DJs tend to play the part of the band at the majority of dance events, and DJ’s music selection really can affect how a dance community flourishes.  The song selection, variety and tempo of music each DJ chooses shapes a dance evening. Fortunately, in the swing community most often the DJ is also a dancer, giving them the advantage of knowing which kind of songs are ‘danceable.’ But being a good DJ and creating an enjoyable dance evening is about more than just playing songs the dancers enjoy.

One of the most important responsibilities for a DJ is to pay attention to the crowd and respond to the energy the crowd is giving off.  This means speeding up the tempo and energy of song selections when the mood of the crowd demands and knowing when to change the mood of the music to flow with the ebb and flow of the evening.  This is not an easy thing to do, it takes hours of practice and a little instinct.  To become a great DJ there are three main responsibilities.

DJ’s have a responsibility to play music that is:

• danceable
• enjoyable
• inspiring

Playing music that is danceable.

This is a highly subjective phrase. A song that one group or individual may consider to be the holy grail of dancing could turn out to be a song that is the bain of the dancing world for another group or individual. How does a DJ successfully interpret this? First, you do not have to only play songs that keeps the dance floor full. I have never subscribed to this philosophy. Playing a song where only 10% of the dancers are on the floor is not necessarily a failed song. If that 10% are having a great time, fully enjoying 3 minutes bliss, then the song is a success. It’s ok to let those others who aren’t excited by that song sit and rest a bit; get some water, socialize with friends, and get ready for the next tune. Now, this does not mean that a DJ should be happy filling the floor with 10% of the dancers the entire night. Not by any means.

A successful DJ will find a balance throughout the evening, playing songs that fill the floor, then on occasion, play a song that cleanses the dancers pallet. Know your community. Satiating the minority with their preferred musical selections is an acceptable practice. That 10% minority can grow to an 80% majority from being exposed to alternative tracks.

Music should be enjoyable

There are some really amazing songs out there. Being a Classic Big Band Swing fan, I am a huge fan of Duke Ellington. One of my favorite albums is The Duke at Fargo, 1940: Special 60th Anniversary Edition. That album has one of the most amazing versions of Cottontail of all time! However, the recording quality is quite…interesting. It was as if they recorded it using a potato and a jar of marbles. The song sounds amazing in my headphones. But I would hesitate to play it at a dance event because of this poor sound quality. Poor sound quality can turn into an unenjoyable dance experience, despite how much awesomesauce the song has.

Let’s further consider song quality.

Just because a song isn’t recorded in HiFi doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play it. There are plenty of LoFi tracks that have some cracks and pops, and are wonderful to dance to. Dead Man Blues by Jelly Roll Morton, is by no means a modern marvel of exceptional recording technology. However, these pops and cracks add a rich, vintage quality to the song that translates into a highly enjoyable dance. Again, the DJ needs to understand their community, the tolerances of their crowd, and playability of their music.

DJ’s should be inspiring.

First and foremost, the DJ has to encourage dancing. Play music that the crowd loves and enjoys dancing to. You are not out there to stream your ego directly into the PA.

Second, a DJ has the ability, and when used wisely, to inspire the community to try new dances. Is balboa new to your scene? Play a balboa song to encourage it’s growth. Don’t just satiate those moaning bal dancers with a song that is 300bpm and is technically ‘jazz.’ Play a great balboa tune that is in the danceable range for the entire crowd.  This will inspire and encourage your community to get on the dance floor and help grow the community.

Great swing music is exciting, dynamic, and most of all inspiring to its listeners.

DJ’s have the responsibility to be responsible.

That it’s it. It’s simple, understated, and possibly the most abused. You are not there to try to show off your musical prowess with ultra rare B-sides from artists that no one has ever heard of. You are not there to flex your e-peen to your friends and stump them on a game of ‘Name That Tune.’ If dancers wanted to play a game, they would be at home playing Farmville. They are there to dance.

You have a responsibility to play danceable music. Playing standards isn’t the end of the world nor your career. They are called standards for a reason. I most certainly wont get tired of hearing Swingin’ The Blues, Segue In C, Blue Drag or Business In F. Nick Williams will never tire of Rigamarole by Mora’s Modern Rhythmists, and Chris Owens will never be seen sitting while What A shuffle by Chick Webb is being played. Sure, play your rare tracks, they could be the next Joshua Fit, or At Sundown. But what if they aren’t? Are you ready to come back with a solid tune? Do you have a recovery plan?

