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The Big Swing Night @ Leapin’ Lindy 12 – From The DJ Perspective

16.02.2012 by Chris

Instead of writing a ‘normal' event review like I did last year (check out The Big Swing Night @ Leapin' Lindy 11), I thought I'm writing about this night from the perspective of the Swing DJ.

The Big Swing Night @ Leapin' Lindy 12 Bern

The Biggest Swing Party in Switzerland

Last weekend (February 8-10, 2012), the popular Lindy Hop weekend Leapin' Lindy 12 was happening in Switzerland's capital Berne. Currently, the Big Swing Night on Saturday is the biggest Swing Dance Party in Switzerland.

Many key points were similar to last year's edition:

  • Location: Kultur-Casino Bern, Great Hall
  • Dancers: 700+
  • Band: Gordon Webster 7 feat. Naomi Uyama
  • DJ: Swing DJ Chrisbe (that's me; for those who read the first time on this blog)

Setup of the night

The event started at 21h with a DJ set. The first band set was scheduled for 22h, but we waited another 15 minutes to have a nicely crowded floor.

After the first band set of one hour, the presentation and social dance shows of the teachers took place. These were followed by a short DJ set and another band set.

During the second band break, my task was to suddenly interrupt the party with a song that was going out of tune (thanks to DJAY) so that the MC Tim Collins could come up with a story to initiate a soul train cake walk.

Some dancers brought a wooden cake into the room, the band was climbing out of that cake and the third band set could start. That's how it looked like:

Cake Walk at The Big Swing Night

If you know Gordon Webster, then you know that the band is always playing longer than they are supposed to.

Don't get me wrong, this is totally awesome, especially when you have such a great band in the city!

Well, the party finished around 4h in the morning instead of 3h and eventually, I have DJ'ed more than three hours that night!

The Responsibility of the DJ

A friend of mine said to me during the evening:

“As a DJ, you must have a lot of responsibilities!”

Yup, that's true.

He told me the story, that he was at a concert just a few days before, and after the last band set, while the audience was still applauding and asking for an encore, the DJ started a song. The audience was so upset, that they were booing the DJ.

The DJ didn't take care of the band, because the applause is the reward for any performing artist!

But he didn't also take care of the audience, because they didn't get a chance to ask for one or two more songs from the band.

As a DJ, there are some important points to think about:

  • Create an atmosphere that suits to the live band and that helps them: they don't want to perform in front of a bored audience
  • Choose songs which are in contrast to the band sets: different tempos, styles etc.
  • Do not play the same titles as the band. There are always exceptions, though, e.g. when you choose a total different version.
  • Give enough space to the band, that means don't start the DJ set too early, while the audience is still applauding. Wait for a sign of the band that they are really finished, or when the light technician is changing the spot to the DJ booth.

Another Tip: Bring Your Own Cables

A short rehearsal for the teacher shows was scheduled before the dance night, but it didn't happen. So the organizers and I didn't know what music the teachers will need for their shows. Either if I will have it on my laptop or if they will bring memory sticks, iPods etc.

So I decided to plug the cables I brought with me into the mixer and prepare the sound settings: one for my laptop and two for iPods. That was a good choice, then I needed all of them and it was very easy and comfortable to switch between devices during the show.

I Had A Great Night

It was a big pleasure to me to be once again the DJ at The Big Swing Night and also an honor beside such a wonderful and energetic band like Gordon Webster's, which is in my eyes – and I repeat myself – the best live band for swing dancers you can have!

Thank you!


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Filed Under: Event Tagged With: Bern, Event review, Gordon Webster, Leapin' Lindy, Swing DJ'ing, Swing Party

eMusic (Europe) Changed Pricing System

19.11.2010 by Chris

eMusic Effective from November 18, 2010, eMusic changed their pricing system from a credit-per-track system to monetary pricing.

eMusic say it gives them the flexibility to offer more music from both major and indie labels.

What does that mean:

  • Music prices are now shown in euros/dollars and cents instead of credits. Individual tracks are priced at €0.49 / $0.49 each instead of 1 credit, and the price of an album is the sum of its individual tracks.
  • The account balance is now shown in euros/dollars and cents instead of credits.

CEO Discusses Future of eMusic on 17dots.com

November 17, 2010

“eMusic has always looked to be a home for thoughtful fans of music, no matter the source. Our aim has always been to offer the most complete selection of music possible.

To that end we are adding to our U.S. catalogue over 250,000 titles from Universal Music Group, as well as new releases from Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group – much of this goes live on eMusic on November 18 in the U.S. and the balance over the next few weeks. This is in addition to their catalog, which has been live for a year.

These labels join thousands of labels already working with us to offer you the best music selection possible; in the future we will welcome more music in the UK, Europe and Canada as well. In the process of expanding our catalog and making the changes necessary to serve our members and ensure the long-term sustainability of our business, a few labels have chosen to exclude themselves from the new comprehensive eMusic offering.

We are treating all labels equally and therefore we believe fairly. We will greatly miss their artists and their music and trust that they will find their way back to our members soon. We remain committed to the unique voice we have cultivated on the eMusic site, and to highlighting the music that inspires us, whether it’s sold 4 or 4 million copies, regardless of what label has released it.

