DJ Chrisbe

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #152: Streamliner

28.01.2013 by Chris

This is a song by the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra I regularly spin for Lindy Hop crowds.

Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra

An excerpt from their website. The last update I found there is from 2006, though.

The BILL ELLIOTT SWING ORCHESTRA, fifteen musicians and four singers strong, plays exciting swing music in the styles of the '30s, '40s, and '50s, with a twist: much of the band's repertoire has been written in the '90s and 2000 by leader Bill Elliott, a composer and arranger whose songs have been prominently featured in many feature films and TV shows, including the recent HBO film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and the current Disney Channel film Alley Cats Strike.

Elliott began his career as a rock'n'roll piano player, touring and recording with such artists as Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Nicks, and many others, before finding his calling as a swingmeister while writing and arranging songs for the 1989 film Dick Tracy.

The Swing Orchestra, formed in 1993, was an outgrowth of Elliott's continuing success in writing original, vintage-sounding swing music for film, television, and commercials. He has assembled many of L.A.'s hottest musicians for his mission of recreating the authentic fire and style of big bands at their peak in the late '30s.

The band also features BILL'S LUCKY STARS, a vocal quartet who sing in the close-harmony style of the Pied Pipers and the Modernaires, and glamorous lead singer Cassie Miller in featured solos as well.

Playing a dominant role in southern California's current swing revival, Elliott's band is a favorite among the young jitterbug and Lindy Hop dancers whose vibrant new counterculture has been growing rapidly.

Elliott's music is in the style of the great swing bands of the late '30s and early '40s – as hard-swinging as they come, with an emphasis on colorful arrangements, sophisticated and light-hearted lyrics, and danceability.

So, it seems they very active at the beginning of the 21st century, is Bill Elliott still active? Let me know!

Streamliner

What do you think about this tune? 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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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #151: Joe Louis Stomp

21.01.2013 by Chris

Let's go back to the Swing era!

Bill Coleman

William Johnson Coleman (Aug. 4, 1904 – Aug. 24, 1981 in Toulouse) was a mellow-toned swing trumpeter with a distinctive sound and a lyrical style who spent most of his career in Europe.

Scott Yanow writes in Third Ear – The Essential Listening Companion:

«It was ironic that he was born near Paris, Kentucky, for he would spend a lot of time in Paris, France, throughout his life.»

Bill Coleman started early on to play in different bands and in 1927, he went to New York and worked with Cecil and Lloyd Scott. Two years later, he joined Luis Russell's orchestra (1929-1932).

In 1933, he traveled to France with Lucky Millinder. In the next year, Coleman recorded with Fats Waller and played with Teddy Hill's Orchestra, before he moved to France for the first time in September 1935.

While in Europe, he worked with Freddy Tailor and recorded frequently as a leader. With Leao Abbey's orchestra, he played in Bombay, India during 1936-1937, was back in Paris from 1937-1938 with Willie Lewis and co-led the Harlem Rhythmakers in Egypt, before he returned to the U.S. due to World War II.

Back New York, Coleman played with Benny Carter, Teddy Wilson, Andy Kirk, Mary Lou Williams, and John Kirby, and recorded with Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins.

However, he preferred life in Europe and, after a period with groups led by Sy Oliver and Billy Kyle, in December 1948, Coleman moved permanently back to France, staying active and recording fairly regularly up until his death in 1981.

Joe Louis Stomp

Joe Louis Stomp is a tune Bill Coleman recorded while he was living in Paris for the first time.

A beautiful Balboa tune featuring his distinctive mellow-tone.

Title: Joe Louis Stomp
Artist: Bill Coleman
Recorded: January 31, 1936
Tempo: 215 bpm
Dance: Balboa

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

What do you think about this version? Share your thoughts below!

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #150: Romance Without Finance

14.01.2013 by Chris

Here is the one hundred fiftieth song and I'm happy to feature a tune by one of my favorite Swiss combos!

I would have brought them much earlier on the series, but because their album has not been available online until recently, I wanted to wait so that it's easier for you – the international audience – to get the song (or even better the full album).

A Touch Of Swing

A Touch Of Swing is a fine acoustic Jazz quartet. Two guitars: Manfred Junker (who replaced Erich Nussbaum) and Dani Solimine, one double bass: Geri Zumbrunn and a warm female voice: Flavia Vasella.

It's more than just a touch of Swing, it's a soft but hardly swinging band for dancers!

Their subtle and witty arranged songs are mainly from the American songbook from the 1930s and 1940s. But they also mix latin rhythms, gipsy swing solos and some «Italianità» into the jazz standards and thus create a unique blend of beautiful music.

Although this is not a winter song, its mood suits perfectly to that winter atmosphere.

Romance Without Finance

This tune is a funny version. Flavia is scatting and the middle of the song she changes the lyrics from English to Swiss German. For sure an unusual sound for many ears! Unique!

