SwingDJs

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:40 pm**

What about the Firecracker Jazz Band. They sound a little bit like the Zippers in so far as they are extremely high energy, have an appreciation for circus/carnival aesthetics, and contain some former members of the SNZ. But they play music that is more traditionally Dixieland. Check 'em out.

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:43 pm**

remysun wrote:Or just neglecting the opportunity to have something so cool, I could never forgive myself for letting the opportunity slip.
<snip>
I just feel bad that I'm debating the worthiness of the idea, rather than ideas for acts.

I can't speak for the others posting on this thread but reiterating what I said in my previous post, I don't think any particular band is going to be the magic pill to make it happen. The band(s) may be one piece but what you described a couple of posts back sounds like something really spontaneous. Planned spontaneity is an oxymoron.

A single band isn't going to make or break an event, it's the whole package. It's also the entertainment business, take a lesson from Vegas and theme parks, it's about the whole experience, not just one element.

Perhaps think about an activity that is the focus, promote the activity. It's quite likely that you can achieve the same goal with such a large pool of local musicians without the expense of bringing in an expensive act from elsewhere.

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 4:58 pm**

Toon Town Dave wrote: The band(s) may be one piece but what you described a couple of posts back sounds like something really spontaneous.

That's the crazy thing. These spontaneous things have been happening every time I'm there. This year, I did East Coast with a 18 ft tall puppet. Before that, we made an improv lighted mirrorball for a Lou Rawls lindy circle.

I'm certainly not afraid of running out of ideas. It's like it could be a FREE Lindy Exchange, if it wanted. It's already the largest free admission jazz festival in the world.

I forgot to mention that...

Yeah, uh, street dancing's great, but that's why I want to lay down some floors.

Perhaps think about an activity that is the focus, promote the activity. It's quite likely that you can achieve the same goal with such a large pool of local musicians without the expense of bringing in an expensive act from elsewhere.

Posted: **Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:55 pm**

I've heard a lot about what you want from a band but not why its so important to have a dance band with name recognition at this event. Without thst, its hard to give useful advice.

Posted: **Tue Oct 30, 2007 1:22 am**

LindyChef wrote:I've heard a lot about what you want from a band but not why its so important to have a dance band with name recognition at this event. Without thst, its hard to give useful advice.

It's not so much name recognition as groove recognition. Any jazz act can send an audition tape. At this point, I'm confident about the floors, not so confident that I can influence the schedule. That's why I'm seeking opinions. I'm sure the bands appreciate the good word, and if a good selection means someone else shares a magical experience, I'm all for it.

Posted: **Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:35 am**

From Toronto (hence some schedule flexibility), try Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards, particularly if Chris Plock and Terra Hazleton are with the group.

They put on a great show and the music is true to the traditional style and spirit. When they were here a couple years ago, even a jaded ballroom dancer who doesn't like jazz really enjoyed the show.

The biggest challenge would likely red tape to bring in a group from outside the U.S.

Posted: **Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:48 am**

Toon Town Dave wrote: The biggest challenge would likely red tape to bring in a group from outside the U.S.

Depends on whether they have work visas or not. Hoppin' Mad Orchestra and 51st Eight from Vancouver got visas to do gigs in the US and it makes life much easier for them, and for those of us who like to hire them.

Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:35 am**

FYI- we'd certainly be interested. The Boilermaker Jazz Band has played for big jazz festivals all over the place- including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Edinburg Jazz Festival in Scotland, AND major swing events including DCLX, Chicago Summerdance, and Lincoln Center Midsummer Might's Swing in NYC.

Check out our website, and get in touch with me!

www.boilermakerjazzband.com

bmjazzband@aol.com

Paul Cosentino

Posted: **Fri Nov 02, 2007 2:12 am**

For anybody interested in performing, this is the information from this year's past festival. It was released in February, so I doubt the updated info will be released soon. The address should remain the same, although the deadline and other dates would move correspondingly.

My current campaign is for the dance floors, for which I would probably be volunteering beginner swing lessons. This should help anyone from this board who applies.

If there's anything else I can do to help, let me know. If there's anymore advice, let me know.

