Musings on Dance, Food, Geek Stuff
“When the band would see real fine dancers, the musicians would try to become a part of what they were doing. Really, the dancers inspired the musicians and vice versa. If the musicians did something exceptional, it inspired the dancers to do something exceptional, and then the dancers would inspire the musicians to do even…
I’m so delighted to have had the opportunity to interview Shanghai-based jazz singer Jasmine Chen for “SwingNation” the other day. An innovative musician who fuses traditional Chinese folk traditions with jazz inflections, Jasmine rose to international attention recently when her music was featured on the “Crazy Rich Asians” soundtrack and she appeared in two scenes…
This Thursday, November 4, we are throwing a very special Frim Fram Jam swing dance. We are delighted to be showcasing the Boilermaker Jazz Band performing live, with DJ Swifty spinning during the breaks. Plus this is the beginning of the month, so we will have a beginner dance lesson taught by the talented Mr….
Here's a video by my friend Voon of the final jam on Sunday at the Jazz Age Lawn Party. There were a zillion cameras at the Jazz Age Lawn Party this weekend on Governor's Island. So those of us who were there have been having a good time hunting down our favorite pictures of ourselves…
I'm very excited about this new silent film called "Louis," a fictional retelling of Louis Armstrong's early years in New Orleans, that will be premiering in cities around the US August 25-31. The silent film, reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin caper flicks, will be accompanied by an all-star 10.jpgece jazz band fronted by Wyton Marsalis himself,…
Tonight I had a super-fun time dancing at the Jazz Jam in Stockholm Sweden this evening. A competition, concert and swing dance, it's quite a full evening of entertainment for anyone who loves swing and jazz. I originally wanted to enter the Jack and Jill competition, since I find watching them less fun than participating….
Last night I had the pleasure of being at the CD release party for John Doke's new album "John Dokes Sings, George Gee Swings" at Swing 46 Supper Club in Times Square. John's got such a soulful and smokey voice that blends perfectly with the rich tone of George's big band. John sang several of…
Here's a rather dark video of my friend Voon and I dancing to Linnzi Zoarski's band at D.B.A. bar in Williamsburg. We were there with swing friends Stephanie and Michael. Here's another video of Voon, Michale and Stephanie dancing to "It Was Just One of Those Things." Linnzi does some lovely renditions of swing standards,…
My friend Mike sent me the link to this gorgeous looking dance film "Opus Jazz" that premiered March 24 on PBS and at Lincoln Center. Described as: a scripted adaptation of a 1958 "ballet in sneakers" by Jerome Robbins, a companion piece to his legendary West Side Story, that tells an abstract tale of disaffected…
Here's a sweet rendition of "I Got Rhythm" by the awesome NYC swing band the Cangelosi Cards. I caught them last night, of all places, at the Shambhala Meditation Center on West 22nd Street. Gotta love Andrew's awesome tapping, Tamar's crazy singing, Gordon Au on trumpet and the rest of the band just killing it. …