This is Sharon Jones' warning to anyone who would stand in her way: "Retreat." What a fantastic music video for my favorite soul artist (and dance partner.) Reminds me of an aphorism I heard: "Be the kind of person that when you wake up the devil says, 'Oh shit, he's up.'" BTW Sharon Jones…
Category: Music
SF Taiko at the Japantown Cherry Blossom Festival, Upcoming Shows
Check out my friend Christine and SF Taiko Dojo killing it at the Sakura Matsuri / Cherry Blossom festival in Japantown in San Francisco yesterday. She is performing with the SF Taiko Rising Stars, their young drummers group. I love taiko drumming, and love that I have friends that do it. Video cannot capture…
Lindy Hoppers Tear It Up to Caravan Palace’s “Dramophone” (video)
This is what happens when models and a biker gang run into each other in the same greasy spoon: a charleston battle breaks out! Or maybe that's what happens in France. In which case, I need to get to Paris, stat. Yet another reason why the electro-swing outfit Caravan Palace kicks ass. Among the many…
“Beauty and the Beat”: Disney Classic Goes Ghetto-tastic (video)
My friend James shared this with me: "Beauty and the Beat," produced by Todrick Hall. I must confess I've watched it way too many times. The cameo at 4:05 just kills me. You're welcome.
Jazz Divas Tamar Korn & Kally Price at Amnesia Bar! (video)
This Sunday, I got to enjoy a fantastic double-bill at Amnesia Bar in SF: local diva Kally Price and her band and the incomparable Tamar Korn and her friends from New York! Thanks to my friend Ann Mony for putting out the word to me and the many other lindy hoppers and jazz fans who showed up.
Korean People: Please Explain this Video To Me
How do I get "gangnam style"? Because clearly, I need it.
Mark Cantor’s Treasure Trove of Vintage Jazz Footage on Film
On Saturday, I had the pleasure of sitting in a packed auditorium at the Jewish Center of San Francisco to watch a lovingly curated showing of vintage clips of jazz dance on film from the 1930s to the 1950s. Called the "Giants of Jazz on Film," this is a popular series of film clip showings…
“Hotel Nacional”: Gloria Estefan’s New Music Video features Lindy Hop, Electro-swing, and the Kitchen Sink
Still not sure how I feel about this music video by Gloria Estefan. I like electro-swing, lindy hop, and b-boying, so in theory I should love this. The "Rocky Horror Picture" references are mostly lost on me, but I'm told they are there. And the burlesque, glam-Paris look is well done. Still, it feels…
Movies You Must See in the Theaters: “Pina” and “The Artist”
There are dozens of movies in the theaters right now that I'm dying to see. Most of the Oscar-nominees and some popcorn flicks. But I can wait for all of these to come to DVD / streaming if I have to. Except for two: "The Artist" and "Pina." "The Artist" is the most original film…
Hot Club of Cowtown at Amnesia Bar January 30!
Last night I got to enjoy the rollicking country swing and hot jazz of the incomparable Hot Club of Cowtown at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley. I can't get enough of Alana on fiddle, Whit on guitar and Jake on bass, all of whom seem to effortlessly tear up songs by Django, Bob…