[Dixielandjazz] Dance Tempos

[Stephen G Barbone]

Dan asked about dance tempos and Tom and Phil passed on some good  
info. Here's my 2 cents, based upon tunes, and a little bit about bpm.

IMO:

1) Dance tunes/tempos are different for different parts of the USA,  
and even different counties within a city. It depends upon each  
audience.

2) For swing dancers, the beginners like 120-140 bpm. The pros/ 
teachers, like faster tempos too, because they will switch to  
Charleston steps and routines.

3) Tunes? Listen to "In A Mellow Tone" just about anyway various bands  
play it. It is perfect for swing dancing, as is "Dukes Place" (C Jam  
Blues) done by Louis Armstrong's group + Duke Ellington on piano with  
an Armstrong vocal.THE 4/4 BEAT. That's what gets them on the floor.

4) Other tunes?Listen to Bechet's "Blues My Naught Sweetie Gives to  
Me." It is among the all time favorites for swing dancers. In fact  
much of Bechet's work is perfect for dancing of any sort. Listen also  
to some Muggsy Spanier. Swing dancers in my area seem to love him.

5) Slower tunes for two step or belly rubbing that work for us are "I  
Want A Little Girl", or "If I Had You", or "I Can't Get Started", or  
"Embraceable You" or "I'm Confessin That I love You". etc. PLayed with  
emotion and a beat, these tunes will get folks dancing most of the  
time. As will "Stardust", "Tenderly" etc.

6) If the audience is "Society", they may very well love "Jazz Me  
Blues' as a two beat dance tune. This is what they learned to dance to  
with Lanin or Davis Bands. Or they probably will dance to just about  
any American Songbook tune played with a Dixieland feel.  2 or 4 beat  
works for them.

My specific recommendation for the South of Dallas Texas dance scene  
is to visit the local clubs where dancing happens and listen to the  
local bands. What tempos are they playing? How do they handle the beat?

For starters, thought I don't live there and last visited about 1992,  
I know there are some neat bands in the Austin TX area. The below all  
have myspace pages:  "Sick's Pack",  Asylum Street Spankers", "White  
Ghost Shivers", "Marshall Ford Swing Band", "Slim Richey", "Hot Club  
of Cowtown", (who are a traveling band and  may not be based in Austin  
even though their myspace page says they are)

How do they do it? What sort of beat do they play? How can you adapt  
it to your presentation?  It is also interesting to read their bios  
and see who their musical heros are. Many of the same ones we all adore.
(Basie, Armstrong, Barnes, Lang, Teagarden, Venuti, Hackett, Spanier,  
Bechett, et al.)

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

www.barbonestreet.com
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband