alain’s dance blog

Tonight, Gabriel - a student in our Intro to Lindy Hop class at Cat’s Corner - asked about the song we dance the Shim Sham to, so I decided to post about it.

The Shim Sham is a solo jazz routine appropriated from tap (the creator was Leonard Reed). We teach it because it’s an awesome way to introduce beginner dancers to jazz movement and rhythm.

Here’s a video of legendary Frankie Manning leading the Shim Sham to Bill Elliott’s Shim Sham Song:

The traditional song that we dance to is Tuxedo Junction, but it is danced to other songs as well. Read this thread on songs for the Shim Sham. The one I play most often is Jimmy Lunceford’s T’aint What You Do (It’s the Way that You Do It).

Following last week’s top Count Basie songs, here are my top 5 favorite Duke Ellington tunes

1. Favorite slow: “Black and Tan Fantasy” 110 bpm - Okeh Ellington
2. Favorite midtempo: “C Jam Blues” 180 bpm - Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band
3. Favorite fast: “Rockin’ In Rhythm” 215 bpm - Ellington ‘55
4. Favorite fast jam: “Main Stem” 210 bpm - Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band
5. Favorite all around: “Just A-Sittin’ and A-Rockin’” 120 bpm - Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band

I actually have one more favorite. “In a Mellotone” 161 bpm off the album Blues In Orbit.

Let me know what you think of these songs, and which Duke Ellington song you think should have been on this list.

I didn’t start recognizing the name of tunes I danced to until I purchased my first jazz compilation album, Early Basie. That’s when I recognized popular Count Basie songs like Shorty George and Jumpin’ at the Woodside, songs that get played a lot at swing dances. My first purchase led to more discoveries, and I was soon spending a lot of money on swing music.

How to save money

It’s true that buying music isn’t affordable for everyone, but there are ways to smartly spend your money. You can borrow CDs at La Bibliothèque Nationale to preview what you want to purchase. You can buy individual songs on iTunes. You can encourage independent artists on CD Baby.

One of the ways I found to save money was to buy Proper box sets on eBay. It’s the most bang for the buck, and you almost can’t go wrong with them. For example, I bought the Lionel Hampton Story - 92 recordings on 4 discs - about a year ago for $30-something. Almost all danceable songs. That’s less than $0.40 per song.

Finally, you don’t need to buy everything all at once. Pace yourself. Give yourself a budget. I know this is a bit of a cliché, but it’s not having all the music in the world that’s important, it’s the journey you took to get there. Exploring different artists you’ve read or heard about, discovering new sounds and voices - that’s what you should enjoy.

So take your time.

Here’s a thread on yehoodi about starting a collection. I especially like Swifty’s recommendations. On a more general note, you might want to check out these Swing 101 links posted by Rayned Wiles on swing djs. Happy hunting.

For Lindy Hoppers, if you have to remember one musician, remember Count Basie.

Count Basie is probably the most significant band leader for swing dancers. His bands played the most swinging songs. His bands played for dancers. And his rhythm section was always relentlessly driven.

“Count Basie was among the most important bandleaders of the swing era. With the exception of a brief period in the early ’50s, he led a big band from 1935 until his death almost 50 years later, and the band continued to perform after he died. Basie’s orchestra was characterized by a light, swinging rhythm section that he led from the piano, lively ensemble work, and generous soloing.” Read the rest of the article by William Ruhlmann here.

Swing DJs and jazz historians alike distinguish between two periods of Count Basie recordings, Old Testament (pre-1950) and New Testament (1952 onwards).

Here is the easiest way to distinguish the two. The “Old Testament” band recorded in Lo-Fi - meaning that you’ll hear an older, scratchier sound. In contrast, the “New Testament” post-war band recorded in modern Hi-Fi, with a sound we are more accustomed to today.

My pick for “Old Testament” Basie: Best Of Early Basie

Best Of Early Basie has most of my favorite Basie tunes. You probably noticed this on my Top 5 Basie, as three of my favorites can be found on this compilation album. In addition to those classic Lindy Hop tunes, you can also find the amazing jam song Doggin’ Around, a song with so much energy you’ll end up sweating with a smile.

My pick for “New Testament” Basie: Chairman Of The Board and Count Basie At Newport

For New Testament recordings, I love Blues In Hoss’ Flat off Chairman Of The Board. It really swings! And just like Jenifer, I also adore Evenin’ off Basie At Newport. Jimmy Rushing has such a great voice on this recording. This 1957 concert at the Newport music festival on Rhodes Island brought together some of the best known jazz musicians having played with Basie - musicians like Lester Young, Illinois Jacquet and Roy Eldridge. As a result, the performances are stellar. All the songs on this album are worth listening and dancing to.

Today it was the Count of Swing. Next time, it’s on to the Duke.

We all have our favorite songs to dance to. It could be “Moondance” by Van Morrison. It could be “Take the A Train” by Duke Ellington. It could even be Mystery track number 19 (yes we all love it here in Montreal and nobody knows who the musicians are… help!).

Here are my top 5 favorite Count Basie tunes

1. Favorite slow: “Blues in the Dark” 89 bpm - Best Of Early Basie
2. Favorite midtempo: “Splanky” 157 bpm - Live at the Sands
3. Favorite fast: “Shorty George” 210 bpm - Best Of Early Basie
4. Favorite fast jam: “Every Tub” 245 bpm - Best Of Early Basie
5. Favorite all around: “Until I meet You (Corner Pocket)” 154 bpm - First Time! Count Meets The Duke

Let me know what you think of these songs, and which Count Basie songs you think should have been on this list.