Visiting New York City?

As so many Lindy Hoppers before you, I recommend making the pilgrimage to the Savoy Plaque in Harlem.

Judy, from the Frankie Manning Foundation, was kind enough to add a few details to the map from the Savoy Plaque website www.savoyplaque.org – she was trying to think of anything that might confuse someone. It is a straight shot from the subway, up Lenox Ave (the street numbers go up). The cross streets are cut off at 140 and 141 St so it might be confusing if you came through some other way.

The #2 or #3 trains go through Times Square — very easy to find. Head uptown. In recent years there may be changes in the #3 and whether it stops at 135th St. Ask.

It is possible to go in the wrong direction when you get off the subway and I think maybe that’s what happened to you. Make sure to walk to the corner and head uptown on Lenox Ave, not Fifth Ave.

Artist: Alabama Jug Band

Description: Man, this song always gets me goin’! Recorded in 1934, Sister Kate is onlyone of many versions of the song but is definitely my favourite. The Alabama Jug Bandincluded the great Clarence Williams and is one of the few hot jazz bands to make use ofan old jug. With such a great sound, especially for dancing, it’s unfortunate there wereonly 8 tracks recorded. I love every one of them.

I think modern Swing Bands should make use of the old-time jug. Jugs are awesome!

Since I first discovered the AJB I’ve seen this song used in at least two lindy Hopchoreography pieces and personally used it to choreograph a Jazz routine for my SoloJazz class.

Finding all eight tracks is a little difficult but a few songs are posted on YouTube,including Sister Kate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wtNSBupAVs

A few of their songs are scattered on a few compilation albums, but as far as I know theonly recording with all 8 of their tracks is the collection WORLD’S GREATEST JAZZCOLLECTION 2 Swing Time Box Set 100 CD (2008). It’s ridiculously expensive to buythe whole collection, but it certainly is a nice one. Not that I condone such behaviour, butit is possible that someone has posted all eight songs on their music blog. If you look hardenough you might get lucky.…

Jasper’s Jazz Bootcamp

Saturday, October 8th
3pm to 5pm, $20
The Hive, 765B Yonge St.

It happens to all of us. The Plateau. Our usual moves just don’t quite cut it anymore and we stare at our feet with an air of “meh”. Sometimes your jazz just needs a stiff kick in the foot. Presenting Jasper’s Jazz Bootcamp. “Boogie Drop and give me 20’s charleston!” The Jazz Bootcamp will push your jazz/charleston comfort level and vocabulary to the frontline.

Level: Intermediate and up. (But since this is a solo class, all are welcome. Just don’t expect a reteach of Suzie Qs. 🙂

Prerequisites: Knowledge of ~90% of the “Transitions Jazz Steps” linked and listed here is strongly recommended.

Pre-Register now! Listed Under Special Workshops/Troupes.

SONG OF THE WEEK

Song: Muskrat Ramble

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Description: A fantastic song and artist that bridgest the gap between the Lindy Hop and the Charleston world. Sidney Bechet has a distinct sound that always swings hard and is a welcome pleasure on any social dance floor. Check it out!

Song of the Week! August 26th – All I Do Is Dream Of You

SONG OF THE WEEK

Bees’ Knees Dance is pleased to bring you our latest feature: Song of the Week!

Song: All I Do Is Dream of You

Artist: various artists

Description: This song is most recognizable from its feature in Singing In The Rain.

Here it is performed as a dance number by our very own Lady Bugs.

Originally written in 1934, early versions include those by Jan Garber.

I think it’s really interesting to contrast this with a contemporary swinging recording by Canadian Emily Claire Barlow. Love it!

SONG OF THE WEEK

Bees’ Knees Dance is pleased to bring you our latest feature: Song of the Week!

Song: Lawd, Lawd

Artist: Cecil Scott And His Bright Boys

Description: “Lawd, Lawd” – vintage slang for “Lord, Lord”.

When I first heard this song DJ’d at Midwest Lindy Fest I had an amazing dance with mypartner. The playfulness made me get a little silly, the scatting made my feet move with all kindsof rhythms and it’s repetitive yet spirited singing of the words “Lawd, Lawd” made me singalong.

According to redhotjazz.com, “The band prospered, playing at the Savoy and Roselandballrooms and touring to St. Louis and elsewhere. They featured showmanship, smoothdanceable tunes and really advanced hot arrangements.”

Check ‘em out!You can find the song on iTunes and listen to the whole song here. You can also find it on the Dickie Wells Chronological Classics 1927-1943 album.

Competition & Show – Dance coaching with world renown Lindy Hop instructor, Caitlin Wellman!

Comp & Show, Mondays @ 7:30 to 9pm, 11 weeks for $110 (alternate location)

Runs January 9th through March 26th

Competition & Show – Dance coaching with world renown Lindy Hop instructor, Caitlin Wellman! Comp & Show is a disciplined coaching opportunity for Advanced Lindy Hoppers who are interested in pursuing dance training at a high level. Caitlin will be lead this dedicated team of performance enthusiasts through more intense training which will then lead to more performances, public gigs and competition opportunities. Please note that this takes place at an alternate location, at near Church & Dundas. Please send an inquiry for more information.

Please contact us for application/audition information.

SONG OF THE WEEK

Bees’ Knees Dance is pleased to bring you our latest feature: Song of the Week!

SONG: ‘Taint What You Do

ARTIST: Jimmy Lunceford

DESCRIPTION: This is one of the most popular songs to use for the Shim Sham, and Jimmy Lunceford’s original version is the best. Other songs that can be used are Stompin’ At The Savoy and Tuxedo Junction, but this is really the favourite for Lindy Hoppers all over the world.

The song is used in this video of the Frankie95 global Shim Sham in 2009. Unfortunately, Toronto got shafted and they only used a split second of our footage, but you can still see just how important this song is to dancers all over the world.

Bees’ Knees Dance is pleased to bring you our latest feature: Song of the Week!

SONG OF THE WEEK:

SONG: On The Sunny Side of the Street

ARTIST: In this version, Ella Fitzgerald with Count Basie

DESCRIPTION: There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of fantastic versions of this song. The version I’d like to call to your attention this week is a more contemporary recording. Ella teamed up with Count Basie to make a really excellent album that includes some great practice tunes at slower tempos, really nice for new dancers.

In 2002, Steven Mitchell was using this Ella & Basie album for a lot of his classes in the Herrang Dance Camp. After the camp, many of the Russian dancers tried all that year to get their hands on the album but without success. The next summer, Steven was kind enough to give them his copy of the CD.

Bees’ Knees Dance is pleased to bring you our latest feature: Song of the Week!

SONG OF THE WEEK

SONG: Dinah

ARTIST: Louis Armstrong

DESCRIPTION: To follow up from last week’s post featuring Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong is Mandi’s other favourite. Though most versions of Dinah are a bit on the speedy side, Louis performed tons of other terrific music that’s perfect for Lindy Hop and Solo Jazz. There’s just something about this particular tune that captures the feeling of the swing era so beautifully that it deserves special mention.

Louis Armstrong was ahead of his time when he started to both sing and play his trumpet in a way that really did swing and hang back unlike anything else at the time. Here’s a clip from 1933.