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Casa Loma Orchestra

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #121: New Orleans Twist

25.06.2012 by Chris

Have you ever heard the name Gene Gifford before? If not then there is nothing to feel bad about it.

Harold Eugene “Gene” Gifford (May 31, 1908 – November 12, 1970) was a white American banjo player, guitarist and arranger and was nearly unknown during the swing era.

Gifford grew up in Memphis Tennessee where he played banjo in high school. He performed with territory bands before he toured Texas with his own band. Then, he worked with the band “Blue Steele”, where he switched to guitar, and others.

In 1929, he arranged for Jean Goldkette and gained some attention. In the same year, Gifford became a member of the Orange Blossoms, evolving shortly after in the Casa Loma Orchestra.

At the beginning, he was the chief arranger, played guitar and banjo in the band. In 1933, he gave up actively playing and focused on composing and arranging. His compositions and arrangements gave the Casa Loma Orchestra its own personality: “Smokey Rings”, “Casa Loma Stomp” and many others are the titles of memorable tunes by him.

Gene Gifford just led one recording session of his own, resulting in four sides in 1935 for Victor.

In 1939, he left the band and started to arrange for top bands and for radio. During 1948-1949, he returned to the Casa Loma Orchestra, now known as Glen Gray's Orchestra.

On a part-time basis he was still writing and teaching music, but most of the time in the following two decades, he was working as a radio engineer.

New Orleans Twist is one of the four songs, he recorded under his own name. A vivid tune for Balboa and Lindy Hop dancers.


[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B000Y2LY36″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zGCZJ0PCL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=”B000Y2LXTG” locale=”us”]New Orleans Twist[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Gene Gifford
Recorded: 1935
Tempo: 207 bpm
Dance: Balboa, Lindy Hop



Click the link to download the song at
[easyazon-link asin=”B001SF67DK” locale=”de”]Amazon[/easyazon-link]



What do you think about this version? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.

Related Songs:

Song of the Week #47: “No Name Jive” by Casa Loma Orchestra
Song of the Week #120: “Harlem” by Scott Wood & His Orchestra
Song of the Week #119: “Traffic Jam” by Artie Shaw
Song of the Week #118: “I Wan'na Be Like You” by Louis Prima
Song of the Week #117: “Shoot The Sherbert To Me Herbert” by Tommy Dorsey


dadsgrads468

Filed Under: Music, Song of the Week Tagged With: Balboa, Casa Loma Orchestra, DJ Chrisbe, Gene Gifford, Jean Goldkette, Lindy Hop

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #47: No Name Jive

24.01.2011 by Chris

The Casa Loma Orchestra was originally a cooperative orchestra.

At the beginning the band was called “Orange Bloosoms“, the name Casa Loma Orchestra was used with their first recordings for Okeh in 1929, shortly after it played at the Casa Loma Hotel in Toronto.

Violinist Henry Biagini led the orchestra in the first few years before their eventual leader saxophonist Glen Gray took over the band and became its owner.

The Casa Loma Orchestra was one of the most important orchestra before the real swing era and my song of the week “No Name Jive” was one of their top hits.

The song is quite long (6:31) and the sound has this typical staccato feeling. They play with different moods, powerful and softer parts are alternating, with nice solo sections.

The entire album is highly recommendable!

Casa Loma Orchestra Boneyard Shuffle | Shuffle Projects

Title: No Name Jive
Artist: Casa Loma Orchestra
Released: 1940
Tempo: 192 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop, Balboa

Click the link to download the song from: Amazon

You can find the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist. Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

Now Check Out:

  • Song of the Week #46: “Lindy Hopper's Delight” by Chick Webb Orchestra
  • Song of the Week #45: “Number 26 In The Book” by Original Teddies
  • Song of the Week #44: “Lover Come Back To Me” by Bryan Ferry

Filed Under: Music, Song of the Week Tagged With: Balboa, Casa Loma Orchestra, DJ Chrisbe, Lindy Hop, Swing

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Welcome, I'm Christian Bossert. Since 1999, I‘ve been passionate about Swing dances as well as their culture and history. I‘m a Swing dance instructor and international Swing DJ Chrisbe, based in Zurich Switzerland. Read More…

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