8 tracks: ‘New’ music for lindy hopping

‘New’ music for lindy hopping from dogpossum on 8tracks.

linky

image from Shorpy

This is (part of) a set I did last week. I wanted to combine some new stuff (the New Sheiks in particular) with some very familiar stuff (Now You Has Jazz), and to feature Clark Terry. Clark Terry needs some help covering medical bills – please do consider donating even a little bit to this fund.

The second half of this set was solid old school, but this block (excluding that last Mona’s Hot Four) went off like a frog in a sock. I had considered adding in some Gordon Webster, because his band would’ve fitted in nicely, but he’s terribly overplayed at the moment. I couldn’t resist adding in that Mona’s Hot Four song in this 8track, though. Because I love that particular band. NB the Rhythm Club All Stars band (featuring Danny Glass of course) track prompted a jam. Which nearly killed the dancers, who weren’t expecting it to be quite as fast as it was. But gee, they handled the breaks well in what was an unfamiliar song.

If you’re looking to purchase these songs, I do recommend going through the artist directly where possible. I’ve included links where possible.

title artist bpm album year length

Sales Tax Leigh Barker and the New Sheiks (Matt Boden, Don Stewart, Alastair McGrath-Kerr, Eamon McNelis, Heather Stewart) 132 The Sales Tax 2012 3:43

It’s Your Last Chance To Dance Preservation Hall Jazz Band 179 The Hurricane Sessions 2007 4:31

Old Joe’s Hittin’ The Jug Rhythm Club All Stars 269 Introducing The Rhythm Club All Stars 2008 2:43

Now You Has Jazz Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, others 168 The Great American Songbook 4:12

C-Jam Blues Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis 143 Live In Swing City: Swingin’ With Duke 1999 3:34

Mumbles Clark Terry, Ed Thigpen, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown 192 Oscar Peterson Trio + One: Clark Terry 1964 2:04

Lonely One In This Town Leigh Barker and the New Sheiks (Matt Boden, Don Stewart, Alastair McGrath-Kerr, Eamon McNelis, Heather Stewart) 124 The Sales Tax 2012 3:28

Satchel Mouth Baby Catherine Russell 135 Strictly Romancin’ 2012 3:20

Puttin’ On The Ritz Mona’s Hot Four (Dennis Lichtman, Gordon Webster, Cassidy Holden, Nick Russo, Jesse Selengut, Dan Levinson, Tamar Korn) 185 Live at Mona’s 2009 7:49

Frankie Fest

We’re teaching a heap of Frankie stuff in classes this month, in the lead up to his birthday on the 26th May. Last night it was pecks in promenade, points and other important things. Teaching these steps I was struck by just how complex and wonderful they are for new dancers. Pecking gets a lot of flack, but it’s pretty challenging to peck and walk if you’re totally new to dancing.

My favourite pecks are in the Hellzapoppin clip:

Whiteys Lindy Hoppers .. Helzapoppin.

blues DJing

Blues sampler from dogpossum on 8tracks.

linky
image from shorpy

I did some blues DJing last night. Here are some songs from that set. Not entirely in order. It’s really just a bunch of women singing. That’s ok by me.

Hear Me Talking To Ya? Ella Fitzgerald acc. by Roy Eldridge, WIld Bill Davis, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, Gus Johnson 98 These Are The Blues 1963 3:02

Amtrak Blues Alberta Hunter (acc by Doc Cheatham, Vic Dickenson, Fran Wess, Norris Turney, Billy Butler, Gerald Cook, Aaron Bell, Jackie Williams) 95 Amtrak Blues 1978 3:24

Back Water Blues Belford
Hendricks’ Orchestra with Dinah Washington 71 Ultimate Dinah Washington 1957 4:58

Wee Baby Blues Count Basie and his Orchestra (Mahalia Jackson) 64 Live In Antibes 1968 1968 3:14

Fine And Mellow Mal Waldron and the All-Stars (Billie Holiday, Roy Eldridge, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Milt Hinton) 79 The Sound Of Jazz 1957 6:22

Kitchen Blues Martha Davis acc. by unknown 80 BluesWomen: Girls Play And Sing The Blues 1947 3:05

Frosty Morning Blues Cecile Mclorin Salvant and the Jean-Francois Bonnel Paris Quintet 70 Cecile 2010 4:50

Jungle Blues/Love In Vain Leigh Barker and the New Sheiks (Matt Boden, Don Stewart, Alastair McGrath-Kerr, Eamon McNelis, Heather Stewart) 81 The Sales Tax 2012 5:42

teaching with gender

This week I was mocked for describing students’ ‘beautiful basics’ with too much enthusiasm. I admit, I was cooing and gushing a little, but I have Strong Feelings about beginner dancers doing basics. So next week I’m going to experiment with using manly words to describe swingouts.

“Great! What ruggedly masculine triple steps!”

“What hairy-chested bounce!”

“I like how you let her in close and then pushed her away!”

“Hey, you almost emoted there, but then suddenly shut down and repressed – great stuff!”

Perhaps I should just go ‘Proper Man’ and just do taciturn.

“Grunt.”

That’ll totally inspire the students.