DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #104: C Jam Blues

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DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #104: C Jam Blues by Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra

The jazz standard C Jam Blues, originated by clarinetist Barney Bigard and arranged by Duke Ellington (see Song of the Week #56) is a popular tune among jazz musicians and there are hundreds of different recorded versions available. This week’s song is a live version by the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with artistic director Winton Marsalis, an outstanding and highly reputable jazz musician. Photo: Clay Patrick McBride The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra is a key component of New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln Center program, serving as the highly versatile house band for a wide variety of concert events. It maintains a [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #103: When I Grow Too Old To Dream

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DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #103: "When I Grow Too Old To Dream" by Arnett Cobb (1959)

After last week’s song from the 1970s, here is another fantastic tune which was recorded many years after the swing era: When I Grow Too Old To Dream” by Arnett Cobb. Arnett Cobb (Aug. 10, 1918 – Mar. 24, 1989), born Arnette Cleophus Cobbs,  played briefly piano and violin before switching to tenor saxophone. His style was based between swing and early rhythm & blues. Cobb worked with Frank Davis (1933), Chester Boone (1934-1936) and the Milt Larkin Orchestra (1936-1942). The latter was never recorded, though. When Cobb was succeeding Illinois Jacquet with Lionel Hampton‘s Big Band (1942-1947), he gained his initial fame. [...]

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The Big Swing Night @ Leapin’ Lindy 12 – From The DJ Perspective

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The Big Swing Night Leapin' Lindy 12

Instead of writing a ‘normal’ event review like I did last year (check out The Big Swing Night @ Leapin’ Lindy 11), I thought I’m writing about this night from the perspective of the Swing DJ. The Biggest Swing Party in Switzerland Last weekend (February 8-10, 2012), the popular Lindy Hop weekend Leapin’ Lindy 12 was happening in Switzerland’s capital Berne. Currently, the Big Swing Night on Saturday is the biggest Swing Dance Party in Switzerland. Many key points were similar to last year’s edition: Location: Kultur-Casino Bern, Great Hall Dancers: 700+ Band: Gordon Webster 7 feat. Naomi Uyama DJ: Swing DJ Chrisbe (that’s [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #102: Rosetta

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DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #102: "Rosetta" by Al Casey (1973)

Sometimes, I know exactly which song I would like to feature next and I write down the post in a short time. But at times, I only know a certain criteria the song should have – e.g. a slower tempo – but can’t decide which song. Then I change and change again and eventually, I have spent an hour or more, only to pick a song. This week, the latter was the case. However, I have found one deep in my library and here is a new song for you: comfortable tempo, groovy, quite long actually . Rosetta The song [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #101: Gift For The Club (I Found A New Baby)

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DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #101: "Gift For The Club (I Found A New Baby)" by Buck Clayton

After 100, there is a new 1! It’s like to push reset and start from the beginning. Now, I mean this in a figurative sense. So far, I tried to avoid too many repetitions of artists and song titles. From now on, I will be less strict with myself. Let’s start with the next bundle of 100 songs . As you may know, “I Found A New Baby” is one of my all time favorite songs and I love to collect as many versions of it as I could find. This Song of the Week is a wonderful version by Buck [...]

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