Here are some excerpts from the documentary “Spirit Moves” (1950) a 6-hour long documentary of African-American vernacular dance by Mura Den. To footage to appear in this sequence include the Savoy Shim Sham, a solo Charleston jam, and some jams/social dancing inside the Savoy (and a wee bit of snakehips action going on at the end)!
It is amazing to see them all do the Shim Sham with their own individual style in terms of handling the breaks, and use of the hands, and the little additional footwork that they add to some of the steps – the individual voice in the collective jazz ensemble, not unlike the music it expresses.
Harry James was one a great trumpet player and band leader that kept his band going for over 40 years, and has played some of the most swingin’ tunes I’ve heard, and the best thing is, because he recorded through the decades, some of the sound quality of his recordings are great. James served his apprenticeship with the Benny Goodman Orchestra, and subsequently started his own big band in 1939, and was the the first name band to hire Frank Sinatra! Here are two swingin’ tunes, “Two O’clock Jump” and “Don’t Be That Way”
Last night was the first time we swung out at House at Dempsey Road, and it was great fun. There was such a demand for taster classes that TWO were conducted, one by Ling and the other by myself, and it was good to see some dancers come and support the event (Eunice!!), and play on the dance floor. If you couldn’t make it last night, don’t worry, we’ll have this every monday. Taster Class to start at 9pm, and social dancing after! Here’s your chance to swing out at a public venue once again, and to show your friends a glimpse of the wonderful world of Swing dancing.
