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Intro to Big Band (a flirtation with Chick Webb)

11/12/2010

8 Comments

 
Let's suppose for a moment that you take a random look at my music collection- we'll look at my "all jazz" playlist, to avoid too much dance-style bias.  Suppose, then, that you search for songs with a trombone and a clarinet in them, and then sort by playcount (what?  I don't know why you'd do it, but suppose.).  If you look at the top 17 most-played tracks, you will find 17 that are new-orleans style jazz.  Messy, polymelodic, hard-swinging. You will find exactly 0 neatly-arranged, larger-than-life big band tunes.  At a quick glance, I'd estimate about 8 songs in the top 50... and several of those are choreographies (which bumps the playcount up).  

There was a time in my life (the first few years of swing dancing, in fact), when I liked swing dancing despite the music.  Before you gasp aloud, let me remind you that this was a mix of neo-swing, non-swing, and- most insidious of all- "Top Hits of the Big Band" type music.  Oh yes- "In the Mood," "Sing Sing Sing," "Begin the Beguine"... songs that, as far as I'm concerned, suck.  Now, in case you weren't at the Eastern Balboa Championships, or you were, but you missed Kyle Smith's fantastic lecture, let it be known that there may be non-sucking recorded versions of these so called sucky-songs.  But these were not those versions.  

Now, whether my distaste for big band music comes from early swinghood trauma, or from the fact that I grew up listening to the music of New Orleans, or from a natural inclination to move in ways that are stretchy and gushy and imprecise, I never learned to love the big band stuff, only the dance.  But in 2005, my dance life changed forever, when I went to Herrang (giant month-long dance camp in Sweden)- because that's where I met Sidney Bechet, and his version of "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me."  That song, for many of us, is magic.  That was the first legitimately jazz song to make me feel desperate to dance IN 
the music, instead of just dancing during the music.  

My love of New Orleans jazz, and the many, many bands who make me swoon, is a story for another day, but this past weekend, I really appreciated the aural aesthetic of the classic big band sound.  Not the sucky recordings mentioned above, but the good stuff.  So what changed?  My movement, for the most part.  Many, many people disagree with me on this (that's the joy of personal preference), but songs like Jubilee Swing don't make me want to swing out.  They do, however, inspire me to balboa.  In fact, they inspire me enough that today, I went looking for big band music, which brings me to today's gem.  Before I tell you the title of the album, you have to promise not to write it off before you listen (or read on.)

No really, promise me...

Ok.  The album is by Chick Webb, and it's called (yes, really) Strictly Jive.  For me, at least, this brings two images to mind: 
-There Are No New Steps!  [Strictly Ballroom]
- Jive: This dance. 

But wait!  The album is neither of those things.  Remember Jubilee Swing, above?  That tune is on there.  In fact, there are 26 tracks on the album, and at least 12 made me want to do bal.  (After hearing 12 songs I wanted, I went ahead and bought the album.  Chances are good there are many more than 12).

Obviously, if you're looking to build a library of awesome bal songs, and someday aspire towards DJing bal, you need to read Kyle's blog, go to a bunch of bal events, and do your research.  But if you're looking for one album to be a good starting place, this is a great one to pick up.

And, because I adore Emusic, I have to point out that on Emusic, you can get the 26 tracks for 12 credits... which is pretty darned cheap. [If you don't use emusic yet, you should send me an email, and I'll send you a referral email.  I highly encourage everyone you to use them- they're cheap, but still legal.]

If you want to take a look and and a listen, you can preview the album on allmusic.com: Strictly Jive by Chick Webb.

Much love and many toss-outs,
-Mike

ps- yes, I wasted a lot of time looking for Strictly Ballroom and Jive clips.  And yes, I enjoyed it.  

pps- for those of you who aren't into balboa yet, and you want to see a good clip, check out the battle between Jeremy and Laura and Adam and Nelle- epic goodness.  
8 Comments
Aramis
11/12/2010 04:34:17 am

Chick Webb is just one of many amazing musicians that were contemporary with Big Bang jazz. The problem arises because there are music nazis in swing scenes around the country preventing other people from adding to some supposed canon of swing music by saying no you may not DJ something outside of our canon...

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Cari
11/12/2010 05:36:47 am

That Jive clip was like watching a train wreck. Fantastic. Good find.

Reply
John B
11/15/2010 11:43:53 pm

That's a pretty cool perspective on big band music, Mike. I find that New Orleans Jazz always does it for me, whereas it's harder for me to feel some big band tunes- it's that difference between feeling the music, being in it and dancing during the music.

I'm still on the outside of balboa, though I've taken a few classes. I keep telling myself I'm going to get into it, but there's something about it that just doesn't click for me (aesthetically as well as physically). I'll figure it out. In the mean time, posts like this are really helpful for me to think about.

Also, emusic has been a good service, but I think that's slowly changing, especially with the pricing model change. I'm starting to look for alternatives.

Reply
Aramis
11/17/2010 11:47:12 pm

Mike, spending a lot of time with my iPod cause of work. Remembered this and wanted to mention in case anyone wants the suggestion - Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Now that's some good swinging music!

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David link
2/17/2011 11:12:42 pm

Great post. Looking forward to adding some more Chick Webb to my library.

As for Sidney Bechet's Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me - HELL YES. That song is one of the fastest ways in the universe for me to enter the Dance Zone. (I taught most of a five-week dance sequence using only this tune... and didn't even notice it until the students asked me to play something different for a change!)

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lindyspice
3/11/2011 04:10:15 am

Thanks for posting the unicorn chaser video of Jeremy, Laura, Adam & Nellie- I needed it after watching that jive clip!

BTW, Strictly Ballroom? FAB movie. :)

Reply
andresa link
11/10/2011 08:14:00 pm

Oi,

Esse blog é da Michelli Conrado?

Reply
North Stamford Dating link
10/9/2013 10:29:57 am

Great site, was just reading and doing some work when I found this page

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