On the recording [easyazon-link asin=»B00A9HGEI6″ locale=»us»]Trust In Me[/easyazon-link] – and therefore in this tune – it's Erich Nussbaum playing the lead guitar!

[easyazon-image align=»left» asin=»B00A9HGEI6″ locale=»us» height=»160″ src=»https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OGWOL-F8L._SL160_.jpg» width=»160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=»B00A9HGETU» locale=»us»]Romance Without Finance[/easyazon-link]
Artist: A Touch Of Swing
Released: 2009
Album: [easyazon-link asin=»B00A9HGEI6″ locale=»us»]Trust In Me[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 152 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes EU ･ iTunes US ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B00AB0BJPE» locale=»de»]Amazon DE[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B00A9HGETU» locale=»us»]Amazon US[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B00AB8D24C» locale=»uk»]Amazon UK[/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.

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #149: California Rain

07.01.2013 by Chris

Winter nights are long, dark, cold and the days often are gray.

Although this is not a winter song, its mood suits perfectly to that winter atmosphere.

California Rain

California rain is fallin‘
I can hear the summer callin‘
Far away, far away
A song that's fadin‘

Put me on a plane tomorrow
I'll try to run from all my sorrow
Far away, far away
From endless waitin‘

It's so cold here without the sun
I'm so sad here far away from everyone

What a fool to be ambitious
Moving here with all of my wishes
Far away, far away
From where my heart is

Shut the phone off and pack my bags
No more boys who boast and brag
Far away, far away
Where I belong

I'm so sorry for some things I've done
I'll be lonely till I can see my only one

California rain keeps fallin‘
I can hear that old love callin‘
Far away, far away
Where I started

I’m goin‘ back, back where I belong
Gonna catch a train
Gotta get back where I belong
Get back

[easyazon-image align=»left» asin=»B003U08SVK» locale=»us» height=»160″ src=»https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AzKpm93VL._SL160_.jpg» width=»160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=»B003U00VII» locale=»us»]California Rain[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Madeleine Peyroux
Released: 2006
Album: [easyazon-link asin=»B003U08SVK» locale=»us»]Half The Perfect World[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 113 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes EU ･ iTunes US ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B001SV4I1W» locale=»de»]Amazon DE[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B003U00VII» locale=»us»]Amazon US[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B003VGS84A» locale=»uk»]Amazon UK[/easyazon-link] ･~~emusic~~

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

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

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #148: Tu Vuò Fà L’Americano

31.12.2012 by Chris

Currently, I'm at The Snowball in Stockholm Sweden and I'm one of the main DJs here. Most of the times, I'm DJ'ing for Balboa dancers.

This song is quite new in my library and always when I spin it, a few dancers wanna know the details about it.

I'm more than happy to share it in my weekly series. My thanks go to David Knoll, a swing and tango dancer in Zürich, who brought this tune to my attention.

Tu Vuò Fà L'Americano

About the song, taken from Wikipedia:

«Tu vuò fà l'americano» (English: «You want to do American», or more idiomatically, «You're an American wannabe») is a Neapolitan language song by Italian singer Renato Carosone.

Carosone wrote the song in collaboration with Nicola «Nisa» Salerno in 1956. Combining swing and jazz, it became one of his best-known songs. Commissioned by Ricordi director Rapetti for a radio contest, the music was composed by Carosone in a very short time after reading Nisa's lyrics; he immediately believed the song would become a great success.

Carosone's original version of the song was performed by him in the film Totò, Peppino e le fanatiche (directed by Mario Mattoli, 1958). The song was featured in the 1960 Melville Shavelson film It Started in Naples, in which it was sung by Sofia Loren. It was also performed by Rosario Fiorello in the 1999 film The Talented Mr. Ripley.

The lyrics are about an Italian who imitates the contemporary American lifestyle and acts like a Yankee, drinking whisky and soda, dancing to rock 'n roll, playing baseball and smoking Camel cigarettes, but who still depends on his parents for money. The song is generally considered to be a satire on the process of Americanization that occurred in the early post-war years, when southern Italy was still a rural, traditional society.

Well, the lyrics you have to find somewhere else since this version by the German Jazz and World Music quartet Quadro Nuevo (founded in 1996) is an instrumental one.

[easyazon-image align=»left» asin=»B00470B1T8″ locale=»de» height=»160″ src=»https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hcCOK3-UL._SL160_.jpg» width=»160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=»B007THG6JQ» locale=»us»]Tu Vuo‘ Fa‘ L'americano[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Quadro Nuevo
Recorded: 2002
Album: [easyazon-link asin=»B00470B1T8″ locale=»de»]Canzone Della Strada[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 194 bpm
Dance: Balboa

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes EU ･ iTunes US ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B00470D64G» locale=»de»]Amazon DE[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B007THG6JQ» locale=»us»]Amazon US[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B00470NMSG» locale=»uk»]Amazon UK[/easyazon-link]