If you are learning to dance Lindy Hop or
planning to start it, probably you would like to listen to more swing
music. That’s an excellent idea! You might be wondering where you
can find swing tunes. Here, we would like to provide you with some tips and
links for that.
Links for searching swing music
Free sites:
- http://www.jazz-on-line.com/index.htm (A huge jazz collection you can listen to and download. Just beware that the quality might not always be very good)
- http://blip.fm/profile/lindyhopper/playlist (This is a very nice one, because it has direct link to iTunes, Amazon and even Youtube video:)
- Spotify (lot’s of swing music available and it’s already in Luxembourg)
Paid sites:
- iTunes library
- Amazon
So now you have some links but what names should you be looking for? Here are some suggestions for you to start with.
Early Jazz
-
Fats Waller was a showman and master stride pianist. He's a precursor
to Cab Calloway. If you're looking for something light and fun, he is
your man.
- Louis Armstrong was an institution. He played music for 40 years, and
most of it isn't what you'll hear at a swing dance. He was a brilliant
musician and an inspiration to everyone who followed.
-
Duke Ellington did everything. He composed a broad range of music. Most
of his early work is not swing music, but his contribution to the big
band era is hard to match.
Swing Era
-
Count Basie was the main man in the Kansas City music scene, and his
band has a sound that is distinct from the New York bands of the era.
His music typically plays on the edges of tempo: Fast and slow.
-
Benny Goodman played an important role in the history of swing music:
He introduced it to the world. If you find a good song he recorded, you
can usually -- but not always -- find a version that's better for
dancing by someone else.
- Ella Fitzgerald recorded music for 59 years and probably sang every song worth singing. What else is there to say?
- Cab Calloway is the model for the over-the-top big band leader. He is wacky and all about dancing and having fun.
Other names you might want to check out:
Jimmie Lunceford
Billie Holiday
Artie Shaw
Fletcher Henderson
Louis Jordan
Louis Prima
Big Crosby
To be continued..:)
