Watch the full one hour documentary Cab Calloway: Sketches

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Documentary Cab Calloway: Sketches

Cabell “Cab“ Calloway (Dec. 25, 1907 – Nov. 18, 1994) ranked among the most famous black stars in the 1930s, a charismatic and unique performer. He was a jazz vocalist, dancer and bandleader of one of the most popular African American big bands during the Harlem Renaissance and jazz and swing eras of the 1930s-40s. Calloway was also an ambassador for his race, leading one of the most popular African American big bands during the Harlem Renaissance and jazz and swing eras of the 1930s-40s, with Harlem’s famous Cotton Club as his home stage. Best known for his “Hi de hi de [...]

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Documentary: The Call Of The Jitterbug

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Documentary Call Of The Jitterbug

YouTube is full of surprises. Again and again you can discover new clips and documentaries about Swing dancing. Yesterday, I’ve found (via Facebook) a documentary from 1988 about Lindy Hop, uploaded by “sabinoson”. The Call Of The Jitterbug A film by Jesper Sorensen, Vibeke Winding and Tana Ross. Edited by Rachel Reichman. Featured among others are Frankie Manning, Norma Miller, George Lloyd and Mama Lu Parks.

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Documentary “The Unforgettable Hampton Family” on YouTube

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Documentary "The Unforgettable Hampton Family" on YouTube | Shuffle Projects

Some of you who attended Herrang Dance Camp last summer, had the opportunity to watch the documentary “The Unforgettable Hampton Family“, together with Dawn Hampton in person. The interest was appropriately high and the library, where it was shown, fully packed. At the end of September, buddhaboogie, better known as big band leader George Gee, published the documentary on his YouTube channel. The documentary celebrates the Hamptons, a talented African-American family who overcame poverty and prejudice to build successful musical careers. The Unforgettable Hampton Family is a production of BetterThanFiction Productions for WNET. Produced, written and directed by Julie Cohen. [...]

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The Savoy King – Feature Documentary Is Finished!

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THE SAVOY KING Chick Webb and the Music That Changed America

As announced today on the Facebook Page, “THE SAVOY KING: Chick Webb and the Music That Changed America” is finally finished! THE SAVOY KING is a feature documentary about the Swing-era drummer-bandleader Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald, and Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom. I’m really looking forward to seeing this documentary! CLIP: “Ella Fitzgerald Vignette” This is a clip from the new feature film. Interviews with Norma Miller, Frankie Manning and Van Alexander, among others! Produced by Jeff Kaufman of Floating World Pictures Edited by Jamal El-Amin Graphics Wizard: Patrick Connelly Post-production Supervisor: Alita Renée Holly Link: Website The Savoy King Related Posts: [...]

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Swing! The Documentary

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Swing! The Documentary - Directed by Susan Glatzer

There is a new documentary about Swing dancing coming up: Swing! The Documentary – Directed by Susan Glatzer Watch the trailer: Description of the Documentary SWING! is as diverse and dynamic as the dance it depicts. The film explores the culture surrounding swing dance from the emergence of the Lindy Hop to the modern day international phenomenon. The film analyzes the growth of swing dance from its purely American roots as an art form, to countries all over the world. SWING! also looks at the lives of the swing dancers themselves to find their personal stories and why swing dancing [...]

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The Savoy King – Feature Documentary in Post-Production

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Chick Webb Ella Fitzgerald Savoy Ballroom

Facebook might be overwhelming but sometimes I discover interesting things like these rough cut clips from an upcoming feature documentary “THE SAVOY KING: Chick Webb and the Music That Changed America” which seems to be in post-production now. THE SAVOY KING, produced/directed/written by Jeff Kaufman, is about the Swing-era drummer-bandleader Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald and Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom. These clips are from the latest cut of the film, finished on October 6, 2010. Rough Cut Clip: “Ella Fitzgerald Vignette” Interviews with Norma Miller, Frankie Manning and Van Alexander, among others! Rough Cut Clip: “Chick Webb Vignette” Interviews with Norma Miller, [...]

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Frankie Manning “The King Of Swing”: Article on FLYP

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Flyp Frankie Manning The King Of Swing

This is the last post of the Frankie Manning week series. While doing some research for my Frankie Manning week here on Shuffle Projects, I found another gem on the web: A beautifully designed online-magazine called FLYP. Read and watch the article about Frankie “The King Of Swing” by Amy Van Vechten, issued on 10th September 2008. Do you like this entry? Please leave a comment! Get new posts by RSS feed or by e-mail. Related Posts: Biographie Frankie “Musclehead” Manning – in German Frankie Manning: Never Stop Swinging (Documentary) Clayzapoppin vs. Hellzapoppin Song of the Week: Frankie’s favourite Song [...]

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Frankie Manning: Never Stop Swinging (Documentary)

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Documentary "Frankie Manning: Never Stop Swinging" | Shuffle Projects

Happy Birthday Frankie! Frankie Manning: Never Stop Swinging, is a half hour documentary produced and directed by Julie Cohen, the producer of the hugely popular shows The Jews of New York and New York Goes to War. “Frankie Manning was a man who truly LIVED every moment of his life”, said Julie Cohen, director of the documentary. “Having spent the past two months watching hundreds of hours of footage of him dancing from the 1930s to the present, I’ve seen the joy he took in every step.” The program also features an interview with Ruthie Rheingold, a 92 year old [...]

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