Shuffle Projects

Swinging Projects for Lindy Hop & Balboa Dancers

Song of the Week

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #17: Blue Drag

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I discovered this version by the New Orleans Jazz Vipers on the compilation «Swing Around the World» by the Putumayo World Music label.

In fact, it's taken from their first album, recorded and released in 2002. (BTW Linnzi Zaorski did some lead vocals on this album!)

The Band was founded back in the 90s in New Orleans by Joe Braun (sax), John Rodi (acoustic guitar) and Robert Snow (acoustic bass).

With the time the band evolved to a seven-man-formation. They mostly played in the traditional way without amplification.

In 2009, the New Orleans Jazz Vipers morphed into two new bands and both of them are playing regularly on Frenchmen Street in New Orleans:

  • New Orleans Cottonmouth Kings (features six former members) and
  • Joe Braun's new New Orleans Jazz Vipers (features two of the original Jazz Vipers).

Blue Drag is a relaxed tune with a groovy rhythm section, nice solos and John Rodli's lead vocals suit perfectly to the feeling of the tune.

Check out their website for more informations.

Title: Blue Drag
Artist: New Orleans Jazz Vipers
Recorded: 2002
Tempo: 182 bpm
Dance: Balboa, Lindy Hop

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

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #16: Six Appeal

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Charles Henry «Charlie» Christian (29.07.1916-02.03.1942) was a jazz guitarist during the swing era and a pioneer on the electric guitar.

With the amplification it was possible to bring out the guitar from the rhythm section and to use it as a solo instrument. Thanks to his talent, Charlie popularized the electric guitar in jazz.

He developed melody lines with a single-string technique, influenced more by the brass instruments and woodwinds than the guitar players of that time. His goal was to sound like a tenor saxophone.

In 1939 Charlie Christian was discovered by jazz producer John Hammond who introduced him to Benny Goodman.

Goodman hired Charlie for his newly formed sextet, which included Lionel Hampton, Fletcher Henderson, Artie Bernstein and Nick Fatool.

Charlie died far too early at the age of 25 because of tuberculosis.

Six Appeal is probably not the most important song recorded by the Sextet but I just love this tune.

It has this laid back feeling with a solid rhythm section and the solo parts of the electric guitar, the vibes and the clarinet are beautiful.

Line-up: Benny Goodman (cl), Lionel Hampton (vibes), Dudley Brooks (p), Charlie Christian (electric guitar), Artie Bernstein (b), Nick Fatool (d).

Title: Six Appeal (My Daddy Rocks Me)
Artist: Charlie Christian (Benny Goodman Sextet)
Recorded: 29.06.1940 in Los Angeles
Tempo: 142 bpm
Dance: 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.

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #15: The Raggle Taggle

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Drummer Clifford «Boots» Douglas led his 12-piece big band Boots & His Buddies during the 30s in the area of San Antonio, Texas, playing for dancers.

Although it was a «territory» band (only performing locally), they recorded 42 songs for the Bluebird label.

The Raggle Taggle is a hard swinging tune in a minor key, perfect for Balboa dancing. If you don't own this song, buy it immediately, it's a gem!

Boots And His Buddies 1937-1938

Title: The Raggle Taggle
Artist: Boots & His Buddies
Recorded: 17.09.1937
Tempo: 208 bpm
Dance: Balboa, 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 #14: Frenesi

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Artie Shaw (1910-2004), one of the greatest clarinet players in jazz, built and led five different and distinguishable orchestras during the swing era.

1939 he left his second orchestra all of a sudden and spent two months in Mexico.

After coming back to New York, he recorded Frenesi in the first session by using a large string section, and the tune became a major hit.

Frenesi has a happy feeling with a lot of breaks and latin elements (it reminds me of Paso Doble) in it. I like it! And you?

Artie Shaw Frenesi

Title: Frenesi
Artist: Artie Shaw & His Orchestra
Recorded: 1940
Tempo: 154 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 #13: Summertime

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Summertime is a song everybody knows, but do you know the version by The Modern Jazz Quartet? This is one of my favourite versions and I sometimes play it at the end of a Swing party, around 4 o'clock in the morning or so… 😉

Summertime was composed by George Gershwin* for his «American Folk Opera» Porgy and Bess, which premiered 1935 in New York City.

The song quickly became a Jazz standard and is probably one of the most popular and most played song ever. It was recorded over 26'000 times by different musicians and in different styles.

*text in the original version by DuBose Heyward

Title: Summertime
Artist: The Modern Jazz Quartet
Recorded: 1964
Tempo: 80 bpm
Dance: Blues / Slow Lindy

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

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