Michael

WANTED: Local Artists to Play 2007 Detroit International Jazz Festival
DJF searching for local talent to participate in the 28th annual 4-day event

DETROIT—Beginning today, organizers for the 2007 Detroit International Jazz Festival (DJF) will begin accepting materials from local musicians interested in performing at the upcoming annual Labor Day weekend gala. The deadline for submission of artist materials is 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 30th.

The DJF, one of the nation’s premiere jazz festivals, will provide local talent with the unique opportunity to perform for its more than 650,000 annual international attendees. For 28 years the DJF has featured many of Detroit’s best along side of some of the world’s most renowned musicians. “Because there aren’t nearly enough slots for all of the qualified regional musicians, the competition will be fierce,” said Terri Pontremoli, executive director of the DJF. “Detroit is a city with a rich music legacy that continues to this present day and we want to make sure that our local talent is adequately represented at this annual international tradition.”

Artist materials in the following genres will be accepted until March 30th: Jazz, Blues, R&B, Gospel, Latin, and Avant-garde. Artists should provide a sample CD of their music along with a press kit. All materials should be sent to the Detroit International Jazz Festival, 660 Woodward Ave. Suite 13, Detroit, MI 48226.

For more information please call 313-647-0149 or visit www.detroitjazzfest.com.

Posted: **Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:54 pm**

it's probably a good idea to get some variety going. get some 20's new orleans going, some neo stuff, some tributes, etc.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Kurt Elling
Solomon Douglas
The (insert dead swing musician) Orchestra e.g. the count basie orchestra, the glenn miller orchestra, the tommy dorsey orchestra, whatever
George Gee?
that dude that covers a lot of artie shaw stuff

basically have some stuff that's unpopular but good, some stuff that's good and people are lame for not going, some stuff that sucks but the public will like (neo swing with an obvious beat)

Posted: **Sat Nov 10, 2007 11:19 am**

I would want to see (in no particular order) Barbara Morrison, Mora's Modern Rhythmists, Bill Elliott or The Outcast Jazz Band.
Just my 2 cents,

Posted: **Wed Dec 26, 2007 1:05 am**

Cherry Poppin Daddies
New Year's Eve 2007
The Grand Ballroom at MGM Grand Detroit
Detroit, MI
http://www.ticketmaster.com

Posted: **Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:38 am**

Well, if you're looking for Django, John Jorgenson was chosen to portray Django Reinhardt in the film "Head in the Clouds" and his version of Minor Swing and Blue Drag are quite good. Check out his release entitled Franco-American Swing if you're curious.

But is the manouche jazz sub-genre (gypsy swing) a bit too esoteric for a large festival?

Posted: **Wed Dec 26, 2007 8:36 pm**

wspeid wrote:But is the manouche jazz sub-genre (gypsy swing) a bit too esoteric for a large festival?

Absolutely not. A local band, The Hot Club of Detroit has a good support from our swing dancers-- perhaps better than the dance scene itself, although the influence of Adam Boehmer and 20's Charleston no doubt helped. Regina Carter anchored this year's festival, so if there's a violin to add that Stéphane Grappelli influence, I'm sure it will go bonkers with the committee.

Thanks, this has been a great way to brainstorm.

BTW, if anybody is last minute swayed to come to Detroit because of the New Year's thing with Cherry Poppin' Daddies, let me tell you that downtown is great. There's a throwback to a speakeasy called Cliff Bell's, ice skating at Campus Martius, cocktails atop the Ren Cen, in addition to the casino and the party.

Posted: **Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:00 pm**

Hahaha... Sorry, just had to poke fun with the anti-neo-swing snobbery... I would book Jonathan Stout and His campus Five... they're amazing! Also, Mora's Modern Rhythmists does the most accurate job of recreating styles of yesteryear... Stompy Jones if you want something jump bluesy ( and badass too)... on the east coast, we've got the Cangelosi Cards which is an amazing arrangement of steel guitar, harmonica, wa-wa- 20's style singer, trumpet, drums, that mixes all kinds of swing into a dixie-blues-western swing hybrid.. awesome stuff!!... and they don't use charts... just right off the top of the ol' noggin... Lastly, I love the Boilermaker Jazz Band.. they play "dixie" style, but with their own twist... it's quite amazing music making, i must say.. check out youtube for more on the cards and the boilermakers!!

Thanks!

SwingDJs

If you could book any modern act...?

If you're interested

Egads! Neo-what?