One of the first lessons I got in the school of DJing was from a local DJ in San Francisco, Marc D’Olimpio. To paraphrase:

Ok, you have a song that you want to play, but aren’t sure if the crowd will respond to it. This is what you do: Have two tracks ready to go. One track that is the risky track, its not a standard, but you like and hope the crowd will too.  The other track should be a solid go-to standard (in his case it was Now You has Jazz by Louis Armstrong). Be prepared so that if the first song fails, you can immediately play your go-to song, and quell that rising tide of disgust from the previous track. So if your new song missed, you can immediately erase that bad taste, and move on.

The whole DJ process is about learning. As a DJ, if you are not learning and educating yourself you are only doing a disservice to your community and your venue probably won’t be around for long, and neither will your career.

As a DJ for too many years to count, I have embarked on a never ending quest to perfect the art of DJing. So I ask of you: What are your thoughts? What do you think are the responsibilities of the DJ? How do you define a ‘danceable’ song?

So after several years of being the Head DJ at ABW, I thought I would finally release the song names and artists for the competition music.  Have fun, enjoy, and if you hear that song next year, which you probably will, don’t suck.

AM Jack and Jill Prelims

• Heat 1
  • Shivers – The Ramblers
  • Community Swing – Glenn Miller
  • Jubilee Swing – Ella Fitzgerald

• Heat 2
  • Take It – Benny Goodman
  • Flyin’ Home – Charlie Barnett
  • Lafayette – Hot Lips Page

AM Jack and Jill SemiFinals

• Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho – Sidney Bechet
• Jumpin’ – Hot Lips Page
• In The Groove (At The Grove) – Ella Fitzgerald
• Carioca – Artie Shaw

AM Jack and Jill Finals

• Hocus Pocus – Fletcher Henderson
• Everybody Rock – Ella Fitzgerald
• I Want To Be Happy – Benny Goodman
• Jumpin At The Woodside – Count Basie

OPEN Jack and Jill Prelims

• Heat 1
  • Mr. Ghost Goes To Town – Mills Blue Rhythm Band
  • Jumpin At The Woodside – Alix Combelle
  • Rose Room – Boots and his Buddies
• Heat 2
  • Troubled – Frankie Trumbauer
  • All Is Not Gold That Jitters – Kenny Baker
  • I’ve Found a New Baby – Willie Lewis

OPEN Jack and Jill Finals

• Warm Up
  • Breaken ‘Em Down – Chick Webb
• Spotlights:
  • Joanna/Joe – Smoke House Rhythm – Benny Goodman
  • Matt/Vanessa – King Porter Stomp – Tommy Dorsey
  • Naru/Teni – Digga Digga Doio – Ella Fitzgerald
  • Andreas/Nao – Madhouse – Benny Goodman
  • Jason/Carla – I Can’t Give You Anything But Love – Artie Shaw
  • Adam/Jen – Jamaica Jam – Teddy Powell
  • Javi/Stocks – Super Chief – Count Basie
  • Jacob/Heather – Let’s Get Together – Chick Webb
  • Patricia/Fred – Man From Mars – Artie Shaw
  • Nelle/Davis – Swingin’ In The Promised Land – Edgar Hayes
• All-Skate
  • Honeysuckle Rose – Mora’s Modern Rhythmists

AM ACBC Prelims

• Warm Up
  • Rock-A-Bye Basie – Count Basie
• Heat 1
  • Christopher Columbus – Willie Lewis
  • Dancing With A Debutante – Les Brown
• Heat 2
  • Man From Mars – Artie Shaw
  • Jim Town Blues – Fletcher Henderson
• All Skate
  • Swingtime In The Rockies – Benny Goodman

AM ACBC Finals

• Warm Up
  • Minor Swing – Django Reinhardt
• Spotlights:
  • Andrew/Lisa – Big John’s Special – Mora’s Modern Rhythmists
  • Jason/Shana – Smoke House Rhythm – Benny Goodman
  • Rudolph/Katherine – Don’t Be That Way – Chick Webb
  • Tim/Ulla – Jamaica Jam #2 – Teddy Powell
  • Tamoko/Daniel – Dinah – Count Basie
  • Jeongwoo/Crystal – I Can’t Give You Anything But Love – Artie Shaw
  • Corey/Susan – Diga Diga Doo – Artie Shaw
  • Andre/Tina – Christopher Columbus – Don Redman
  • David/Chelsea – Madhouse – Benny Goodman
  • Laura/Jason – King Porter Stomp – Jimmy Dorsey
• All Skate
  • We’ll Get It – Dorsey Brothers

OPEN ACBC Prelims

• Warm Up
  • Cherokee – Charlie Barnett
• Heat 1
  • New Orleans Twist – Gene Gifford
  • Rigamarole – Mora’s Modern Rhythmists
• Heat 2
  • I Surrender Dear – Lionel Hampton
  • The Last Jump – Charlie Barnett
• All Skate
  • Casa Loma Stomp – Casa Loma Orchestra

OPEN ACBC Finals

• Warm Up
  • Uppercut – Artist Unknown
• Spotlights:
  • Andreas/Joanna – Clarinet Marmalade – Benny Goodman
  • Jeremy/Mary – Harlem Jump – Jack Teagarden
  • Patricia/Fred – Jam Session – Benny Goodman
  • Adam/Nelle – Business in F – Gene Kardos
  • Nick/Laura – Slip Horn Jive – Glenn Miller
  • Naru/Nao – Walk Jenny Walk – Benny Goodman
  • Bobby/Kate – Stampede – Fletcher Henderson
  • Jason/Andi – Let ‘Er Go – Fletcher Henderson
  • Matt/Krista – Rock and Rye – Earl Hines
  • Jacob/Jen – Diga Diga Doo – Mora’s Modern Rhythmists
• All Skate
  • Traffic Jam – Artie Shaw

]]> http://www.euclidsfifth.com/music-and-dance/abw-2010-contest-music/feed/ 9 http://www.euclidsfifth.com/music-and-dance/three-exciting-lectures-this-year-at-all-balboa-weekend-2010/ http://www.euclidsfifth.com/music-and-dance/three-exciting-lectures-this-year-at-all-balboa-weekend-2010/#comments Sun, 06 Jun 2010 15:57:35 +0000 Kyle Smith http://www.euclidsfifth.com/?p=991 Give those weary feet a rest and come hang out with me and my friends throughout the day on Sunday. History, expression, and the joy of music at All Balboa Weekend 2010.

10:00am Main Ballroom Django Reinhardt: 100
This year we celebrate the 100th birthday of Django Reinhardt. Wake up Sunday morning, grab a cup of coffee, and learn about the exciting and dynamic legacy of Gypsy Guitarist, Django Reinhardt. Learn what the difference is between gypsy jazz and swing jazz. Learn what made Django a legend of jazz guitar. Sunday morning, 10:00 in the main ballroom.

1:30pm Main Ballroom Musicality for everyone
Grab your lunch and head into the main ballroom for an hour of musicality with Nick Williams, Bobby White, Kate Hedin and myself as we talk candidly about personal expression and music interpretation. Learn from dance and music experts what musicality is, and how to successfully incorporate it into your dancing. Break down the music to its purest form and learn to listen to the music, listen to what it is telling you, listen to those musical cues, and learn to make your dancing even more intertwined into the music you love. Sunday afternoon, lunch time in the main ballroom.

4:30pm Main Ballroom The musical journey.
Take off your shoes, and hang out with me for an hour on Sunday afternoon as I run the gamut of what it means and what it takes to become a successful swing DJ. From song selection and equipment to play-lists and requests, I will take you on a joyful ride of what it is like to DJ a national event. Learn what it takes to create an evening that everyone will remember. Even if you aren’t a DJ, drop in and share your thoughts on what a great evening of recorded music is. This is a fully interactive class, but dancing is not required Stop by Sunday afternoon, 4:30, in the main ballroom, for an hour of music, education, interaction, and fun.

It is a recording from that concert, Swingtime In The Rockies, that is at the top of my 10 favorite Benny Goodman tracks of all time. But after the top spot, it gets pretty difficult to narrow down my next 9 favorite Benny Goodman tracks. So with a note of apprehention, I list out my 10 favorite songs from the King of Swing.

1. Swingtime In The Rockies – Live at Carnegie Hall 1938
2. St. Louis Blues – On The Air 37-38
3. Bugle Call Rag – Chronological Classics 1936 Vol. 2
4. Caprice Paganini XXIV – Chronological Classics 1941 Vol. 3
5. Moonglow – Chronological Classics 1936 Vol. 2
6. House Hop – Live at the Madhattan Room 1937
7. All The Cats Join In – All The Cats Join In  
8. Roll ‘Em – On The Air 37-38
9. Sweet Georgia Brown – The Complete RCA Victor Small Group Recordings  
10. Mazel – Benny Goodman ‘45 & ‘47

What are some of your favorite Benny Goodman tracks?

Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho – Sidney Bechet

Central Avenue Shuffle – Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra

At The Clambake Carnival – Cab Calloway

A Viper’s Moan – Mora’s Modern Rhythmists

Community Swing – Glenn Miller

Learning balboa? What songs do you like to dance to?

