The Savoy King: Chick Webb & the Music That Changed America

It seems like there is going to be a movie made about Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald and the Savoy Ballroom called The Savoy King: Chick Webb and the Music That Changed America. Check out the video clips.

The documentary features interviews with Frankie Manning and Norma Miller.






(via Charlie)
What do you think of the movie? Please comment.

Frankie Manning's stories

I've heard several stories that lindy hop legend Frankie Manning have told when he have visit Herräng Dance Camp. He has visited Herräng so many times, so put together it's probably a year of his life that he has spent there.

In this video clip Frankie Manning tells the stories about his best dancing nights. One is when there were a Battle Of the Bands between Chick Webb och Count Basie at the Savoy ballroom and the other one is when he did the first aerial (air step) in the history of lindy hop.



If you like to read more of Frankie Manning's stories, you should buy his new autobiography "Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop".

There is a campaign to make Frankie's book a best seller at Amazon.com. Buy your copy of the book on May 26th.

Do you know more about this video clip? What do you think of this video clip with Frankie Manning's stories? Tell me.

Hey Mr Jesse at Yehoodi.com

Swing dj Jesse Miner has a podcast with swingin' jazz and blues called 'Hey Mr Jesse' over at http://www.heymisterjesse.com/ (but you'll end up at www.yehoodi.com/mrjesse/).

Yehoodi.com is one of the largest discussion forums for swing dance but they also have a section devoted to swing music.

'Hey Mr Jesse' is a really good show and you will hear some really good jazz. One of the segments in the show is called '8 count swing' where Jesse Miner lists eight of his favorite classic swing songs. One of the songs he features is "Jubilee Swing" by Chick Webb Orchestra on the album Strictly Jive.



"Jubilee Swing" is good but that album has so many other great songs as well like "Who Ya Hunchin'" and of course one of the most infectious swing songs ever: "Lindyhopper's Delight". Yes sir, that is right, it really is a delight to hear that song, if you don't want to run to the dance floor when you hear it then something is wrong (very wrong). The cd is worth buying just for that song alone. Yes, it's that good.

On the album you can hear Ella Fitzgerald who took over the band when Chick Webb passed away. There are blazing fast songs to practise your balboa to: "Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie" and "Harlem Congo". You have "'Tain't What You Do" for your shim sham and if you like songs with a novelty feel you should check out "Macpherson Is Rehearsin' (To Swing)".