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Swinging with Duke
By dogpossum On 12th September, 2012 · 2 Comments · In cat blogging, fillums, history, ideas, lindy hop and other dances, music
This is a post about Duke Ellington and dance, because he is on my mind at the moment.
I’ve recently discovered the 1951/52 stuff by the Johnny Hodges band on this dodgy digital download album Pound of Blues is really great for teaching dance, particularly choreography which recognises strict phrasing. It’s good, [...]
(image from mindlessmunkey)
To make the perfect jazz hands, you must relax your hands, then extend your fingers. It’s important to leave your palm relaxed.
If you just stretch out your hands, they look too uptight and anxious.
If you just let your hands flop there, they look as [...]
@RiverwalkJazz tweeted this cool photo of Dick Hyman this morning. It reminded me that he was not only doing Bix Beiderbeck tributes, but also lovely albums like the perennial dancers’ favourite ‘A Tribute to Andy Razaf’ with Maxine Sullivan (and Buster Bailey!)
Geoff Bull and the Finer Cuts play a very nice version of Lay me down a pallet on your floor
Metronome All Stars, 1946
By dogpossum On 15th July, 2012 · Leave a Comment · In cat blogging, lindy hop and other dances, music
My favourite part of the new Coleman Hawkins Mosaic set is the little collection of 1946 recordings by the Metronome All Star Band. This particular session features Charlie Shavers, Lawrence Brown, Johnny Hodges, Coleman Hawkins, Harry Carney, Nat ‘King’ Cole, Bob Ahern, Eddie Safranksi, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, June Christy and Sy Oliver [...]
Preservation Hall Hot 4 with Duke DeJan
By dogpossum On 10th July, 2012 · Leave a Comment · In blues, cat blogging, djing, lindy hop and other dances, music, ole timey
This is my favourite Preservation Hall Jazz Band album. It’s called Preservation Hall Hot 4
“with Duke DeJan” and I like it because it’s a smaller group, and while they’re definitely trucking along, it’s a calmer, quieter album. Their version of ‘Dinah’ is my most favourite, probably because I used to [...]
Women’s History Month: Maxine Sullivan!
By dogpossum On 22nd March, 2012 · Leave a Comment · In cat blogging, lindy hop and other dances, music, Women in History 2011, Women in History 2012
Geez, these posts are becoming a real trial. I am just too busy. No, actually, I’m just too can’t be bothered to do one of these every day. I just feel as though I’m listing all the big name vocalists of the swing era. Boooring. I had intended to do lots of [...]
Women’s History Month: Mamie Smith!
By dogpossum On 21st March, 2012 · Leave a Comment · In cat blogging, music, wimminz, Women in History 2012
The first person to record a vocal blues album, Smith was a singer, actor and performer. Her 1920 recording ‘Crazy Blues’ was important for lots of reasons. It sold 75 000 copies in its first week and fueled a popular hunger for black women blues artists, which in turn shook the recording industry [...]
Women’s History Month: Lil Green!
By dogpossum On 19th March, 2012 · Leave a Comment · In cat blogging, music, wimminz, Women in History 2012
I have to run out the house in a few minutes, so I don’t have time to write anything about Lil Green right now (I’ll try to get back to this later… ahahahhah. Who’m I kidding?).
Lil Green. Singer, songwriter, musician.
