Charleston

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #123: Russian Rag

09.07.2012 by Chris

Tuba Skinny from New Orleans are very productive, at least recording wise. Every year since 2009, they are releasing a new album.

After «Tubaskinny» in 2009, «Six Feet Down» in 2010 and «Garbage Man» in 2011, Tuba Skinny just recently released their brand new album «Rag Band».

We don't learn that much about the fourth album 😉

Our newest album «Rag Band» is done!
After many many months of recording and re-recording, we are happy to say our new album «Rag Band» is finally complete. Thanks for your patience!

The short statement on Tuba Skinny's website.

They recorded the album in October 2011 and April 2012 in the Holy Cross, New Orleans with the help of Cassidy Holden. «Squeeze Me» (Track 14) was recorded live at the Spotted Cat.

Russian Rag

When you listen to this album, then you feel put back in time. That's how it must have sounded many decades ago in New Orleans. Good to know that there are still bands cultivating the traditional New Orleans sound!

One of my favorite tunes from «Rag Band» is «Russian Rag». I like the harmony and the breaks. And I'm a big fan of Erika Lewis› authentic vocals! Not an easy song for dancers, though.

Tuba Skinny are: Todd Burdick – Tuba, Ryan Baer – Banjo/Guitar/Harmonica/Vocals, Barnabus Jones – Trombone/Guitar/Banjo, Shaye Cohn – Cornet/Piano/Fiddle, Robin Rapuzzi – Washboard/Bass Drum, Erika Lewis – Vocals.

Special Guests on the album: Jon Doyle – Clarinet/Tenor Sax, Ewan Bleach – Clarinet, John James – Dobro, Sam Doores – Bass Drum, Cassidy Holden – Bass Drum.

Artist: Tuba Skinny
Released: June 23, 2012
Album: Rag Band
Tempo: 202 bpm
Dance: Charleston, Lindy Hop, Balboa

Buy this album! It's USD 10 or more.

Do you like to dance to New Orleans Jazz? 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.

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Random Clips on Friday: Lindy Hop Stop-Motion Animation

02.12.2011 by Chris

I posted this yesterday on my Facebook Page – and many other Facebook users as well – and it's so incredibly awesome that I have to continue the unoffical Friday series and post this short clip (only 28 seconds) again.

Stop-Motion Animation inspired by Max Pitruzzella & Annie Trudeau

Unfortunately, there is no information about the creator (Adam from Canada?).

What is Stop-Motion?

Stop motion (also known as stop action) is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence.
Source: Wikipedia (follow link to read the full article!)

Charleston Meets Lindy Hop

This is the clip from the Jump Session Show in Seattle, WA in 2007 with the original choreography by Max & Annie.

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Clayzapoppin vs. Hellzapoppin
Random Clips on Friday: Lindy Hop Flash Mob at Denver Airport

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #63: Ain’t She Sweet

16.05.2011 by Chris

Leroy «Roy» Smeck (6.2.1900-5.4.1994) was an virtuoso on banjo, guitar, steel guitar and especially on ukulele, therefore he's got the nickname «Wizard of the Strings«.

In 1926 Smeck appeared in one of the first music videos ever made: Don Juan, starring John Barrymore, released by Warner Bros.

Smeck was the inventor of the Vita-Uke and other stringed instruments, marketed by the Harmony Company.

He made more than 500 records and if this is not enough, Smeck was the author of many instruction books for all the instruments he was playing.

Some of them are still available as for instance «4400 Guitar Chords» or «Ukulele Method for Chord and Melody Playing«.

Ain't She Sweet was published in 1927. It became a Tin Pan Alley standard and it is a typical song of the Roaring Twenties. Here is a wonderful version with an unusual sound: ukulele pure – no additional instruments!

Title: Ain't She Sweet
Artist: Roy Smeck
Recorded: ?
Tempo: 164 bpm
Dance: Charleston, Lindy Hop

You can find the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist.

Now Check Out:

DJ Chrisbe @ ewz.stattkino’11 Zürich (CH) 25.2.2011

24.02.2011 by Chris

The Sentimental Gangsters live in Concert, Show and Charleston taster class with Ursula Ledergerber & Roger Frey, and party with DJ Chrisbe

Description by the organizer:

«The Sentimental Gangsters: eine Band glitzernd, gefährlich und voller Passion, mal laut, mal leise, hier ein rasender Swing, dort eine melancholische Ballade. Dann das Tanzpaar: Charleston und Lindy Hop mitreissend interpretierend. Ein Charleston-Crash-Kurs vorab, die ausgelassene Charleston-Party danach und am Mischpult DJ Chrisbe. So verschmilzt alles zu einer unterhaltsamen Hommage an die Roaring Twenties. Passendes Outfit ausdrücklich erwünscht!»

Date/Time

Friday, February 25, 2011, starts at 18 h

Location

ewz Unterwerk Selnau, Zürich

Schedule

18.00 – 19.00	Charleston taster class with Ursula & Roger
20.00	Movie «The Cotton Club» (1984, USA)
22.30	Charleston-Party Live in Concert: Andreas Winkler & The Sentimental Gangsters and with DJ Chrisbe

Tickets

CHF 25 @ Arthouse Ticket Shop

Lerne die Big Apple Routine online

09.07.2010 by Chris

The Big Apple war in der Schweizer Swingszene lange nur Insidern bekannt. Kaum jemand konnte die Routine tanzen, geschweige denn unterrichten. In letzter Zeit hat sich das geändert, natürlich auch, weil Solo Jazz an internationalen Camps wieder einen höheren Stellenwert erhalten hat. Vielerorts werden Solo Jazz-Klassen unterrichtet (Stir It!) oder sogar eine ganze Woche gewidmet (Herräng, Eauze).

The Big Apple – das ist doch ein anderer Name für New York!

Ja. Auch. In der Swing Community meint man mit «The Big Apple» in der Regel die Choreographie, welche auf der von Frankie Manning choreographierten Routine der Whitey's Lindy Hoppers im Kinofilm Keep Punchin› von 1937 basiert.

Ursprünglich war der «Big Apple» jedoch nicht choreographiert, sondern ausgerufen. Die Tänzer und Tänzerinnen formen einen Ring und ein Rufer ruft verschiedene Solo Jazz und Charleston Moves aus, die dann von allen ausgeführt werden.

Wer schon immer einmal den Big Apple (Choreographie) lernen wollte, hat nun die Möglichkeit, dies Schritt für Schritt zu tun. Patrick Szmidt & Natasha Ouimet aus Montréal haben kürzlich eine 14-teilige Lern-Videoserie in HD-Qualität auf YouTube veröffentlicht.

Hier ist die ganze, ausgezählte Routine. Die weiteren Videos findet ihr auf dem YouTube-Kanal der beiden.

Recently, Patrick & Natasha from Montréal released a 14-sequence instructional video set in HD quality to learn the Big Apple Routine. Here is the full routine with counts. Check out their YouTube channel to find all the videos.

Die Routine aus dem Film Keep Punchin› möchte ich euch natürlich nicht vorenthalten!

Wer Mühe mit Lernen ab Video Mühe hat, kann die Big Apple Routine anlässlich der Downtownswing Sommerkurse geführt lernen!

Gefällt dir der Big Apple? Welche Routinen möchtest du noch lernen?
Bitte schreibe einen Kommentar!

Wenn dir dieser Eintrag gefallen hat, interessiert dich vielleicht auch das:
Hellzapoppin, Then and Now
Biographie Frankie «Musclehead» Manning – in German