We’ve just taught a fun little solo routine focussing on a number of 20s dances, and after a couple of weeks of partner charleston before that, I’m really into this music and style again. My knees, however, are not so keen.
Charleston contest, St Louis Hall, 1925. Missouri History Museum flickr
I like rewatching this clip every now and then to remind myself that jazz music and dance are often at their best as competitive, interactive endeavours.
(I wrote about this clip and event in greater detail in Bands For Dancing)
No clue where I found this.
Maude Mills (c/o the jass dancer)
Christa Hughes performing at a recent gig for dancers organised and run by musicians (photo via Richard Renshaw on FB).
You see, this is why dancers aren’t always the best people to organise dance events.
(Christa Hughes and her dad Dan singing on Spicks and Specks)
…from Perth. Playing Cottontail. With lindy hoppers. In Perth. This band was one of the highlights of the MLX11 live music program.
blackface.com is a useful resource for people who’re into African American dance and music of the early 20th Century (ie, us).
If you’re thinking about using some characters from 1930s or 40s films for your choreography, you may want to read up and avoid offending folk and looking like an insensitive (ignorant) clod.
(NB this image is the logo for the blackface.com website)
I love small swing groups, and Riverwalk Jazz are doing a show on them this week called Goodman, Shaw & Dorsey: Big Band Leaders and Their Small Combos. It features a few of my favourite small groups, most of which make for good (though fairly precise, and dare I say it, uptight) dancing.
That Riverwalk Jazz show reminded me of an 8tracks I did a while ago, which is mostly small groups. I’m really a fool for a small group, I think mostly because I dance to small groups more often IRL. But also because I like the way you can hear every instrument in a small band, and the smaller format lets musicians work together in a team, yet still as individuals:
The Riverwalk Jazz discussion of small groups has also made me think about the Ozcats, who’re a very good Bob Crosby and the Bob Cats tribute band in Sydney. I’ve only seen them play twice, and not for over a year, but they were the best Australian band I’ve ever danced to. A heap of older blokes staring at their scores from seats on the stage, rocking out. I’d love to have them at a dance event again. They play this sort of music:
(linky)
A very famous February 1926 Life cover by John Held Jr.
We’ve been teaching with this song a bit lately, and it is the WORST EAR WORM EVER. This is a fun clip, though.