Flow, Range, Judgement (The Tao of DJing?)

Three qualities that DJs should strive for: flow, range, judgement.

Range and flow are yin and yang. A DJ with range but not flow is disconcerting. A DJ with flow but not range is monotonous.

Judgement is necessary to have range and flow. Without judgement, a DJ who thinks he has range may not have range. Without judgement, a DJ trying to flow may not be moving at all.

Coming up, I'll explain each of these a bit more.

Stephanie Nakasian

I just stumbled across a new album by the vocalist Stephanie Nakasian, called Billie Remembered: The Classic Songs Of Billie Holiday. Ms. Nakasian sings this material in a style that is readily identifiable with, and pays tribute to, Billie Holiday, but she does so without dropping into caricature or mere imitation.

But what really caught my attention about this album was the backing combo,which includes Randy Sandke on trumpet, Marty Gross on guitar, and Ms. Nakasian's husband Hod O'Brien on piano. I'm a big Randy Sandke fan--he can really do no wrong in my book. And Marty Gross's solid rhythm guitar work is nice and prominent in the mix. It gives the tunes a nice steady chunk-chunk-chunk-chunk that makes for easy dancing, especially for newer dancers that are still working on keeping on beat. Overall, the combo has a loose, jam-session feel that is pretty unusual to hear on jazz albums these days.

One last note for DJs: the album includes a good range of tempos, from 85 to 250 bpm, but over half the album is at comfortable lindy-hop pace. I could see myself relying on several of the tracks as go-to floor-fillers when I'm DJing.

First Friday at Big City Swing 5/7/2010

Whew. Last night at Big City Swing was FUN. Lots of beginners, lots of seasoned dancers, some out-of-town friends, and weather that wasn't too hot. (And some generous folks who had BYOB'ed.) FUN! I'll leave it at that.

My friend Bob played the first set downstairs, until about 10:30. Here's what I played from 10:30 to about 12:15 a.m. (Here's the BPM sparkline and frequency distribution.)

1. Papa What Are You Trying To Do To Me I've Been Doing It For Myself - Randy Sandke - The Re-Discovered Louis & Bix - 3:49 - 200 (I'd had a request for a charleston number.)
2. I'm Alone Because I Love You - The Palmetto Bug Stompers - Live @ D.B.A. - 3:29 - 150
3. Ballin' The Jack - Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band - This Kid's The Greatest! - 3:15 - 145
4. One Monkey Don't Stop No Show - Big Maybelle - The Okeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-1957 - 2:50 - 125 (I wanted to do a long build starting with the next tune, using classic big band. Lavay provided a transition to that sort of sound.)
5. Miss Brown To You - Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers - Miss Smith To You! - 2:58 - 130
6. Little Jazz - Roy Eldridge - Little Jazz Giant - 3:06 - 140
7. Ridin' And Jivin' - Earl Hines - Rosetta - 2:39 - 155
8. Sent For You Yesterday - Count Basie - The Complete Decca Recordings - 2:58 - 165
9. Posin' - Jimmie Lunceford - Jukebox Hits 1935-1947 - 3:01 - 190 (Peak of the build, but this song has more of a relaxed playful energy to it, rather than driving or big. I wanted to go out big, so I backed off the tempo a bit...)
10. Jump Session - Slim Gaillard - 1938-1939 - 2:35 - 160 (Then bumped it back up with something more energetic.)
11. Minor Swing - The Boilermaker Jazz Band - Give Me Your Telephone Number - 3:41 - 195
12. No Regrets - Stephanie Nakasian - Billie Remembered: The Classic Songs Of Billie Holiday - 2:52 - 130
13. Don't Be That Way - Lionel Hampton - Lionel Hampton Story 1: Hot Mallets - 2:35 - 132
14. As Long As I Live - Catherine Russell - Inside This Heart of Mine - 3:33 - 120
15. Easy Does It - Paul Tillotson the Love Trio - Lindy Hop Blues - 2:57 - 130
16. Bizet Has His Day - The Solomon Douglas Swingtet - Ain't No School Like the Old School - 3:43 - 155 (This is a really cool recording off Solomon's latest album, which is due out soon.)
17. Solid As A Rock - Count Basie - Count Basie Et Son Orchestre 1950-1951 - 3:03 - 135
18. The Back Room Romp - Duke Ellington - The Duke's Men: The Small Groups, Vol. 1 - 2:49 - 150
19. Buzz-Buzz-Buzz - Jimmie Lunceford - Jimmie Lunceford - 2:27 - 160
20. Gettin' In The Groove - Al Cooper's Savoy Sultans - Al Cooper's Savoy Sultan: 1938-1941 - 2:58 - 140 (I played the wrong version of this tune--I meant to play the Panama Francis version, recorded 35 years after this one, and much less scratchy.)
21. Summit Ridge Drive - Artie Shaw - His First Three Bands: 1936-1940 - 3:19 - 125
22. Smile - Asylum Street Spankers - My Favorite Record - 3:54 - 140 (Novelty music, but the room seemed ready for it.)
23. It's Love Baby (24 Hours a Day) - Erbie Bowser, T.D. Bell, and the Blues Specialists - Down Home Saturday Night - 4:13 - 125 (There were audible shrieks of delight when I played this tune. Not kidding.)
24. You Can Have My Husband - Koko Taylor - The Earthshaker - 2:47 - 130
25. Put A Lid On It - Squirrel Nut Zippers - Hot - 2:39 - 198
26. My Blue Heaven - Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Songs of New Orleans - 5:21 - 148
27. Yacht Club Swing - Echoes of Swing - Harlem Joys - 3:19 - 160
28. Life Begins When You're In Love - Billie Holiday - Lady Day: The Master Takes And Singles - 3:02 - 180 (This was going to be my last official song of the night, since it was midnight. I kept going, but took license to play whatever the heck I wanted to.)
29. Callin' Your Bluff - Mills Blue Rhythm Band - Mills Blue Rhythm Band: 1933-1936 - 3:00 - 190
30. Rockin' In Rhythm - Duke Ellington - Early Ellington: The Complete Brunswick and Vocalion Recordings, 1926-1931 - 3:02 - 185
31. Beyond The Sea - Royal Crown Revue - Mugzy's Move - 3:48 - 125 (Throwback tune, I thought the folks that were still there would enjoy it.)
32. T'Ain't No Use - Stuff Smith - Time And Again - 3:34 - 107 (My friend Carlos turned me on to this one.)
33. Chant Of The Groove - Fats Waller - Fats Waller 1941 - 3:05 - 185

