DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #12: Shiny Stockings

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Count Basie April In Paris

Next Wednesday, 26th May, is Frankie Manning‘s birthday, he would have turned 96. Reason enough to declare the whole week as Frankie Manning week on my Swing Blog. In the following five days, I will post every day an entry which is related to Frankie. Let’s start with Frankie Manning’s favourite song: Shiny Stockings by Count Basie (1904-1984), Frank Foster, saxophonist and musical director of the Count Basie Orchestra from 1986-1995, is the composer of this Lindy Hop Hymn. Jazz journalist Bob Bernotas interviewed Frank Foster in 1991. Here is the song relating excerpt of that interview. In his 11 [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #10: Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me

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Cootie Williams

I discovered this album by Cootie Williams last year (2009) and it’s a winner. Every single song got a 5 star rating by me for Swing dancing! The tune I’ve chosen is also the title of the album, the Jazz standard Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me. Originally recorded 1940 as Concerto For Cootie by the Duke Ellington Orchestra, where Williams was a prominent member for years. Charlie Melvin “Cootie” Williams (1911-1985) was one of the most influential Jazz trumpeters during the Swing era. His trademark was the growl style by using a plunger mute (in the tradition of [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #9: Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho

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Kid Ory In The Forties

The inspiration for Jazz musicians came often from traditional songs or from spirituals. They took the song and improvised over it. An example is the spiritual Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho. One of my favourite version is from 1946 by New Orleans pioneer and trombonist Edward “Kid” Ory (1886-1973). Ory’s career spans over 50 years. From 1912 until 1919 he led one of the most popular bands in New Orleans. Although he left the music business in the 30s to run a chicken farm, he made a major comeback in the 40s. 1943 he rivived Kid Ory’s Creole Orchestra [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #7: No More Love

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Buddy Johnson Walk'em The Decca Sessions

For this week I have chosen a R&B song – played by a big band – rather than a typical Swing song, but it’s just perfect to dance Lindy Hop to. Pianist Buddy Johnson (1915-1977), his real name was Woodrow Wilson Johnson, led a large jump blues band that was very successful during the 1940s and 1950s. He featured different vocalists but his younger sister Ella Johnson was the primary singer of the band. No More Love is a great example of the big band’s driving sound at a slower tempo and Ella’s soulful voice. Title: Artist: Buddy Johnson And [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #6: The Gal From Joe’s

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Charlie Barnet The Gal From Joe's

Another great song is The Gal From Joe’s composed by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills, here in my preferred version by Charlie Barnet (1913-1991). Charlie Barnet was a son of wealthy parents who had hoped he would become a lawyer. However Charlie led his first orchestra on a transatlantic ocean liner at the age of 16 years! Charlie later led what was known as “The Blackest White Band Of Them All” and he was a great admirer of Duke Ellington (as well of Count Basie). He mainly played tenor sax, influenced by Coleman Hawkins, but also alto and soprano sax. [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #5: The Game Of Love

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Fairground Attraction Ay Fond Kiss

This is a beautiful song by Fairground Attraction, a Scottish pop band which only existed from 1987-1990. They are most known for their world hit “Perfect”, released 1988. “The Game Of Love” is a wonderful swinging song, although I wouldn’t play it at every Swing night. But sometimes it’s just the perfect song! Title: The Game Of Love Artist: Fairground Attraction Released: 1990 Album: Ay Fond Kiss Tempo: 144 bpm Dance: Lindy Hop Click the link to prelisten and download the song (mp3/mp4a) at iTunes — Amazon.de (CH/D/A) — Amazon.com — eMusic What do you think about this song? Do [...]

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Satan Takes A Holiday @ Shuffle the House 2010

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Shuffle The House Schaffhausen

This is an awesome routine by my friends Marcia Bodenmann, Flora DalMolin, Tina Foppa, Maria Trodella & Nick Akerhult! They performed it the first time at the Balboa weekend “Shuffle the House” in Schaffhausen/Switzerland on 20th March 2010. The Song is “Satan Takes a Holiday” by Dolly Dawn & George Hall And His Orchestra. Enjoy! What do you think about the choreography? Leave a comment below! Related Posts: Shuffle the House 2011, Schaffhausen Global Shim Sham Shim Sham Flashmob Bern

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #3: Spooks

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louis armstrong 1954

This funny song in a medium tempo range starts with a squeaking door and a deep laughter. Is it spooking in the house? Often there is a murmur in the dance crowd when the intro starts and the majority of the dancers don’t know the song: Is that a Swing tune? Yeah, it is! There are strings and a choir supporting the orchestra which gives the song an additional mood. I like this song! Steve Leggett on allmusic label it “utterly goofy”. Make up your own mind! Title: Spooks Artist: Louis Armstrong With The All Stars Recorded: 13.4.1954 New York, [...]

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