Valborg tradition: Phontrattarne at Norrlands nation

Today is Valborg, the big celebration of the arrival of the spring in Uppsala, that takes place on the last day of April. There are many traditions during this day but the only one I make sure to attend is dancing in the street outside Norrlands nation at 15.00 when the band Phontrattarne plays. See you there.

Read what I wrote abote the Valborg celebration last year.

The photo with singer Josefine Hägglöf in front of the band was taken last Saturday when Phontrattarne performed at Stora Torget. More about that later.

The photo is taken by me and may not be used elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want licence the photo.

Will you also be dancing in the street today? Tell me.

Firecracker Jazz Band plays Diga diga doo

I have written before about the Firecracker Jazz Band and their version of Diga Diga Doo and now I've found a great live version of Diga Diga Doo that they do. Great energy!

I would love to have a their cd. Anyone who would like to send me one?

What do you think about the Firecracker Jazz Band? Tell me.

Canal Street Syncopators at Grand Swing Party

Tonight there is a Grand Swing Party night at Grand in Uppsala. On stage is the band Canal Street Syncopators which plays great swing music in a 1930's style.

The evening starts at 20 with dj music and the band takes the stage at 21 and plays until 24 when it's time for me to dj a set until 01. Tell me if you'd like to hear some special song and I'll try to include it in the set.

I'll be part of the crew who sets up and tears down the sound equipment. We could always need some help. If you are interested in learning more about sound and light, talk to me and we'll make you an apprentice.

The entrance fee is 80 kr. I hope to see you there!

The photo of Canal Street Syncopators is taken by me at the dance picnic in August. Contact me if you want to licence it.

Will you dance tonight? Have you heard Canal Street Syncopators before? What do you think of them? Tell me.

Hey Mr Jesse! It's April!

Hey dear readers! I hope you have caught the latest Hey Mr Jesse podcast, the April edition.

As usual I'm very eager to listen to it, but slow to announce it on the blog. But by now you regular readers should know that the podcast really is worth listening to as fast as possible.

Download Hey Mr Jesse April 2008 podcast (~50 mb, MP3)
Shownotes for Hey Mr Jesse April 2008 podcast.

The podcast features a great interview with singer Catherine Russell. Maureen Bonnefin tipped the dynamic duo about a band I've been thinking about blogging about for while: The Stolen Sweets. I enjoyed one of Jesse Miner's recent finds: a wild jam session version of "Honeysuckle Rose" with Roy Eldridge and Mel Tormé among others.

I wrote to Jesse and Manu with some comments about the March show:

Jesse, during the last show your instinct were completly right about "Kick it", it was first done by Anita O'day and Gene Krupa. I play that version all the time but now I alternate it with the Lannie Garrett version.

Great to hear some music by Banu Gibson on the show, I love her voice.

If you look at her discography on her website there is actually a great album missing. It's called "Jazz Baby" which was first released in 1983 and then rereleased on cd in 1995.

I guess Jazz Baby is kind of hard to find, but if you see it you should get it right away. The album has a great version of Heebie Jeebies (which was made popular by the Boswell Sisters) and also Lets Misbehave. I've loved Lets Misbehave ever since I saw Christopher Walken dancing to it in the movie Pennies from Heaven.

One last tip: If you want to check out some more swingin' trad jazz, take a look at "The Hot Jazz Band" from Hungary. I recommend the album "20. Jubileum" which has "Don't be that way", "Swing That Music" and two killer versions of "I've found a new baby".

What did you think about The Hey Mr Jesse April 2008 podcast? Tell me.

Banana Splits for My Baby with MaryAnne (ysabellabrave)

I haven't been checkin in on what's going on with MaryAnne (ysabellabrave) lately so I looked up her videos. I found a most charming version of "Banana Splits for My Baby" sung by MaryAnne.

MaryAnne just radiates joy and happiness and I always get in a good mood when ever I hear her sing. Check out what I've written about her before.

"Banana Splits for My Baby" was played a lot when I started dancing but I haven't heard it in a while, maybe I should play it the next time I dj, what do you think?

I first heard that song in a version that was sung by Louis Prima. You can find "Banana Splits for My Baby" on the album: Capitol Collectors Series.

What do you think about the video clip with MaryAnne? Tell me.

Swing dj Hans Moberg at Cats Corner

This week Cats Corner has once again a swing dj from Stockholm, tonight it is Hans Moberg. I have never heard him so I'm curious what kind of swing songs he will dj.

Below I've added some swing dance photos from last week when Patrik Öhrström dj:ed.







The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license them.

Do you visit Cats Corner? Is there anything you think could make the event even better? Tell me.

Peggy Lee - Why Don't You Do Right?

