Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Stuart "Johnny Favourite" Bastow |
| Headquarters | Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada |
| Products | Albums, live performances |
Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra was a Canadian ensemble associated with the swing revival movement, active throughout the late 1990s.
Originating in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the group was founded by jazz vocalist Stuart "Johnny Favourite" Bastow. They independently launched their first album, The Life Desire, in 1997.
The lineup featured musicians such as John Wesley Chisholm, Wes Mackey Jr., Colin Hudson, Pete Johnston, Matt Myer, Craig Sheppard, "Hound Dog" Dave Fitzgerald, Eric Landry, David Christensen, Dawn Hatfield, and Andrew Killawee.
In 1998, the band earned an East Coast Music Award for Best Jazz Group and secured a contract with Universal Records. Shortly thereafter, Chisholm departed following the arrival of his second child; he subsequently received two Genie Award nominations for his work composing film scores.
Their sophomore release, Holiday Romance, appeared in the autumn of 1998.
By this period, they had established themselves as a sought-after touring act. Their performances combined original compositions, jazz standards, and reinterpretations of classic and hard rock tracks from artists such as Led Zeppelin and The Band. Tracks like "Rootbeer & Licorice" and "We Still Talk" gained exposure on radio and MuchMusic, with "Rootbeer & Licorice" reaching number 32 on the Adult Contemporary chart in RPM during January 1999.
At the Juno Awards of 1999, the group was honored with the Juno Award for Best New Group.
Although at times comprising up to 14 members, frequent changes in personnel and internal conflicts impacted the ensemble's stability. The band ultimately dissolved following a performance in Halifax in early 2000. Bastow continued to perform solo under the Johnny Favourite moniker, releasing The Tonight Album later that year. Five former members joined him as his backing musicians. During the 2000s, Bastow relocated to Portugal before returning to Canada near the decade’s close; his second solo effort, Troubadour, was released in 2010.