Everybody Loves: The Nighthawks

Check out this video of Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, tearing it up on "Everybody Loves My Baby." I hope the venue was 21+ because the playing is Hot Hot HOT.



Thanks to Michael Steinman of Jazz Lives for recording & posting it.

Fizz 4/26/2010

There were quite a few people at Fizz last night but not many actually dancing. Nights like that are hard to sort out for DJs. Sometimes they happen out of the blue, just because nobody really feels like moving. Other times, it's because you are not playing good music, or not playing the right music for that crowd at that time. Unfortunately I think last night falls into the latter category. I think most of the stuff I played was pretty good music, but it wasn't in the right order, or wasn't the best choice given the crowd. Because I couldn't find the right groove, I also ended up keeping the tempos fairly tame, with a few quick jumps above 200 BPM to please key constituencies.

One other note: Solomon Douglas, who was in town for a gig last Sunday, reminded me that the first anniversary of Frankie Manning's passing was today (Tuesday, April 27th). I announced this at about 10:30 and suggested that everyone do a Shim-Sham in honor of his memory. I followed that up with Shiny Stockings, one of Frankie's favorite tunes and one that many people associate with him.

Here's what I played (and a BPM sparkline and frequency distribution):

1. Knock Me a Kiss - Davina & The Vagabonds - Live @ the Times - 3:25 - 118
2. Muddy Water - Davina & The Vagabonds - Live @ the Times - 2:29 - 123
3. Rose Room - The Solomon Douglas Swingtet - Ain't No School Like the Old School - 3:09 - 153 (from Solomon's latest album, to be released soon.)
4. What's Your Name? - Echoes of Swing - You've Got To Be Modernistic - 3:18 - 155
5. Shoot the Sherbert to Me, Herbert - Tommy Dorsey - Historic Jazz Recordings, Volume 4 - 3:24 - 145 (Following some mellow tracks, I wanted to bump up the energy a bit with the next track.)
6. Don't Be That Way - Benny Goodman - The Fabulous Swing Collection - 3:21 - 170 (But it turned out that this one was not the right mood. Too squarish big-bandy.)
7. All Of Me - Helen O'Connell - Great Girl Singers, Sing 22 Original Hits - 2:09 - 145
8. Yes Indeed - Sy Oliver - Yes Indeed - 3:13 - 128
9. Don't You Miss Your Baby - Jimmy Witherspoon - Jimmy Witherspoon & Panama Francis' Savoy Sultans - 3:55 - 140
10. Moten Swing - Barney Kessel - To Swing Or Not To Swing - 3:57 - 160
11. Jump Through The Window - Roy Eldridge - Little Jazz Giant - 2:44 - 145
12. Two O'Clock Jump - Harry James - Harry James and His Big Band - 2:19 - 150
13. Goody, Goody - Ella Fitzgerald - Something To Live For - 2:31 - 150
14. Solid As A Rock - Count Basie - Count Basie Et Son Orchestre 1950-1951 - 3:03 - 135
15. Ballin' The Jack - Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band - This Kid's The Greatest! - 3:15 - 145
16. Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho - Sidney Bechet - Sidney Bechet: 1949 - 3:20 - 175
17. Daphne - Django Reinhardt - Django Reinhardt 3: Minor Swing - 3:03 - 210
