[Dixielandjazz] Swing Dancers

[Marek Boym]

Something must be wrong with me - I agree with Steve yet again!
Sure, swing dancers are mainly interested in the rhythm.  Which was
the case with many followers of Lu Watters, the swing bands, the
British trad.  Most have moved on, some have stayed.  I assume the
same will happen with the current generation of swing dancers.  I have
already mentioned that a girl in her early twenties, when she saw how
much my friend and I enjoyed The New Orleans Function, told us that we
must see Midnight in Paris, because the music had a real twenties
feel.  And most ot that band's following is young, even in venues
without dancing, which means they come to listen, and they can't
listen to the rhythm only.
And yes, that band's leader and its trombonist do tell anecdotes.
Eventually, it pays off.
Cheers


> Andy Ling made some interesting comments about swing dancers in  some areas
> only being interested in the rhythm and not the music or the band.
>
> In my experience in the Philadelphia  PA area it is a combination of both.
> Surely they are interested in the rhythm because that's what the dance to.
> And they hire bands that have good rhythm sections.
>
> On the other hand, since we've been doing swing dances for about 15 years,
> we have a pretty good following of kids who know and interact with us. As a
> result, they cheer and clap for both solos and at the end of each song. And
> they come up and talk with us on breaks. We can see quite a few of them
> mouthing the words to songs like "They Can't Take That Away From Me." or "I
> Can't Give You Anything But Love", asa we play and/or sing them.
>
> And they ask us if we saw Fats Waller, or Benny, or Artie Shaw, or Frankie
> Manning etc., before they passed away. They know, at least in our territory,
> about the music and the dancers of the 30s and 40s.
>
> IMO, I think the reaction bands get from swing dancers, or any audience for
> that matter, depends in large measure upon how well bands "CONNECT" with
> that audience.
>
> If a band just stands or sits there with bored looks on their faces, they
> may well get that same reaction from the audience. What works for us is
> getting the audience involved with program. They want to be a part of it, so
> bring up a pretty girl and sing to her, or praise the best dancers among
> them. Tell an anecdote about Fats Waller, or Benny Goodman, Chick Webb,
> Ella, et al.
>
> One of my favorites since we are, with one exception, a band of old guys is:
>
> "Several years ago, at the opera House in  Wilmington, I met Doc Cheatham
> who was performing there leading a swing band. He was 97 at the time, but
> still playing trumpet and singing beautifully. I was about 70 then and asked
> him; 'Doc, at what age does a man lose interest in women?' He replied; 'I
> don't know, you'll have to ask someone older than me.' "
>
> For goodness sake, these kids are young with overflowing hormones. Why not
> sell the sexiness of the music and the musicians as well as the music?
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
> www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband
>
>
>
>
>
>
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