SwingDJs

New Testament Basie - Swing music or not?

i don't know what "swing music" is (and kyle is not around to tell me about rhythmic displacement), so i'll merely say that i enjoy dancing a dance that i would call lindy hop to things from basie's verve period.

Well if someone asked me to play an example of "swing music", new testament Basie would not be my first choice of examples, but if someone asked me if "Splanky" was "swing music" I would say yes, of course.

But, back up the truck, what are we defining as "swing music"?

Rhythmic quality?
Product of "The Swing Era"?
Jitterbuggingness?

yes, I'd like to hear Eyeball's definition of swing music.

Eyeball wrote:New Testament Basie - Swing music or not?

Yes, it is Swing music.

Nah - I've been down this road before. You guys work it out.

fredo wrote:yes, I'd like to hear Eyeball's definition of swing music.

First of all, it is spelled with a capital "S".

Depends on the song... or the particular recording of a song.
I'd say some of it swings, some of it... not so much.

Grammatically, swing music doesn't need a capital. I tend not to use the phrase 'swing music' because it carries such different connotations, depending on context. I might talk about 'music that swings', 'music for swing dancing', 'neo swing' or 'music of the 'swing era'', depending on context.

... why do I feel like I smell a troll?

dogpossum wrote:
Grammatically, swing music doesn't need a capital.

It is a proper noun naming a particular style of music, so it should be capitalized.

In this case I think Troll is spelled with a capital T.

fredo wrote:In this case I think Troll is spelled with a capital T.

There are 5 excellent posts up there to reply to which will move the conversation along.

I guess the question can be broken down into a few more to follow on from what others have said:

Does New Testament Basie have a swung rhythm?

Most of it does, though I feel it doesn't swing as much as Old Testament Basie.

Is it good music to swing dance to?

Again, most of it is ok to dance to but I feel Old Testament Basie makes better dancing music (You pretty much can't go wrong by picking some 30's or early 40's Basie, picking your tempo and spinning the track).

Does the music belong in the Swing Era?

No, it's from a later time period and it quite obviously has some other more contemporary (for the time) influences too.

Eyeball wrote:New Testament Basie - Swing music or not?

I don't understand your question. Are you asking if New Testament Basie is performing their music in classic swing music style from the 30s/40s? If so, then the answer is probably going to be "No". Or are you asking if New Testament Basie is playing music that is rhythmically pleasing for Lindy Hoppers? If so, then the answer very well might be "Yes". Or are you asking something completely different?

New Testament Basie is swinging music ALL THE WAY! I love Basie's relaxed swinging feel with the later incarnation of his band. It makes me want to swing out when I hear his swinging rhythms!

From now on, I am going to stop recognizing, responding to and using the confusing term "Swing" with a capital S on this discussion board. I completely understand what the term technically means, but it is unclear and loses meaning in the context of this board, named "Swing DJs" and populated by a wide range of swinging musical tastes by DJs who DJ for the worldwide Lindy Hop community.

Try to come up with a more descriptive term for the music you are discussing.

Jesse

JesseMiner wrote: I don't understand your question. Are you asking if New Testament Basie is performing their music in classic swing music style from the 30s/40s?

Yes, that is essentially what I was asking.

JesseMiner wrote:From now on, I am going to stop recognizing, responding to and using the confusing term "Swing" with a capital S on this discussion board. I completely understand what the term technically means, but it is unclear and loses meaning in the context of this board, named "Swing DJs" and populated by a wide range of swinging musical tastes by DJs who DJ for the worldwide Lindy Hop community.

Jesse

Well, OK.