18. Life Begins When You're In Love - Billie Holiday - Lady Day: The Master Takes And Singles - 3:02 - 180
19. Jump Session - Slim Gaillard - 1938-1939 - 2:35 - 160
20. All I Know - The Countdown Quartet - Sadlack's Stomp - 2:56 - 125
21. I'm Alone Because I Love You - The Palmetto Bug Stompers - Live @ D.B.A. - 3:29 - 150
22. Everybody Loves My Baby - Asylum Street Spankers - What? And Give Up Show Biz? - 3:20 - 205 (In retrospect, this would make a great song for a routine, but it is a horrible song for social dancing.)
23. High Shelf Booze - Eilen Jewell - Letters from Sinners & Strangers - 3:38 - 125 (This is my latest vaguely Wade-in-the-Wateresque groove track.)
24. Down south camp meeting - Svend Asmussen - Still Fiddling - 3:41 - 145
25. Bizet Has His Day - Les Brown - Essential Jazz Masters - 2:22 - 165
26. I Sent For You Yesterday And Here You Come Today - Benny Goodman - Benny Goodman - 3:09 - 160
27. Hoodle-Addle - Ray McKinley Orchestra - You Came A Long Way From St. Louis - 3:21 - 140
28. For Dancers Only - Jimmie Lunceford - Jimmie Lunceford - 2:41 - 150
29. South - The Solomon Douglas Swingtet - Live at the Legion - 3:17 - 182
30. Shout, Sister, Shout! - Sister Rosetta Tharpe - The Gospel of the Blues - 2:41 - 145
31. It's You Who Taught It To Me - Fats Waller - The Unique Mr. Waller - 2:42 - 160
32. Sunny Side Of The Street - James Booker - A Taste Of Honey Vol. 1 - 2:43 - 125
33. Tain't What You Do - Jimmie Lunceford - Jimmie Lunceford - 3:06 - 160 (Shim Sham for Frankie, followed by one of his favorite tunes.)
34. Shiny Stockings - Count Basie - April In Paris - 5:17 - 120
35. I'm Beginning To See The Light - Ella Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington - Compact Jazz - 3:26 - 132
36. Hey, Ba-Ba-Re-Bop - Lionel Hampton - Lionel Hampton Story 3: Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop - 3:21 - 140
37. A Viper's Moan - Willie Bryant And His Orchestra - 1935-1936 - 3:25 - 150
38. Four Or Five Times - Jimmy Noone - Jimmy Noone - 3:08 - 160
39. Cole Slaw - Louis Jordan - Louis Jordan And His Tympani Five, Volume 1 - 2:44 - 135 (This last one was a birthday jam for Jonathan.)

Judging

Someone asked me the other day whether I judged at the Hawkeye Swing Fest. I said something like "Well, I wasn't an official judge (I was DJing the contests), but that doesn't mean I wasn't judging..."

Heh....

That's a joke folks...actually many dancers I know should really add "professional sideline judge" to their dance resumes. Some of them are pretty ruthless critics too.

Hawkeye Swing Festival, 4/9/2010

This past weekend I had the chance to DJ, teach (with Jenna), and dance myself silly at the Hawkeye Swing Festival in Iowa City, IA. It was a fantastic time, particularly due to the quality of the live music that was featured: Robert Bell and the Hot Swing Combo (who were captivating as always), Davina & the Vagabonds (first time I've heard them...more on that in another post), and the Solomon Douglas Swingtet. Since my DJ responsibilities were limited to band breaks and the competitions, I had plenty of time to dance, which was great. Below is a recap of the music I played on the band breaks and for the competitions.

