In 1988, Alyssa Schwary's music education went from Cornish College of the Arts In Seattle, to an 11 year touring schedule, resulting in "lots of frequent flier mileage". She has sung in 28 countries and in all 50 of the United States under various private and corporate sponsorships. As an independent artist, singer/song writer and bandleader, she sold over 3,000 copies of her first CD release in 1993 "Another Chance". This album was voted one of the 10 best in Seattle in 1994, by Earshot Jazz Magazine. Jim Wilke featured Schwary regularly on his PBS jazz program on KPLU and she received both, national radio play on PBS and College Radio stations. Virgin Atlantic used the title cut, an original composition, "Another Chance", for their in-flight entertainment programming. Schwary has opened, recorded or performed with Tito Puente, Gino Vanelli, Kenny Barron, The Yellow Jackets, and the Oregon Symphony, featuring Kathleen Battle, not to mention all of the jazz greats of the Northwest!

Now, after a 10 year reprieve from the music business of daily gigging, band leading, and schlepping, she has returned, with a new twist, a new vision and a plethora of new original music.

Motherhood, marriage, and the passage of time has only added to her depth of character and her ability to be authentic and creative. Currently, she is living far from "reality", on an island in the middle of the Bering Sea, in the port town of Dutch Harbor. The primitive, seclusive and remote location, has it's benefits. Without the influence of much outside interference, she has had ample time to "simmer in her own juice", which is about to be revealed in her third CD titled "Sweet Distraction". Her 2nd album "Bridges" was a pop release of her favorite tunes from the 70's and her own originals, she sold over 1,500 copies while touring! "Sweet Distraction" displays a transformation from her jazz roots, having grown up in a musical family. Alyssa's father, Richard Schwary, led a big band on the west coast from 1952 until 1982. Her mother was the lead singer. Alyssa, from the tender age of 5 was pulling charts, organizing band stands and setting up lights for the 18 piece big band. She idolized her mother and father, with the hopes of someday, enjoying music and sharing her love of music with her own children.

"Sweet Distraction", to be released in 2012, will showcase Schwary's ability to adapt to the winds of change. She writes with passion and will prove to be fearless in the face of the ever changing spirit of the quintessential musician. This is Alyssa, we hope you like it!