Today at Saint Peters Church on the Upper Eastside there will be a jazz-filled funeral for renowned trombonist Benny Powell starting at 7pm. Jazz and swing fans are invited to come by and pay your respects, and hear some incredible music while you are there. Benny was born March 1, 1930 in New Orleans, learned…
Category: Dancing / Music
Talk on history of of b-boying by Ken Swift and Joe Schloss now online (video)
HHTF Humanities Series: Ken Swift (Pt 1) from Clyde Valentin on Vimeo. The nice folks at the Hip-hop Theater Festival have released online a video of the really interesting conversation between b-boy pioneer Ken Swift and hip-hop historian Joe Schloss that took place a few months ago at NYU. I learned a lot from attending…
Review of Episodes 1 & 2 of the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers
So I got to see the two first episodes of the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers today on Hulu. Announced in December of last year, the "LXD" has been billed by director John Chu as the world's "first online dance adventure." Finally today we got to see what the heck Chu has been talking about, and…
The LXD Episodes 1 & 2 are Out: the Tale of Trevor Drift (video)
Apparently I've been sleeping on the job, because I didn't notice that Episode 1 and 2 of the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers web-series is now out. I'm at work now, so can't really enjoy it till later. But watch it yourself if you so inclined: Episode 1: The Tale of Trevor Drift Episode 2: Antigravity…
Swinging to the Moonshiners of New Orleans at Lincoln Center (video)
Tonight the incredible Moonshiners of New Orleans tore it up for an appreciative, if sweaty, crowd of dancers at Midsummer Nights Swing at Lincoln Center. Such an amazing band! And their first time playing outside of New Orleans! Other Moonshiners videos: a slower, latin-inflected number Moonshiners with vocalist singing French song Lindy hoppers on Damrosch…
Monday Swing Awesomeness: Ninjammers at the Montreal Jazz Fest (video)
Here's a ridiculously cool video of world-renowned lindy hop team the "Ninjammers" performing before a crowd of 50,000 people at the Festival de Jazz de Montreal. I love how they integrate the lindy hop movement into the funky, electro-swing sound of the group Caravan Palace. Not an easy feat! Featured dancers: Max Pitruzzelli, Annie Trudeau,…
Birthday Festivities Continued: Smoked Montreal Meat & The Big Apple for Dessert
The festivities continued on my actual birthday, Saturday, July 3. It began with an incredible lunch at the Mile End Delicatessan in Boerum Hil, Brooklyn. I've been wanting to go to this place since it opened a few months ago. Passing it by on my way home from Quaker Meeting, there were always long lines…
Liberty Belle July 4th Party: not letting the jerks spoil your fun
This post was going to be about the Liberty Belle Extravaganza that was held last night on the rooftop of the Empire Hotel in the Upper Westside. Specifically, I was going to write some screed about enforcing dress codes, lax hotel security staff, and inflated drink prices. But from my own experience, I know how…
“Street Dance” the Movie… coming to the States? (video)
My friend Lynn sends me info about "Street Dance" a UK-produced movie which opened in May all over Europe, but doesn't appear to be schedule to appear on these shores anytime soon. Presumably they are still looking for a US distributor. Or test marketing to see how an English street…
Syncopated Sweethearts performing at Fram (video)
Here's those four cuties Eve, Gina, Lisa and Shana, aka the "Syncopated Sweethearts", performing a solo jazz & charleston routine at Frim Fram last week. So cute! It was somewhat bittersweet since Lisa C. is moving this week to live in New Orleans! Lisa is so much fun to dance with and to watch dance…