Hey Mr Jesse Feb: Sweet Emma & The Mood Swingers

The February show of the podcast Hey Mister Jesse has just been released.

Hey Mr Jesse is a great monthly podcast where the swing djs Jesse Miner and Manu 'Spuds' Smith talk about swingin' music that matters to dancers.

Download the February 2009 episode of Hey Mister Jesse. (~50 MB, mp3)

As usual I wrote in to the show with some music tips, I wrote:

My favorite local jump blues and rhythm 'n' blues band, Sweet Emma & The Mood Swingers, has just released their second album called "Turn it up".

I like that Sweet Emma & The Mood Swingers have written some more songs of their own, like the title track "Turn it Up". My favorite track is their version of "April in Arkansas".

I just love that call and response between singer Anders Söderberg and the guest artists on that track, the sisters Greta, Stella and Sunniva Bondesson. They have their own group called Baskery.

Mr Jesse played their version of "April in Arkansas" and also talked about their video for the song Chicago Boogie.

My other music tip (that didn't make it to the show):

I'd like to recommend the album "The Jive Is Jumpin': RCA and Bluebird Vocal Groups 1939-1952" (which I got to know about thanks to my friend, the fabulous Miss V.)

This is a great album for anyone who likes vocal groups that swing.

The album has groups as Cats and the Fiddle, The Four Clefs and The Delta Rhythm Boys.

The Four Clefs do a great song called "I Like Pie, I Like Cake" and I like all the Delta Rhythm Boys' songs: One O'clock Jump, I Never Get Out of This World Alive and Take The A-Train.

That version of Take The A-Train was used in a tv documentary about The Herräng Dance Camp called "Swingen anfaller" ("The swing is attacking").

Spuds has for a long time promised to make "theme music" for my contributions to the show, and in this episode it happend. Jesse commented that he thought Spuds must have worn Lederhosen and had a beer in his hand while composing it. I agree with Jesse, this what I call oompa-oompa-music. Thank you Spuds!

Take a look at what else is in the show: read the show notes for Hey Mister Jesse February 2009.

What do you think of the Hey Mr Jesse podcast February 2009? Please comment.

Swing dj Henrik Eriksson at Cats Corner tonight

Yes, that right, I'll be djing at Cats Corner at Smålands nation in Uppsala tonight.

There is a taster lesson in boogie woogie at 19. Social dancing starts at 20 and ends at 23. At 21 there will be a performance of African dancing. Cost: 20 kr.

What would you like to hear tonight? Tell me, here's your chance. Please comment.

Uppsala Winter Camp coming up

Today the Uppsala Winter Camp, Swingkattens annual swing dance camp, starts. The first 4 years I was heavily involved in organizing the camp. Nowadays I "just" participate in doing practical things during the camp such as setting up sound and light equipment for classes, rigging for live bands, run the light for Saturday night stage show and dj.

I'll dj tonight at Drabanten between 22-23, Friday 01-02 (the late late shift) and on the Sunday tea dance between 16-17.

I'm looking forward to see the band tomorrow, The Ulf Johansson Werre Swing Quartet, I think they'll rock, eh I mean swing.

Will you attend the Uppsala Winter Camp? Please comment.

Bob Malone

Most of the time I find great music and musicians, sometimes it's the other way around, they find me. That is the case with Bob Malone.

Bob Malone does all kinds of music and sometimes it's blues and jazz or ragtime. As Bob says "There are only two kinds of music. Good and bad." His music is the first kind.

Bob Malone is on tour in Sweden right now, check out Bob Malone's MySpace page to see his schedule. Go see his concerts.

What do you think of Bob Malone? Please comment.

The Great Gatsby - Charleston dancing

Here is a fun video clip from the film The Great Gatsby where people are dancing Charleston at a wild party and jumping into the fountain.

I would have liked to been at that party in the roaring 20's!

The film The Great Gatsby is from 1974 and has Robert Redford and Mia Farrow in the leading roles.

I think this might be where the director for the music video of Come To Me by Koop got some of his ideas.

What do you think of the video clip with charleston dancing from The Great Gatsby? Please comment.

Kulturoasen: Sweet Emma & The Mood Swingers

Today there is a concert with Sweet Emma & The Mood Swingers at Kulturoasen in Håga just outside of Uppsala. The concert starts at 14 and is free of charge.

Kulturoasen is run by Kent Wennman who also arranges the summer concerts in Parksnäckan.

The photo above is from Sweet Emma & The Mood Swingers' concert in Parksnäckan last summer. This is the photo that the band uses on their posters.

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 Sweet Emma & The Mood Swingers? Please comment.

Jail House Blues - Hal and Honey Abbott

Here is a comedic dance routine by Hal Abbott and Honey Abbott from the short film "Woody Herman and His Orchestra" from 1938.

Mostly they dance shag but they also do tap dancing and some charleston kicks. I'm not sure but they could also be dancing Peabody (1:14-1:24), can anybody set me straight?

I think that the solo footwork that Hal Abbott does in the very last seconds of the video clip is really amazing. Wow.

Can anyone tell me more about Hal and Honey Abbott?

What do you think of Hal and Honey Abbott dancing to Jail House Blues? Please comment.