The old timers never stopped swingin at Bobby McGee’s a restaurant bar.  They never called it Balboa… just swing!

Sorry for long absence, but moving is a time and energy consuming process!  Anyway, while clearing I came upon my tap shoes which I’ve not used in a while. So here’s something hopefully to inspire me again.  Here’s Harold Nicholas in Mr BB (1943) in one of the greatest musicals of all time…

I can’t seem to have enough of Count Basie.  Especially after listening to his legacy play live. Here’s a recording of “Corner Pocket (Until I Met You)”, Live in ‘62 – enjoy!

It was just too awesome to listen to the Count Basie Orchestra “live” last night.  And what a great set – Blues for Hoss’ Flat, Corner Pocket, Sweet Georgia Brown, Shiny Stockings, Jumpin at the Woodside, L’il Darlin, In a Mellowtone to name a few of the great tunes…  It is no wonder that those with me likened me to a kid going wild at a playground. If only they played Splanky…

Here we have Basie himself, with an all star cast, swingin it hot…

Some of the best Lindy Hop performers and nicest people and friends in the world – the Swedish Herrang all-stars – Frida & Sacke, Henke & Jojo, Hanna & Mattias – doing some amazing old skool crazy aerials and finishing with the california routine, presented Sacke-vintage style.

Swing by the Esplanade come Nov 1 for their annual da:ns Festival, where JAZZ INC will perform some Frankie Manning choreographies – Big Apple from “Keep Punching”, little seen Frankie’s “Tranky Doo” with a twist, the original tap and Frankie’s Shim sham – and inspired moves to Frankie’s favourite tune “Shiny Stockings”.  The main programme is from 8pm onwards, including free classes and screening of some video clips.  So come on down with your friends, and party to a live jazz band as well, as there will be social dancing opportunities

Do check out the other programmes in the flyer below!

.

It was an awesome camp, to say the least. Classes and dances at a beautiful venue in the middle of Bali, with nature all around, as well as parties to live bands in Ubud, representation from Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, UK, Sweden, USA, Switzerland, Canada, and the largest contingent – Singapore!  If you missed out this year’s inaugural camp, you missed out on a milestone in the Asian Swing Scene.  It was a great pleasure to teach and DJ at this great camp – thanks Cat, you did an amazing job organising everything, for the great classes and company of my fellow teachers, Hasse, Marie, Tim & Malou, and to all who showed up and supported the event to make it possible!

Here are some clips of the parites, 1st at the Lotus Cafe, with the amazing stage/backdrop, and then at the Jazz Cafe.

They filmed this in stockholm in 2006, over 2 nights from midnight till dawn, sometime in the summer.  I was leaving stockholm on the night they started filming so I missed the chance to get on it!  It’s one of my favourite songs by Koop, and I am glad they had swing dancing on it! Many familiar Stockholm swing dancers in the video including some of the ex- and current members from the Harlem Hot Shots, and of course many Swedish dancers.  And was lucky enough to catch them spin a set in Singapore, I think, 2 years ago, at an outdoor event, and it was fab… of course, I swung out to the song.

THE ALMOST CHRISTMAS WORKSHOPS AND PARTY (5-6 Dec)

Time to get those dancing shoes out for the holidays! Come Dec 5th-6th, we’re having an early Christmas celebration with workshops and parties to usher in the festive season.

5 Dec Saturday @Popstars City, Roberston Walk, 11 Unity Street, #02-01

2-630pm Lifts, Dips and Throws

As the name suggests, you will learn some lifts, dips and throws that are great for jam circles, and to work on your partnership connection. This full day workshop is open to anyone who has about 6 months of partner dancing experience.  You will need to sign up as a couple, or tag yourself to a couple for this workshop. If you can’t find a partner, please register and indicate you’d like us to pair you up! Please dress comfortably and wear sneakers for this workshop.

2-630pm Zero to Hero

If you’ve always wanted to learn how to Lindy Hop but never had the chance or time, or if you feel you need a refresher on the basics, or learn to do the opposite of what you already know (men following or ladies leading), this full day workshop will give you that opportunity.

Sunday

2pm Cool Grooves and Moves

Learn cool moves and grooves in this class and impress your partner and yourself!  You need to have at least 4 months of Lindy Hop experience to do this class.

3.30pm Musicality

Learn how Swing Music works and how to use it as inspiration to your dancing! This class will be quite an experience as we start to analyse how the music works, and there will be Q and A, as well as some demonstration.  You don’t even need to know how to dance to come for this class!

5pm Blues Essentials

Time to slow things down and get into ultimate connection with pure leading and following.  And we’re lucky to have a guest teacher – Catherine Parent – co-teach this class! This workshop is suitable to absolute beginners.

CHRISTMAS SWING DANCE PARTY on the 5 Dec, 8pm

The party will be held at Stewords Riverboat at the Marina South Pier, where there will be a live swing band and DJ-ed music for social dancing, performances, a taster class, along with dinner and drinks!

Cost:

Saturday or Sunday Only – $85, Each Sunday Class – $30,  Full weekend – $160

Payment after 13 Nov incurs a $10 admin fee.  Workshop day payment incurs a $15 admin fee.

Party: $35 for workshop participants($40 for sign ups after Nov 13), $40 advance sales (by 13 Nov), $45 after.  Ticket includes dinner, drinks, performances, taster class, and social dancing to a live swing band.

Ok, I am off to Bali for the 1st ever Bali-Lindy Camp, and will probably be too busy to update entries, so here’s a long one.  Wynton Marsalis, who has been instrumental in championing traditional jazz and its roots from the 90s to present day, presents a series of talks where he explains how Jazz music works.

Here in the first clip, he explains how jazz rhythms differ from the traditional straight rhythms in terms of the drums and bass (tuba).

He goes on to talk about how melodies, harmonies and rhythm work in the ensemble

Call and response, originating from work-songs, as well as the pulpit and the congregration, is an important part of jazz and he talks about it here, along with riffs and breaks in the music

This clip shows how it is all put together.  Enjoy!