White Christmas: Vera-Ellen

I'm continuing on the Christmas theme: Take a look at this video clip from the movie White Christmas where Vera-Ellen dances with John Brascia.

You'll see jazz steps and even a hand-to-hand charleston move.

Last year I posted another clip from White Christmas: The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing.

What do you think of the video clip from White Christmas? Please comment.

Merry Christmas, Baby

Frances Butt and Keith Warmington sing the blues Merry Christmas Baby by Charles Brown.

I meant to post this before Christmas but here it comes today. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

What do you think of Merry Christmas Baby? Please comment.

Swinging Christmas: Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra

The Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra has a concert tonight called Swinging Christmas.

The jazz concert features Bengt Feldreich and the Lucia of Uppsala: Anette Bodén.

The concert is in Missionskyrkan and starts at 19.00. Tickets cost 130 kr (90 kr for students).

The photo is taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to buy or license it.

What do you think of Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra? Please comment.

Ella Fitzgerald - I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

Outside it's unusually warm for being February, could it be an effect of global warming or is it love in the air for the upcoming Valentines day, I don't know.

However, here is a video clip with Ella Fitzgerald singing "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" together with the Count Basie band and Roy Eldridge with a trumpet solo.



What do you think about the video clip with Ella Fitzgerald singing "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm? Tell me.

The best things happen while you're dancing

Here is a video clip with Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen dancing and singing the song "The best things happen while you're dancing" from the film White Christmas from 1954.



I'll take a short break for a couple of days during Christmas. In the mean time, why don't you tell me what your favorite blog post of this year has been or what you like to see next year.

I wish you a Merry Christmas!

What do you think of this video clip from White Christmas? Tell me.

Ondrej Havelka sings Jingle Bells

If you want to get into the Christmas mood then watch this terrific video clip with Ondřej Havelka and His Melody Makers singing "Jingle Bells". There are lots of funny sequences. Enjoy.



If you missed Ondřej Havelka and His Melody Makers in my previous post where they performed Beat me, daddy eight to the bar, then watch it right away.

What do you think of Ondřej Havelka singing Jingle Bells? Tell me.

Swinging Christmas with Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra

Tomorrow (Tuesday) you can hear Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra at Missionskyrkan in Uppsala when they perform their show: Swinging Christmas.

Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra will perform swinging arrangements of American Christmas songs. They will also play the songs composed by band leader Ulf Johansson Werre.

The band will feature the great clarinet player Antti Sarpila. Antti Sarpila is the best clarinet player I know.

Where: Missionskyrkan, St. Olofsgatan, Uppsala. When: Tuesday Dec 18th at 19:30. Cost: 120 kr (80 kr for students).

The photo is taken by me at a concert with Swedish Swing Society and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license it.

Are you going to the concert with swingin' Christmas songs performed by Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra (UUJO)? Tell me.

Hey Mr Jesse - Christmas songs

I have no superlatives left to describe the podcast "Hey, Mr Jesse" where Jesse Miner and Manu Swith talks about swing music, so I'll just say: Check it out!

Download the December edition. [42 MB, mp3]

This episode concludes the second year of monthly podcasts. Since it's December and holiday season they feature some swinging Christmas songs. One album they mention is Diana Krall's Christmas Songs. That cd has been on my wish list for quite some time. Another good Christmas album is Yule B Swingin.

Jesse & Manu also listed holiday swing songs last year in Hey Mr Jesse #12. Download.

They feature some of my comments about previous podcasts. They play Benny's Bugle from the band 4beat6 which they describe as

"Man! Smokin'! ... Foot stompin' music ... I just wanna dance."

I couldn't agree more. They also play a clip of Splanky performed by Count Basie at Montreux Jazz Festival 1977. Thank you guys for letting me be a part of the show.

There is so much more, see all the details in the show notes for Hey Mr Jesse #24.

I now realize that I didn't announce the November 2007 edition of Hey Mr Jesse. So if you missed it, download Hey Mr Jesse #23. Then you'll have two hours of swinging jazz music tips to enjoy!

What do you think of Hey Mr Jesse December edition? Tell me.

Christmas ends today but Yule B Swingin'

In Sweden Christmas is officially over today, 20 days after Christmas eve, and it's time to throw out your Christmas tree.

You are probably sick of Christmas songs and have an overdose of jingle bells. However, now could be an excellent time to get swinging Christmas music for next holiday season, the music stores could have it on sale.

One of my favorite Christmas jazz albums that you should look for is Yule B Swingin'. Great Christmas swing songs, especially "Everybody's Waitin' For The Man With The Bag" with Kay Starr.