Friday evening I played these songs during the first band break:

• Pick-a-Rib - The Bob Wilber & Dany Doritz Quintet - Memories of you : Lionel and Benny - 3:03 - 155
• You Can Stay But That Jive's Got To Go - Dusty Brooks - Dusty Brooks - Swing Time Jive - 2:38 - 155
• Honeysuckle Rose - Django Reinhardt - The Swing Sessions Volume 1 - 2:49 - 180
• Hey! Stop Kissin' My Sister - Fats Waller - The Unique Mr. Waller - 2:50 - 190
• Ain't Misbehavin' - Sidney Bechet - Perdido Street Blues - 2:52 - 145
• I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby - Louis Armstrong - Satch Plays Fats - 4:28 - 162

Following that, we ran the Jack & Jill prelimary round. Just like last year, I tried to balance the tune selections across the two heats of dancers, playing about a minute and a half each of a medium, slow, and faster tune. Heat 1:

• Sent For You Yesterday And Here You Come Today - Benny Goodman - B.G. In Hi-Fi - 3:05 - 155
• Ballin' The Jack - Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band - This Kid's The Greatest! - 3:15 - 145
• Back Bay Shuffle - Artie Shaw - His First Three Bands: 1936-1940 - 3:15 - 190

Heat 2:

• Two O'Clock Jump - Harry James - Trumpet Blues: The Best Of Harry James - 3:00 - 155
• Four or Five Times - Joe Williams - For Dancers Only! - 4:48 - 135
• Boo-Wah Boo-Wah - Cab Calloway - Are You Hep To The Jive? - 2:49 - 190

During the second band break, there was only time for two tracks of social dancing...

• Betcha Nickel - Ella Fitzgerald - My Heart Belongs to Daddy - 2:51 - 160
• Little Jazz - Roy Eldridge - Little Jazz Giant - 3:06 - 191

...before the finals of the Jack & Jill. The first song was an all-skate warm-up, the second song was for the spotlight:

• It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) - Lionel Hampton - Lionel Hampton Story 1: Hot Mallets - 3:15 - 180
• Stitches - Panama Francis & his Savoy Sultans - Gettin' in the groove (Paris 1971) - 2:41 - 205

I had to re-start "Stitches" once since it is only 4 choruses long (there were five couples in the finals, times two spotlights each, times eight 8-counts per spotlight makes 80 8-counts or 5 choruses). Picking spot-light songs is tricky--it's hard to anticipate what music will be best, since you don't know what sort of dancers will be in the finals until a couple minutes beforehand. I've found that it's definitely helpful to note down the length (in choruses) and phrasing of any songs you are considering for a spotlight competition. More on that later as well.

After the band's second set, I played a few more songs for social dancing:

• My Blue Heaven - Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Songs of New Orleans - 5:21 - 148
• Perdido Street Blues - Louis Armstrong - The Complete Decca Studio Master Takes 1940-1949 - 3:08 - 145
• Ya Gotta See Baby Tonight - Louis Prima - Louis Prima et son orchestre : 1945 - 2:24 - 145
• Georgia Grind - Louis Armstrong - Satchmo: A Musical Autobiography - 3:19 - 115
• 'Tain't No Use - Maxine Sullivan - The Lady's In Love With You - 3:48 - 125

At 1 in the morning, we ran the "Slow-Lindy/Blues" strictly competition. Here are the songs from the preliminary round:

• Evil Gal Blues - Aretha Franklin - Aretha Sings The Blues - 2:43 - 118
• Soothe Me - The Simms Twins - Sam Cooke's SAR Records Story: 1959 - 1965 (Disc 2) - 2:17 - 110
• Don't Go No Further - Koko Taylor - Old School - 3:39 - 100

And the finals:

• My Daddy Rocks Me - Benny Goodman - Benny Goodman et son orchestre: 1945 Vol.2 - 2:48 - 100
• It Takes Two To Tango - Lester Young - Lester Young : 1951-1952 - 3:14 - 100
• Blooz ... First Thaingh 'Dis Moanin' - Wycliffe Gordon - Originals Only - 5:23 - 85

Followed by one last tune for general dancing (I wanted to use this one in the slow contest, but decided against it because mid-way through the song, the tempo doubles):

• Minnie the Moocher - Duke Ellington - Recollections Of The Big Band Era - 2:46 - 100