I’m debating between three different texts/types to finish my Showdown t-shirt depicting Phil Onochie and Jojo Jackson in the Freedom (Slow) division last year. Help!
In anticipation of the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown this weekend, here’s one of the highlights from last year that I immortalized on a handpainted t-shirt.
Our friends from Albany did a great job this weekend with the Albany Chill Lindy Hop exchange. I went down this weekend with a group of Montrealers, and we had a great time. Albany dancers rock!
The Saturday night band was amazing. The lineup featured the fabulous Barbara Morrison and an inspired band led by Gordon Webster on piano, Roland Barber on trombone, Brianna Thomas on vocals, Elias Bailey on bass and George Reed on drums. The energy at the dance was just unbelievable.
Gordon played at SONH a few weeks ago, and he’s a dancer so he knows what we like. This summer he released a CD featuring slow blues danceable songs. And let’s not forget the lovely Barbara Morrison - she’s just amazing. If you’ve never heard her, pick up the 9:20 Special album which is filled with dancer-friendly tracks.
Great job, Albany!!!
The New York Palladium-Times reports that Ramona Noel Staffeld will appear at the Oswego IDOL fundraiser.
The Pittsburg Post-Gazette published a nice article on Coal Country Traditions, a nonprofit organization in Pittsburgh with the mission to preserve many styles of dance, including swing.
And most interesting mention of Lindy Hop this week was found in the Edmonton Journal, where freelance music reporter Mari Sasano mentions Lindy Hop in a K-OS show preview. Seemingly out-of-nowhere.
Toronto-based k-os makes songs that are smart, but also infectiously dance-able. Who didn’t do the lindy-hop to Crabbuckit in 2004
On a side note, there are two awesome events happening this weekend near Montreal. The Canadian Balboa Championship run by Jason Herron, and the Albany Chill Lindy Hop exchange run by our friends in Albany. Both events are a three hour drive away. I’ll be in Albany for Barbara Morrison and Gordon Webster!
Here are my top 5 favorite Sidney Bechet tunes for dancing Lindy Hop and Charleston
Let me know what you think of these songs, and which Sidney Bechet songs you would have put on this list.
Past Top Song posts: My Top 5 Count Basie songs, My Top 5 Duke Ellington songs
On May 31st, 2008, I'm biking 3000 km from Vancouver to Mexico to raise money for micro-credit - small loans that change lives.
