Shuffle Projects

Swinging Projects for Lindy Hop & Balboa Dancers

Jazz

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #42: Baby, Baby

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Because she sang «chee chee» in her high-pitched voice in almost every number somewhere, Rose Murphy (07.05.1913-16.11.1989) became famous as «the Chee Chee Girl«.

She started her career in the late 1930s playing intermission piano for artists such as Count Basie.

Although she was a highly talented pianist, she was best known for her eccentric singing. She combined scating, giggling, percussive sounds and squeals to a unique style.

Indeed, it's a challenge to listen to a full album by Rose Murphy in one go, it could be annoying…

No matter I love weird stuff! 🙂 Baby, Baby is my favourite tune I'm going to feature this week.

DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week: Baby, Baby by Rose Murphy

Title: Baby, Baby
Artist: Rose Murphy
Recorded: 1947
Tempo: 168 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop, Balboa

Click the link to download the song from: Amazon ･ iTunes

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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«Three Perfect Minutes» Blog

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Three Perfect Minutes Blog

Recently I discovered a very interesting blog by Brian Mangum called Three Perfect Minutes. (Edit: Removed the link, the website seems to be offline)

Especially as a Swing music fan and dancer you might be interested in this blog as well.

On a regular basis, Brian is writing about what he is considering as Milestone Recordings in American History.

His latest post from November 28th for example is about trombonist and bandleader Glenn Miller.

Brian gives us a short biography about the artist and features three records from 1939 with additional informations: «Little Brown Jug», «In The Mood» and «Moonlight Serenade».

To enhance the experience, he suggests additional tracks to explore.

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #41: Cherry

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William Thomas «Billy» Strayhorn (29.11.1915-31.5.1967) was a composer, arranger & pianist and especially known for his successful collaboration with Duke Ellington. His most famous composition probably is «Take the «A» Train«.

Strayhorn only led few sessions throughout his career.

1959 he (only) recorded his second full-length album called Cue For Saxophone as the Billy Strayhorn Septet.

Actually, the main star is altoist Cue Porter – who was nobody else than Johnny Hodges – while Strayhorn (who plays piano on the seven songs of the album) only co-wrote two basic tune with Hodges and played a fairly minor role.

Cherry is one of my favourite songs, almost six minutes long. Johnny Hodges› distinctive style is wonderful. A great song for a Sunday afternoon swing party 🙂

The Stanley Dance Sessions: Billy Strayhorn & Johnny Hodges

Title: Cherry
Artist: Billy Strayhorn Septet
Recorded: 1959
Tempo: 146 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

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

Do you like the «Song of the Week» series? Share your thoughts below.

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #39: Te Reo o Papatuanuku

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Just recently I discovered another interesting CD by the Putumayo Label: Jazz Around The World

Especially one song caught my attention, it's by Kataraina Pipi from New Zealand. I suppose the song is in Maori language, my first thought was: it sounds similar to Hawaiian.

After asking Google, I found out: «Hawaiian is most similar to Tahitian, Marquesan, and Maori, but it has cognates in other Austronesian languages as far east as the Philippines and Malaysia.» Source: https://www.hawaiian.saivus.org (link doesn't work anymore).

Not music related, but interesting anyway! 🙂

The song is quite slow, lightly swinging and the voice has got an echo. Maybe a little bit cheesy but funny for sure (although I have no idea what the song is about – If you know it, please let me know in the comment section).

Jazz Around The World (Putumayo)

Title: Te Reo o Papatuanuku
Artist: Kataraina Pipi
Recorded: 2003
Tempo: 100 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song from: Amazon ･ iTunes

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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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #38: Vol Vist Du Gaily Star

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This week's song is Vol Vist Du Gaily Star by Slim Gaillard & Slam Stewart.

A groovy tune with strange lyrics! What kind of language is it? Is it Yiddish or Spanish?

According to the article «Who's Yehoodi? – Scat, Jive, and Yiddish, 1938-1953» by Jonathan Z.S. Pollack (link is unfortunately not available anymore), much of the song is in fake Spanish (“maña, maña, lambelo”).

At the end of the song, Slim Gaillard and Slam Stewart have a brief exchange as the song is fading out:

Slim: Hey! Boy!
Slam: What’s the matter, man?
Slim: What’s that “Vol Vist du Gaily Star” mean?
Slam: Man, I don’t know. What does it mean, man?
Slim: Don’t mean a thing, don’t mean a thing.
Slam: Well, all right, man.
Slim: It’s a little jive talk, in the Floogie language, that’s all.

Slim Gaillard & Slam Stewart Vol Vist Du Gaily Star

Title: Vol Vist Du Gaily Star
Artist: Slim & Slam
Recorded: 1938
Tempo: 180 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

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

Do you like the «Song of the Week» series? Share your thoughts below.

Now Check Out: