“Jennie Löbel & Swing Kings are a real swing band, playing mainly American swing from the 40s, with occasional visits to other jazz eras.
Jennie sings some standards but is mostly known for picking up unusual songs from the repertoires of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith.”
That's how they describe themselves on their website. Further:
“Jennie Löbel has picked up an almost fogotten singing tradition when it comes to both repertoire and style.
She was awarded the Louis Armstrong scholarship of 1998 given each year by the association “Friends of Traditional jazz in Stockholm” at Mosebacke.[…]
The comment was:
Jennie Löbel is a singer with a jazz voice, phrasing and feeling beyond today’s marketed young colleagues. Without plagiarism and manners but with honesty and dignity she makes even Billie Holiday smile in her heaven.”
The band was formed 1995 in Stockholm Sweden, they released their first album in 1998. The second one “He Ain't Got Rhythm“, from which I've taken our “Song of the Week”, followed in 2001.
Quickly they became very popular in the Swing dance scene.
Love Me Or Leave Me starts very minimalistic: double bass, Jennie's wonderful voice and a little bit of piano until the rest of the band get in at 0:30. A beautifully interpreted standard in a comfortable tempo!
After I'd decided to promote this song, I realised, that you can listen and download the song for free on their website! (see the link below).
Title: Love Me Or Leave Me
Artist: Jennie Löbel & Swing Kings
Released: 2001
Tempo: 128 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop
You can find the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist. Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw
Do you like the “Song of the Week” series? Share your thoughts below.
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