio de Musica» will be inaugurated in December 2004.
His future vision is to create a «Global Music Academy» based in Mindelo, Cape Vert, to enhance and promote the musical skills of the Cape Verdian musicians and to meet with world musicians from everywhere.
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, Swagato has invited Bau, Humberto, Kiso and Micau to join him in a new OLINOS Qunitet with the name Midje ma F’jon (Maize and Beans), go on tour in June-July and record a CD in August to be released in Europe in October/November 2009. For actual news about this OLINOS Project 2009 please visit http://www.myspace.com/olinos
