Uppsala Jazz Club: Program for spring 2007

Uppsala Jazz Club has just released its program for spring 2007 with concerts that will take place Saturdays at Katalin and all that jazz. It looks like it will be all kinds of jazz: traditional (hot) jazz with Fyris Jazz Band, 50's Basie style with Sandviken Big Band and Claes Jansson and also more modern jazz styles.

The first jazz concert of the season will be tomorrow Sat 10th, when Karl Olandersson Quartet plays. Karl Olandersson plays trumpet and sings. Also in the quartet: Mathias Algotsson (piano), Clas Lassbo (bass) and Mattias Puttonen (drums).

The concert starts at 14 o'clock. Tickets are bought at the door and costs 220 kr (190 kr if you are a member of Uppsala Jazz Club or has a UNT-card).

Some of you may recognize that one of my pictures of Nkiru from the Youth Jazz Contest is in the program. The first prize in the contest was a concert at Katalin. Nkiru will play Feb 24th.

I've been invited to report from all concerts so you can expect stories och photos all through the spring.

The picture of Karl Olandersson is taken from his website.

Balboa in the book Social Dancing in America

This is the fourth part of an interview with Ralph G. Giordano who recently published his book Social Dancing in America: A History and Reference Volume 2 Lindy Hop to Hip Hop, 1901-2000.

[Part 1: How come you wrote a book about social dancing in America?]
[Part 2: Which dances do you write about in the book? ]
[Part 3: Can you share some interesting facts about Lindy hop?]

Part 4: Do you include Balboa in the book?

Yes, the Balboa is included on pp 103-104 in a chapter section titled: "The Golden Age of Dance Pavilions and the "Queen of Swing". In preparing the general list some dances were omitted, but are included in the book and easily found through the index.

Excerpt

"The Rendezvous Ballroom opened in 1928 with a 12,000 square foot dance floor with a capacity of 1,500 dancing couples. It, like so many ballrooms, suffered through a devastating fire in January 1935. It was quickly rebuilt as the swing and dance craze was spreading nationwide. The Rendezvous was known for developing a unique dance known as the Balboa.


The Balboa was a versatile dance that could be done to very slow or fast music. It could be done on a crowded dance floor since it required little space. Located near a beach, the Rendezvous was a popular destination for teenagers and college students during the spring break. They could combine a day at the beach and dancing to top name swing bands until 1:00 a.m.

On June 18, 1938, a local radio personality Al Poska organized a seven-day non-stop Big Band dance marathon that attracted nationwide media attention. The promotional event to celebrate the end of the school year was covered by LOOK magazine, a widely read mass-media magazine. Within the article they nicknamed the Rendezvous Ballroom the "Queen of Swing."

Have you read this book? What do you think? Tell me.

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.

Phontrattarne at Uppsala Winter Camp 2007

Phontrattarne is certainly one of the best big bands for dancing in Uppsala. They have played at the Nobel Prize party the last two years.

They played a lot of good songs and I particularly enjoyed their versions of "King Porter Stomp" , "School days" and "Down For Double". Phontrattarne is a fun band because the musicians don't just sit still and play the music, oh no, when there is spare time they get a little animated so they are great band visually as well.

Here is a picture from Saturday night taken by me . The photo may not be used elsewhere without my permission.

Were you at the Saturday dance? What did you think of the evening? Tell me.

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.

GNQ plays at Uppsala Winter Camp tomorrow

Today the large dance camp in Uppsala starts: Uppsala Winter Camp. Tonight there will be a taster lesson in balboa with Jonas & Jennie and then a small workshop with Peter Loggins followed by djing by Mohan Pakkurti at Drabanten.

Tomorrow the band GNQ (George Nistor Quartet) will play at the welcoming party at Grand (starts at 20). Entrance fee: 80 kr.

During the camp I'll be responsible for all things that concerns lighting but I'll also dj some sets (not yet decided when).

Welcome!