I am really excited to see the Killer Dillers perform (the routine they did at ILHC was amazing), see The Boilermakers perform and check out some of that fine dancing from the easy coast peeps. And best of all, my wife is going to make the trip as well. That’s two trips to North Carolina in the same year!

See you all there!

• Her first EBC
• Her first BBQ Monday
• and of course, the first time meeting the North Carolineans I have grown so fondly of in the past five years.

I know she’s gonna have a blast! I can’t wait myself. From what I have heard through the grapevine, the recession will not have an impact on all the fun that EBC is.

I’ll be there, of couse, DJing, giving my talk, and causing a general raucous.

We’ll see you there.

And if you believe that non-sense, I have some beach front property in Kansas I’d like to sell you.
So what is this list exactly? Every year at All Balboa Weekend I give a talk. The first few years the talks revolved around the history of swing music. Pertaining mostly to entertaining stories and anecdotes, I would give presentations that included video and photos of the great swing musicians of the big band era; Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Django Reinhardt and the like.

This year, I wanted to do something different, shake things up a bit, and thus the Top 20 idea was born. This list, not complete by any means, is a list of great balboa songs, songs that I personally love to dance balboa to. Casa Loma Stomp, has amazing sound quality for the tempo that it clocks in at (336bpm). Sweet Georgia Brown by Benny Goodman, one word: vibes. Jamaica Jam by Teddy Powell is an excellent song for hearing the “shuffle shuffle hold shuffle” rhythm in balboa.

Now, keep in mind, this isn’t a list that should be considered mandatory for all balboa events. If you look at #2, you might ask “That’s a balboa song?”. This is my top 20 list of balboa songs, and being that I’ve been DJing balboa for years, I have a love and a passion for the music, and I think these songs are the best of the best.

I’ve included the song title and artist, but not not the album name, nor a link to a website where you can find the song. I don’t want you to just go out and blindly buy a CD, or pick up some random song on iTunes, so I’ve given you artist and song title, but after that, it’s up to you. Because, in your search who knows what great versions you might find.

If you would like to hear the entire talk, pick up an ABW 2009 dvd and you can get the inside scoop on all 20 songs.

Without further ado, my Top 20 Balboa picks of all time:

1. Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho SidneyBechet
2. Rockin In Rhythm Duke Ellington
3. Casa Loma Stomp Casa Loma Orchestra
4. Lafayette Hot Lips Page
5. Troubled Frankie Traumbauer
6. Minor Swing Django Reinhardt
7. Harlem Jump Jack Teagarden
8. Dark Eyes Jonathan Stout
9. Chimes At The Meeting Willie Bryant
10. Honeysuckle Rose Mora’s Modern Rhythmists
11. Special Delivery Stomp Artie Shaw
12. Caprice Paganini XXVI Benny Goodman
13. Carioca Artie Shaw
14. Sweet Georgia Brown Benny Goodman
15. Swingin In The Promised Land Edgar Hayes
16. Rigamarole Willie Bryant
17. Jamaica Jam Teddy Powell
18. Ochi Chornya Wingy Manone
19. St. Louis Blues Benny Goodman
20. Jumpin At The Woodside Count Basie

Four days of classes, competition, live bands and dancing ’til 6am. And once again, I will be DJing this great event. I am fortunate enough to be able to DJ for one of my favorite bands, the Jonathan Stout Orchestra. Stick around after the band, I’m DJing until 2am.

This year is also the year they induct more members into the Camp Hollywood Hall Of Fame. A great way to say thank you to those people who have been critical in the development, expansion and excitement that makes Camp Hollywood so great. Congratulations to all those inducted this year.

As much as I would like to officially call it “The band formerly known as the Chick Webb Orchestra, featuring Ella Fitzgerald on background vocals”, you would be unable to find such a CD available for purchase. But if you look for “Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra; Live at the Savoy”, and you will find one of the best albums ever pressed.

The recording comes in that awkward space immediately following Chick’s passing, and before Ella went out on her own. Personally for me, I find this album to contain some of the best swing recordings ever, despite critics of Ella AHO at the time who said that “her” band just wasn’t that good. This has turned out to be one of the best purchases I have ever made.

Ella Fitzgerald and her Famous Orchestra

The sound quality alone is top notch. You might not even recognize at first that this is a live recording from the Savoy.

Favorite tracks? Easy:

• Sugarfoot Stomp
• Everybody Rock
• In The Groove (At The Grove)

For those in the Pasadena, CA area, I would check out Canterbury Records. My favorite record store in the country. For those NOT in Southern California, you can try emusic.com (they have it for sure), or if you arent into digital downloads, amazon didnt have it when i searched for it, if you find it online anywhere else, let me know.