"Why Don't You Do Right?" is a classic swing song that is a favorite of mine. The most classic recording of that song was done by Benny Goodman's orchestra featuring singer Peggy Lee. Enjoy Peggy Lee's version of "Why Don't You Do Right?".

According to the YouTube poster, this scene comes from a film called Stage Door Canteen from 1943.

What do you think of the video clip with Peggy Lee singing Why Don't You Do Right? Tell me.

Andreas Pettersson: Gershwin On Guitar

On Saturday I visited a concert at Katalin arranged by Uppsala Jazz Club that was called "Gershwin On Guitar" performed by the Andreas Pettersson Quartet.

Andreas Pettersson is an amazing guitarist that I've had the pleasure of listening and dancing to before. Two years ago he was playing together with his old friend Ulf Johansson Werre and some other musicians at Uppsala Winter Camp. What a treat.

This time he and his quartet interpret George Gershwin's songs. The other musicians in the band are: Daniel Tilling (piano), Martin Sjöstedt (bas) och Daniel Fredriksson (drums).



They started with songs from George Gershwin's early career: "Preludes I, II och III”.

Andreas Pettersson continued with songs like: "Embraceable You", "Strike Up The Band", "Lady Be Good" and "´S Wonderful".

They also played a bunch of melodies from George Gershwin's opera "Porgy and Bess": "It Ain´t Necessarily So", "Summertime" and "Bess, You Is My Woman Now".

If you want to hear what they sounded like, take a look at this page with the album "Gershwin On Guitar", which has sound samples.



In the break I had the good fortune of sitting beside a retired music teacher from Uppsala who told me some anecdotes.



The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license my jazz photos.

Did you visit the concert "Gershwin On Guitar" with the Andreas Pettersson Quartet? What did you think of it? Tell me.

Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra: Concert photos from Big Band Bouquet

Yesterday Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra gave a concert called Big Band Bouquet at Universitetsaulan (The University Hall). The location is just magnificent with lots of golden ornaments.

The theme for the concert was Frank Sinatra songs but they also played a lot of other swinging jazz standards by jazz composers such as as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey.


The concert started with the song Cute in a Count Basie arrangement. Talking about Cute, you should really see the hilarious video clip with Jerry Lewis miming to Cute from the film Cinderfella. The band leader, Ulf Johansson Werre, played a solo version of I Get A Kick Out Of You.

Afterwards I had the chance to hang out with the band, what a nice bunch of people!

The next chance to see and hear the Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra will be in month or so when they do a Benny Goodman themed concert. I think you will enjoy that because the band is really swingin'. Keep an eye on this blog for further announcements.

The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license my jazz photos.

Did you visit the concert with Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra? What do you think of them? Tell me.

Big Band Bouquet by Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra

Tonight Thursday April 17th Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra will give a concert called Big Band Bouquet.

Big Band Bouquet celebrates the memory of Frank Sinatra who passed away 10 years ago. Besides playing some of the hits by Frank Sinatra, they will play big band classics by jazz legends as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Lars Gullin.



The Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra is led by one of my favorite jazz musicians: Ulf Johansson Werre.

The concert starts at 19.00 at Universitetsaulan (The University Hall). Tickets can be bought in the lobby from 18.00 and they cost 130 kr (90 kr if you're a student).

The pictures are taken by me at the orchestra's concert in December: Swingin' Christmas.

The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license them.

Have you heard Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra before? What do you think of them? Tell me.

Swing dj Patrik Öhrström at Cats Corner tonight

Tonight swing dj Patrik Öhrström from Stockholm will play swing songs at Cats Corner. Patrik djed here in Uppsala last spring when Swingkattens weekly dance was called Dekadans.

I'll be testing some new ways of doing photography tonight. Say hi to me if you want to be a model.

The photo may not be used elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want licence the photo.

Have you heard Patrik dj before? What do you think of him? Tell me.

How to support this blog

Do you enjoy reading this blog? I hope you do. It fun to write but it takes a quite an effort to research topics. You can help me make blog writing even more enjoying by supporting the blog in various ways.

1) Give feedback
I really want to know what you think about the posts I write, so please write a comment by clicking the comment link that is located in the footer of each post. You can also send me an email to swing@theheartofgold.org.

It doesn't have to be a long or detailed comment, it's just nice to know that someone out there has read the post.

If you are a regular reader, please tell me a few words about yourself.

You can also become a fan of the blog on Facebook, I'd love to get to know more about my readers.

Maybe you have a tip about a swing band or a web site that I should check out? Just tell me.

2) Tell your friends
Do you have friends that like swinging jazz and blues music that makes you want to dance? In that case, send a message to them and tell them. Spread the word!

If you have a website or a blog, please add a link to my blog.

