Shuffle Projects

Swinging Projects for Lindy Hop & Balboa Dancers

Fletcher Henderson

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #92: Little Sir Echo

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With “Rexatious” [SOTW #89] we have learned, that Rex Stewart was famous for his talkative style (among other styles). This week I would like to feature a song where this technique is more hearable.

But before, I need to introduce another jazz musician who had perfected a similar sound but with a different instrument.

Dickie Wells

William “Dickie” Wells (10.06.1907/09 – 12.11.1985) was a leading black American trombonist noted, especially in the swing era, for his melodic creativity and expressive techniques.

Scott Yanow on allmusic.com describes Wells as follows: “One of the more adventurous trombonists of the swing era, the distinctive Dicky Wells was somewhat innovative, playing his horn in a speech-like style filled with a great deal of color, humor, and swing.”

Wells worked over the years with many well known musicians as Fletcher Henderson, Benny Carter, Teddy Hill, Count Basie (his longest engagement, from 1938-1945 and 1947-1950) and Jimmie Rushing, just to name a few. For most of the rest of his career he was a freelance trombonist.

Little Sir Echo

Little Sir Echo is a nicely swinging tune with call-and-response and solo parts by Stewart and Wells. The song is especially suitable for less experienced dancers, as it is comfortably slow and relaxed.


DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week: "Little Sir Echo" by Rex Stewart & Dickie Wells | Shuffle ProjectsTitle: Little Sir Echo
Artist: Rex Stewart & Dickie Wells
Recorded: 1959
Tempo: 132 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop



I couldn't find this song as download so far!* Buy the CD here
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*Let me know if you have any informations!

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

Related Posts:

Song of the Week #91: “‘Tain’t What You Do” by Jimmie Lunceford
Song of the Week #90: “Stompin’ At The Riverside” by Spade Cooley
Song of the Week #89: “Rexatious” by Rex Stewart

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #83: Queer Notions

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James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson (18.12.1897 – 29.12.1952) was a pianist, composer, arranger and leader of the first great jazz big band. He had a huge influence in early jazz.

Henderson had a degree in chemistry and mathematics, but when he came to New York in 1920, the only job he could find was in the music industry because of race discrimination. He worked as a music director and pianist for the Black Swan label.

In 1922 Henderson formed his first band with Don Redman. Thanks to Redman's innovative arrangements, they became quickly the best Afro-American band in New York. When Louis Armstrong joined the band in 1924, Redman started to contribute more swinging tunes.

After Redman left the band in 1927, Benny Carter and Henderson's younger brother Horace Henderson helped with the arrangements, before Fletcher Henderson became himself a top arranger in the early 1930s.

The band was very popular but Henderson a bad business men, so he started to work for other bands. In 1934 Benny Goodman bought some arrangements from him for his weekly radio show “Let's dance”.

In 1936 Goodman became the “King of Swing“, ironically with arrangements, Henderson already was playing with his band many years before. In 1939, Henderson became the staff arranger of Benny Goodman's band.

Queer Notions is in a certain way quite awkward, with strange harmonies. Queer as its title. I guess, it was a difficult arrangement to play for the band.

Well, I have a soft spot for strange songs! 😉


DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #83: Queer Notions by Fletcher Henderson & His OrchestraTitle: Queer Notions
Artist: Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra
Recorded: 1933
Tempo: 162 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop


Click the link to download the song from
Amazon.com

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