“Artists are subcontractors of the imagination, hired to produce access to a purposeful and adult version of the emotional pleasures of discovery, wonder, fear, and ‘make-believe’ of all descriptions”
— Scott Johnson, from Species of Counterpoint

Jameson makes ambient music for guitar, a computer program (Max/MSP) that triggers 80s synths, a delay system (also Max), field recordings, a sampler, ‘translations’ on harps and bells and plenty of reverb.

Pieces utilize an ever expanding book of preludes designed to map the correspondence between harmonics, open strings and stopped notes on the guitar. Each successive note of a melody is played on a different string, cloistering an ebb and flow of gathering and receding overtones.

Jameson is a sporadic contributor to the Bay Area music scenes.  He has performed in duo with Theo Padouvas; as part of Ben Goldberg's Brainchild, Michael Coleman's Young Nudist, Anthony Coleman's Retake Iowa; as well as with saxophonist-composers Jacob Zimmerman and Jayn Pettingill; in duo with songwriter Jesse Rimler; a prolific collaboration with songwriter Caleb Nichols; and with the rock bands Soft People, Churches, Release the Sunbird, Grand Lake, Some Ember, Rad Cloud and The Bloody Heads.

Jameson is the Art Department Head and teaches music at Mid-Peninsula High School in Menlo Park.

He studied with Joe Morris and Anthony Coleman at the New England Conservatory of Music, where he graduated with honors in 2007.

Works:

Special Engagements:

  • 2016 "Songs for Acoustic Guitar and Cornet," Eagle Rock Center for the Arts, Los Angeles, CA

  • 2014 "Harmonica Songs," Maybeck Studio for the Performing Arts, Berkeley, CA

  • 2012 "10 Pieces for Solo Performer/Steve Reich's Pendulum Music," Compact Gallery, San Luis Obispo, CA

  • 2010 "Jacob Zimmerman & Jameson Swanagon," Trinity Chamber Concert, Berkeley, CA

  • 2009 "The Big Feet" (premiere), Artist's Television Access, San Francisco, CA

  • 2008 "Lonely Ground," David Patton Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Discography: