Swing DJ Dogpossum

Dogpossum is a swing dj in Australia who sometimes writes about the djing experience and posts set lists. I haven't read everything Dogpossum has written because the posts are longer than mine (which means there are a lot to read and discover).

Are there any other swing djs that are blogging? Tell me.

Emelie Decavita: Swing dj premiere at Dekadans

Tonight it's premiere time at Dekadans.

Emelie Decavita is usually one of the hostesses of Dekadans, making sure everything runs smoothly, but tonight she will also be making her swing dj debut.

It's great to have more swing disc jockeys in Uppsala and I look forward to hear what music Emelie will be playing.

If you haven't been to Dekadans before you should go there, it's such a nice place to dance some lindy hop or balboa or even a foxtrot.

The photo of Emelie is taken by me and may not be used elsewhere without permission.

Have you been to Dekadans? What do you think of the club? Tell me.

Ulf Carling: Swing dj at Dekadans tonight

Tonight Ulf Carling will be the swing dj at Dekadans. Come there and dance to the swing music.

Tonight is a also Beginners Night where we try to get as many people there from the beginners courses and get them to have fun dancing socially.

During one hour in the beginning of the evening all experienced dancers dance only with beginners and get to know them.

I think this is a important thing to do, when you start dancing you are easily intimidated by experienced dancers. You think that they are too good to ask to dance because they will get bored because you don't know much stuff.

As an experienced dancer I can tell you that that is not the case as long as you are smiling and you're trying your best. We want you do become a better dancer but we know that it takes time. Knowing this, it might be easier to ask someone to dance, it's still a little bit intimidating, but you must be brave.

I always try to dance with two or three persons a night that I haven't danced with before. It's fun to get to know new people.

Now, a little bit more about Ulf Carling. Ulf is also a drummer in the Carling Family band. He always adds a good portion of humour when he plays drums. All his family is talented musicians, the most well known relative is his sister Gunhild Carling. Tonight at Dekadans, I hope he plays a private recording of One Oclock Jump from when Gunhild played with the Count Basie Orchestra. I really would like to have that recording myself because it's really great!

As a bonus I've found a old video clip from 1990 with Carling Hot Six playing "You're Driving me Crazy" with Ulf at the drums and his sisters doing a charleston dance routine.




The photo of Ulf Carling was taken by me and may not be used elsewhere without my permission.

Have you heard Ulf Carling play drums or dj? Tell me.

DJ Trina Dobbs at Dekadans tonight

Don't miss DJ Trina Dobbs at Dekadans tonight! Go there and dance to the swing music.

Swing dj Jonas' favorite song right now

One of my swing dj colleagues in Uppsala is Jonas Pettersson. I couldn't hear him dj last Wednesday at Zackes Jazz Corner at the dance studio Chicago in Stockholm ( run by The Harlem Hot Shots), so I asked him:

What is your favourite swing song right now?

It's "Mahogany Hall Stomp" by Louis Armstrong and His Savoy Ballroom Five, recorded in New York, March 5, 1929, Okeh #8680.

Can be found on "Armstrong, Louis – The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven
Recordings" [4CD] [Columbia #63527].

Why that particular song?

Because it shows an amazing and very early example of the transition from the two-beat hot jazz of the twenties to the oncoming four-to-the-bar swing of the thirties. Listen to "Potato Head Blues" with Louis Armstrong and His Hot Seven on mentioned compilation for an example of "two-beat", same tempo as "Mahogany Hall Stomp", but with tuba and banjo, which gives it a completely different feeling compared to the more fluid swing of the string bass and guitar of "Mahogany Hall Stomp".

What is your favorite swing song right now? Tell me.

How to DJ Right: The Art and Science of Playing Records

Book review

One of the best books if you want to read about how to learn to dj is 'How to DJ Right: The Art and Science of Playing Records' by Frank Broughton and Bill Brewster.

They cover almost every aspect of what it takes to be a disc jockey, from technical aspects (which button to push) to how to read a dance crowd, building a collection, getting into the dj business and how to be a great dj.

The book has a lot of dry British humour. I love that. When the book was first published in Great Britain its name was 'How to DJ (properly): The Art and Science of Playing Records' but I'll guess that proper English wasn't right in USA.

You can find the British version of the book at the city library in Uppsala.

Have you read the book? What do you think of it? Tell me.

World Swing DJ Championships

Last Friday it was time for the World Swing DJ Championships which took place at the dance camp Goodnight Sweetheart in Great Britain. The competition is judged by the dancers at the event.
They are instructed to look for the following in the DJs:

1. Creativity
   - Music selection and interaction of various styles, era's etc.
2. Stage Presence
   - Appearance, self-confidence, showmanship & sportsmanship
3. Dance-ability
   - Does the music keep the dancers " a boppin'' or " a stoppin"

It would be fun to participate. I think a little competitiveness can make the djs pull out their best stuff. But performing well in a competition means just that, you're good at competing, it's different from djing a whole night. Still, both formats are about entertaining, making sure that the dancers and the listeners have a good time enjoying themselves. That doesn't change even if the format changes. You've got to entertain.

This year there were swing disc jockeys from USA, UK, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Norway, Belgium and France. The winner was Jamie from the UK.

Maybe I'll be there next year?

Goodnight Sweetheart is organised by the fantastic couple Joseph Sewell and Trisha Purville at jiveswing.com.

Small dj set at Dekadans

Last night Elin and Jonas were djs at Dekadans. They had to leave a little bit early so I filled in and djed some songs.

I played, among other songs, Hoy hoy by Cab Calloway and East Side Jive by Big Rude Jake.

The photo shows the nice environment at Västgöta nation where the club is located. If you haven't been here I recommend a visit. The photo is taken by me and may not be used elsewhere without my permission.

Where you there? What do you think of the evening? Tell me.

Klubb Dekadans with DJ Elin and DJ Jonas

Swing dance

Don't miss the swing dance at Dekadans tonight.

Elin Sandström and Jonas Brunnström are djing. Bust the moves that you learnt at the Uppsala Winter Camp.

I really like their new poster, definitely 1920s style.

The best compliment a swing dj can get

I haven't posted anything the last couple of days because I've been busy doing all sorts of things at the Uppsala Winter Camp, Swingkatten's annual camp with lindy hop and balboa.

About creating energy
Mostly I was in charge of the of the lighting during the evenings and the dinner show at Saturday. I also put together a small light show for the presentation of the instructors Saturday morning. The idea was to give the teachers a rock star welcome and create some energy that would give the camp a good start. I think it went well considering that there was not much time to brief the instructors what was going to happen. If you were there, please tell me what you thought of it. If you happen to have a video clip of it I would be very thankful if you could send it to me.

Saturday night was a blast, the band Phontrattarne was really swinging with a full big band sound. I was inspired by them when I djed the late night shift.

The best compliment
A person that I really respect as a dancer and person came up to me after my set and I got the best compliment a swing disc jockey can get:

"I tried to leave but you kept playing such good music that I had to stay another song, and another, just one more song... Now I will be too tired for tomorrows classes. It's your fault! Thank you!".

Keeping people on the dance floor even though they are too tired, that is one of my ambitions when I dj, when they do, I know I must be doing something right. Creating energy on the dance floor is what it's all about. Hearing comments like that is what keeps me djing.

If you were at the Uppsala Winter Camp and have comments about the songs I played I would be very interested in hearing what you thought of them.

Dekadans: The Big Apple from Keep Punching

Tonight it is time again to dance at Dekadans where Jonas Pettersson will be the swing disc jockey.

The dance starts at 20 o'clock but if you get there already at 19 Jonas will also give a lesson teaching the Big Apple (as seen in the movie Keep Punching) at no extra charge.

Check out this Big Apple video clip from Keep Punching:


If I'm not misinformed they will still have the scenes built for the the play that is performed there: "And Then There Were None" based on the book by Agatha Christie. That decoration makes the room look extra cool, check it out.

By the way, what did you think of the Big Apple video clip?

Canal Street Syncopators cd: No strings

Swing disc jockey David Kågedal dj:ed last night at Dekadans. He is also a member of a jazz orchestra in Uppsala: Canal Street Syncopators. Canal Street Syncopators has just released a cd called No strings.

David played some tunes from the album and they sounded good. I liked the song "Ráda Zpívám Hot" sung by Liv Stenström.

The photo was taken by me and may not be used elsewhere without my permisson.

Do you have this cd? What do you think of it? Tell me.

Dance at Dekadans tonight

Tonight it's dancing at Dekadans where David will be the swing dj. Go there, dance, have fun and listen to good swing music.

Township jazz 'n' jive - South African jazz music

Cd review

When I was swing disc jockey at Dekadans on Tuesday I played some songs from the album Township Jazz 'n' Jive which has swing jazz music from South Africa from the 50s.

The tunes definitely have a certain African feel to them and many of them are based on the music style Kwela. Kwela has a simple music structure and can feel repetitive if you play songs back to back but once or twice during an evening works nice.

Good jazz tunes on this album are Something New In Africa by Solven Whistlers, Baby Are Yeng by Nancy Jacobs & Her Sisters and Tihapi Ke Noga by Dolly Rathebe.

Do you know of some other good African swing, jazz or blues music? Let me know.

Herräng Dance Camp 2007

Herräng Dance Camp is the worlds largest dance camp for lindy hop, boogie woogie, balboa and tap dancing.

This year they celebrate their 25th anniversary and the dance camp will be going on for five (five!) weeks this summer. Unbelivable! Herräng dance camp is truly the Mecka of swing dancing where people from all over the world come to dance. Here you can find the best instructors and there is just so much going on in Herräng that you can dance 24-7 if you like. Here are live music with swing and jazz bands, great swing disc jockeys and also blues nights.

This year, besides a massive amount of lindy hop, there are more balboa courses than last year and they have added some African-Cuban dancing (Rhumba, Mambo, Cha-Cha).

If you heard rumours about Herräng dance camp - they are probably true - it's a fantastic place to be. And, just like Mecka, if you're a swing dancer you must go here at least once in your life. Chanses are that you will be coming back.

If you want to read more about what Herräng Dance Camp is like, check out Lloyds stories from previous years.

Dance lindy hop, balboa and swing at Dekadans tonight

Just a reminder, tonight I will dj swing music for your dancing and listening pleasure at the swing music club Dekadans. Dance lindy hop, balboa or whatever other dance you like.

I've found some new music gems that I would like to play. Come and check them out.

Dekadans is located at Västgöta nation, Västra Ågatan 18 in Uppsala. From 20 o'clock till 23 o'clock. Entrance fee: 20 kr.

Spring season premiere at Dekadans Jan 16th

Next tuesday, Jan 16th, the swing club Dekadans start the spring season. I will be djing that night and I'm looking forward to spinning some newly found swing songs.

Dekadans is located at Västgöta nation in Uppsala (V. Ågatan 18) and has a fantastic atmosphere. Entrance: 20 kr. 20-23 o'clock.

If you have any suggestion about what you would like me to play, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Swing DJ Battle in Copenhagen

On Jan 20th there will be a Swing DJ Battle in Copenhagen. It would be great to be there.

swingdjs.com

swingdjs.com is one of the best resources if you have a question about swing music. Swingdjs.com is a forum where many swingjockeys from all the world meet.

They talk mostly about the music itself but also how they dj and what equipment they use. If you are a swing discjockey or want to become one, this is the place for you.