Our focus is on our members and we look forward to working with all of our label partners – new and existing – and to creating a service that benefits them, their artists and our members.

Adam Klein, eMusic CEO”

Related Post:

  • eMusic review

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: eMusic, eMusic Europe, mp3, music download, Swing DJ'ing

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #37: Singin’ The Blues

15.11.2010 by Chris

With Louis Armstrong, Leon Bismark “Bix” Beiderbecke (10.03.1903-06.08.1931) was one of the most influential jazz cornet soloists of the 1920s.

Bix taught himself to play cornet by ear, he never learned to read music well. Unfortunately he drank himself to an early death.

He first recorded with the Wolverines in 1924, after which he played briefly for the Jean Goldkette Orchestra before joining Frankie Trumbauer's Orchestra in 1926.

In the same year, Beiderbecke and Trumbauer both joined Goldkette.

The following year, Trumbauer and Beiderbecke left Goldkette to join the best-known and most prestigious dance orchestra in the country: the New York–based Paul Whiteman Orchestra.

Singin' the Blues (together with the recording “I'm Coming, Virginia”) is a milestone in Jazz history.

The jazz ballad style was born and some elements can be found in Cool Jazz of the 1950s and 1960s. Bix had an unusual purity of tone and he was a genius of improvisation.

Check out: Bix Beiderbecke Resources

Title: Singin' The Blues
Artist: Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra w/ Bix Beiderbecke
Recorded: 04.02.1927
Tempo: 136 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.

Now Check Out:

  • “Song of the Week” Series featured on Hey Mr. Jesse Podcast!
  • Song of the Week #36: “You Shall Reap What You Sow” by Lil Hardin Armstrong
  • Song of the Week #35: “Smiles” by the Flavio Ambrosetti Sextett

Filed Under: Music, Song of the Week Tagged With: DJ Chrisbe, Early Jazz, Jazz, Lindy Hop, Swing, Swing DJ'ing

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #36: You Shall Reap What You Sow

08.11.2010 by Chris

Lil Hardin Armstrong (1898-1971) was a  pianist, composer, vocalist, recording artist and band leader. She helped introduce America to jazz music.

She was a dedicated jazz pianist, who established a reputation as “Hot Miss Lil,” one of the few female band ensemble members of the 1920’s.

She played on many of the first jazz recordings ever made and she wrote many of the early songs of the jazz era. Though she might be identified in the jazz world as the wife of Louis Armstrong, she was much more than that.

Read the full biography on allaboutjazz.com

Lil Hardin's You Shall Reap What You Sow is my song of the week: solid rhythm section, light and beautiful harmonies. I especially like Lil's soft voice and the different short solos.

Title: You Shall Reap What You Sow
Artist: Lil Hardin Armstrong and Her Swing Orchestra
Recorded: 02.02.1938
Tempo: 182 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.

Now Check Out:

  • “Song of the Week” Series featured on Hey Mr. Jesse Podcast!
  • Song of the Week #35: “Smiles” by the Flavio Ambrosetti Sextett
  • Song of the Week #34: “At Sundown” by George Van Eps

Filed Under: Music, Song of the Week Tagged With: Balboa, DJ Chrisbe, Jazz, Lindy Hop, Swing, Swing DJ'ing

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #35: Smiles

01.11.2010 by Chris

Smiles is the second song from the compilation “Swing in Europa 1: 1939-1945” I'm featuring in the “Song of the Week” series.

Alto saxophonist Flavio Ambrosetti first started studying piano in his hometown Lugano in Switzerland, afterwards he took vibraphone lessons.

After having seen tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins performing in Switzerland in the late 30s, he started to play saxophone.

Ambrosetti was one of the pioneers of the bebop style in Europe.

In 1949 he played at the legendary Jazz Festival Paris in Hazy Osterwald‘s band and met his number one influence Charlie Parker. 

1972 he founded with his son Franco, with Daniel Humair and George Gruntz The Band, which later evolved to the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band. Ambrosetti also was the organiser of the International Jazz Festival Lugano.

Smiles, recorded 1943 with his sextet, is a song I play quite often as a Swing DJ. Not too fast but with a great pumping rhythm section and a soulful Ambrosetti at the vibraphone.

Line-Up: Flavio Ambrosetti (vib, as), Michel Eberhard (ts, cl), Géo Voumard (p), Ray Hunter (g), Sunny Langenbacher (b), Memeta Ambrosetti (d).

Title: Smiles
Artist: Flavio Ambrosetti Sextett
Recorded: 1943
Tempo: 164 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.

Now Check Out:

  • “Song of the Week” Series featured on Hey Mr. Jesse Podcast!
  • Song of the Week #19: “One O'clock Jump” by Ernst Höllerhagen Quartett
  • Song of the Week #34: “At Sundown” by George Van Eps

Filed Under: Music, Song of the Week Tagged With: DJ Chrisbe, Jazz, Lindy Hop, Swing, Swing DJ'ing, Swing in Europa

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Welcome, I'm Christian Bossert. Since 1999, I‘ve been passionate about Swing dances as well as their culture and history. I‘m a Swing dance instructor and international Swing DJ Chrisbe, based in Zurich Switzerland. Read More…

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