New Orleans

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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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #53: Comes Love

07.03.2011 by Chris

The first song of the second year brings us once again to New Orleans. In the last few years many musicians and dancers moved to the city in the south of the US to live their passion and to help enforce traditional jazz music and dance to a thriving revival.

Meschiya Lake «fell in love with and felt immediately embraced by the culturally rich and one of a kind city of New Orleans» while touring with a circus troupe.

In 2007, she started singing with the Loose Marbles on the French Quarters Royal Street.

Soon after they toured the US and Europe and some of you – like me – might have seen and heard them the first time in Herrang.

In the Spring of 2009, Meschiya formed The Little Big Horns Jazz Band and in 2010, they eventually released their first album «Lucky Devil«.

Check out Meschiya's website for more informations about her and the band.

Comes Love is a typical song in the modern New Orleans tradition. The «dry» steady rhythm section is straightly pushing through.

Meschiya sings very sentimentally, it's impossible that this tune doesn't touch you somehow!

Perfect for Balboa dancing in a medium tempo (actually, great for teaching as well).

Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns - Lucky Devil

Title: Comes Love
Artist: Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns
Released: 2010
Tempo: 177 bpm
Dance: 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

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

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #48: Wild Man Blues

31.01.2011 by Chris

This is one of my absolute favourite songs: Wild Man Blues by Johnny Dodds in the version from 1938 (not to be confused with the 1927 version, which sounds totally different).

I'm not exactly sure why, but it gives me the creeps whenever I hear this (main) melody!

Johnny Dodds (1892-1940) was one of the greatest clarinetists in the 1920s beside Sidney Bechet and Jimmie Noone and he worked with the greats of that era.

He was in Kid Ory's band in New Orleans, worked on riverboats and moved to Chicago to play in King Oliver's band.

Together with his brother Baby Dodds he was an important part of Louis Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven. Also he played on recordings with Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, Jelly Roll Morton and Lil Hardin Armstrong.

Dodds stayed in Chicago and almost got forgotten while Jazz was moving to New York in the 1930s. Throughout the thirties he continued to play and record in Chicago, in addition he was running a cab company with his brothers.

Look at this awesome Line-Up: Lil Hardin Armstrong – Piano, Teddy Bunn – Guitar, Baby Dodds -Drums, Johnny Dodds – Clarinet, John Kirby – Bass, Charlie Shavers – Trumpet, O'Neill Spencer – Drums, Washboard, Vocals.

Source: redhotjazz.com

Johnny Dodds The Very Best Of New Orleans Clarinet

Title: Wild Man Blues
Artist: Johnny Dodds & His Chicago Boys
Released: 21 Jan 1938
Tempo: 172 bpm
Dance: Balboa, 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 #43: Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me

27.12.2010 by Chris

It was in Herrang in 2006, when I heard that song by Sidney Bechet the first time.

Skye Humphries used only this particular song the whole week in his classes and pretty soon, the DJs played it also during the nights.

I remember when I was asking for the title: «Blues my naught… what???» Such a long bizarre title was hard to memorize, but eventually I made it and I bought the song right after the camp.

Meanwhile, Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me probably is overplayed on the dance floor but in this case, I don't care.

It's definitely one of my absolute all time favorites! Sidney Bechet's style to play the soprano saxophone with a wide vibrato is distinctive (love it or hate it, I know).

Be aware, the tune is pretty long.

Title: Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me
Artist: Sidney Bechet and His Hot Six
Recorded: 5. November 1951 New York
Tempo: 140 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop, Balboa

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 #23: Muskrat Ramble

09.08.2010 by Chris

For the first time Herräng Dance Camp offered a Swing Orchestra class, taught by the Carling Family (Carling Big Band). I attended this class as a rhythm guitarist and we all had a very inspiring week!

Hans Carling, father of the family and one of our teachers, mentioned different recordings, which are eminent in jazz history and which are references for all the following generations of jazz musicians.

The early jazz recordings by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five belong to this collection, they have been a revolution in jazz history: here we hear for the first time improvisation. Before that, ragtime phrasing was the most common form of playing music.

Let's have a look at Muskrat Ramble. The jazz standard was written by Kid Ory and first recorded on February 26, 1926. It became the group's most frequently recorded piece.

During the New Orleans/Dixieland revival in the 30s and 40s, Muskrat Ramble was very popular and recorded many times by different artists.

The tune contains a 32-bar ensemble section at the beginning, followed by 16-bar solo sections for the trombone, cornet and clarinet. After the solos, an ensemble section of 32 bars is played, followed by a two-bar trombone tag.

Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five: Louis Armstrong – cornet, Kid Ory – trombone, Johnny St. Cyr – banjo, Johnny Dodds – clarinet, Lil Hardin – piano.

Title: Muskrat Ramble
Artist: Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five
Recorded: 26.02.1926
Tempo: 176 bpm
Dance: Balboa, Lindy Hop

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.

New Orleans

Russian Rag

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