3) Buy cds and books
I often link to Amazon.com where you can buy cds and books. Each time you buy something from Amazon.com I get a small percentage of that sum that I can use to buy cds myself that I can tip you about later.

4) Book me as a swing dj
I've been djing swing, jazz and blues for dancers for a long time. I'd love to provide swinging toe-tappin' and finger-snappin' music for your event. I have every style of swinging jazz music so I can easily adapt the music to fit the mood that you want to create. Laid-back or bouncing, bluesy or 1920's charleston, I have it all.

5) Book me as a photographer
I freelance as a photographer and I specialize in concert and performance photography. I would love to photograph your concert or performance.

6) Send me cd from your local swing jazz band
I like to hear what swing, jazz and blues sounds like in other parts of the world. If you have a cd by your favorite local band, send it to me.

7) Invite me to concerts
I always enjoy going to concerts. If you invite me to your concert I'll most likely write about your band on the blog.

8) Give a gift certificate
If you want me to review more cds and books, I first have to get them and that recuires money. You can support me by giving me a gift certificate at Amazon.com.

Thank you for supporting the Swing, Jazz and Blues blog in any way that you can. It makes blogging more fun. Thanks! /Henrik

Hasse Ling and His Syncopators of Swing at Grand: Photos

The band Hasse Ling and His Syncopators of Swing played last Saturday at Grand when Swingkatten arranged a night of swing dancing.

Hasse Ling has been playing for dancers a long time in the Stockholm area. The band is solid and really knows what dancers like. You know you'll have a good dancing night when they are playing.



After hearing them so many times I really should know the names of the band members, but I don't. I'm sorry. Please let me know and I'll add their names ASAP.



The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license them.



Were you at the swing dance at Grand? What do you think of Hasse Ling and His Syncopators of Swing? Tell me.

Glen Grey and the Casa Loma Orchestra

Glen Grey and the Casa Loma Orchestra is an orchestra that is somewhat forgotten nowadays but they sounded great. Here is a video clip from a short movie featuring the band playing the songs "Hep And Happy", "Broom Street" and "Darktown Strutters' Ball".

The dancers in the clip are Dean Collins and Jewel McGowan doing a version of the Shim Sham as well as dancing lindy hop in a Hollywood style. Just look at Jewel McGowan doing those swivels. Wow.

You can find out more about the movie with Glen Grey and the Casa Loma Orchestra at Internet Movie Database (IMDB).

What do think of the video clip with Glen Grey and the Casa Loma Orchestra? Tell me.

Emily McEwan - Losing The One You Love

In the last post I talked about the concert with Emily McEvan and Kjell Fernströms Kvartett.

I just wanted to give you an example of her voice with the video for the song "Losing The One You Love". It's not exactly jazz but it's soft and beautyful and it fits perfectly in to my series of posts that are called Late Night Music.

Enjoy!

What do you think about the video with Emily McEwan? Tell me.

Emily McEwan & Kjell Fernström Kvartett: Concert photos

On Saturday I visited a concert at Katalin where Kjell Fernström Kvartett featuring Emily McEwan performed. The concert was arranged by Uppsala Jazz Club.

The quartet consists of Kjell Fernström (piano), Per Nilsson (bass), Jesper Kviberg (drums) and Claes Askelöf (guitar). Together with them they had singer Emily McEwan.



This was a really really good concert. It had a little bit of everything: swingin' jazz, latin jazz, blues and ballads.

Emily McEwan has a beautiful voice and I like to hear more of her. In the middle of the second set, when she had sung "Over the Rainbow", band leader Kjell Fernström remarked: "We could end right now and everybody would be satified". He was right. Fortunatly they kept on playing. I liked the way she kind of danced on stage full of energy when the other musicians played.



I liked how piano player Kjell Fernström phrased the music. I also like how fun they had playing together.

I wish the band could play at a swing dance at Swingkatten, I think they would be great.



Jesper Kviberg was also here in Uppsala last fall when he played at a concert with Monica Borrfors. The first time I heard Emily McEwan was last spring when she sang at After Work Jazz with Daniel Lantz Trio.


The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license them.

Did you visit the concert? Have you heard Emily McEwan & Kjell Fernström Kvartett before? What do you think? Tell me.

New swing djs in Uppsala

Last tuesday three new swing djs made their debut at Cats Corner in Uppsala: Susanne Karlsson, Frida Samuelsson and Mats Fröberg.

It's great to have new people to dj. As a seasoned dj you might think that you have heard most swing music, but then a new person comes along with new stuff that you never heard.



Today we have about 6-7 swing djs in Uppsala, which is quite a difference to four years ago when I was pretty much the only swing dj in town.



The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license them.

Tonight there is "Duke Ellington night" at Cats Corner. Be there!

Did you hear the new swing djs last time? What did you think of them. Tell me.