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Essentials

Big Joe Turner

Big Joe Turner (born born Joseph Vernon Turner Jr., May 18, 1911 – November 24, 1985) was an American blues shouter from Kansas City, Missouri. A blues shouter is a term for a blues singer capable of singing and projecting their voice

Nathan Dias March 5, 2011November 4, 2018 Essentials, Music Reviews Read more

Trumpet Man: Harry James

Harry James (born Henry Haag James, 1916-1983) was an American trumpeter and bandleader. He was one of the most popular bandleaders of the first half of the 1940s and he continued to play with his orchestra until just before his

Nathan Dias December 27, 2010November 4, 2018 Essentials, Music Reviews Read more

Tuxedo Junction: Erskine Hawkins

Erskine Hawkins was a jazz trumpeter and bandleader from Birmingham, Alabama. He earned the nickname as “the Twentieth Century’s Gabriel” through his flamboyant playing style and ability to hit high notes. As a boy, Hawkins first learned to play drums,

Nathan Dias November 26, 2010November 4, 2018 Essentials, Music Reviews Read more

Chick Webb: Lindy Hopper’s Delight

Have you ever witnessed a jam? Not the mellow birthday or out-of-towners kind of jam, but the kind where a circle will suddenly clear on the dance floor and couple after couple will take turns in the spotlight, showing off

Nathan Dias October 2, 2010November 4, 2018 Essentials, Music Reviews Read more

King of Swing: Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman (1909-1986) was an American jazz musician, clarinetist & band leader, often referred to as the King of Swing. He led one of the most popular, successful and iconic big bands of the Swing Era. His band is also

Nathan Dias August 29, 2010November 4, 2018 Essentials, Music Reviews Read more

Moten Swing(s)

Audrey and I recently taught a musicality workshop at the 9:20 Special in San Francisco in which we asked students to get familiar with the melodies and structure of some quintessential pieces of swing music — in order to better

Nathan Dias July 31, 2010November 4, 2018 Essentials, Music Reviews Read more

The Cats and the Fiddle

The Cats and the Fiddle was one of the premier R&B vocal & small combo groups of the 1930s, who followed on the heels of the success of the popular Mills Brothers. In contrast to the smooth, flowing sound of

Nathan Dias July 2, 2010November 4, 2018 Essentials, Music Reviews Read more

Lady Day: Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday (born: Elinore Harris, April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz singer and song writer. She earned the nickname “Lady Day” from her friend and musical partner Lester Young, and was regarded for the way she

Nathan Dias May 26, 2010November 4, 2018 Essentials, Music Reviews Read more

Charlie Barnet

Charlie Barnet was an American saxaphonist and bandleader in the 1940s. The peak of his musical career was between 1939-1941, beginning with his first hit, “Cherokee” in 1939. Another popular dance hit was Skyliner in 1944. He was an outspoken

Nathan Dias April 28, 2010November 4, 2018 Essentials, Music Reviews Read more

Easy Does It: The Big Eighteen

I was recently pleased to finally locate one of my long sought-after CD albums online at Amazon.com: The Big Eighteen: Echoes of the Swinging Bands. If you have ever taken a lindy hop workshop with the late Frankie Manning, then

Nathan Dias March 29, 2010November 4, 2018 Essentials, Music Reviews Read more
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