Page 1 of 1

Louis Armstrong Quote

Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 2:08 pm
by straycat
I'm trying to track down a soundbyte of Louis Armstrong's wonderful "definition" of swing:
Ah, swing, well, we used to call it syncopation — then they called it ragtime, then blues — then jazz. Now, it's swing. Ha! Ha! White folks, yo'all sho is a mess.
It's attributed to one of his guest spots on the Bing Crosby radio show. I've been trawling through all the recordings I can find with Louis appearing, and I've yet to find it.

I don't suppose anyone knows which one it is?

Re: Louis Armstrong Quote

Posted: Tue May 17, 2016 3:58 am
by akati
I can't help you with the Louis Armstrong quote. But it reminds me of the song "Now they call it swing" by Billie Holiday:

"Once they called it ragtime
And it had its fling
It's the same old syncopation
Now they call it swing

Then they played it jazz time
To a buck and wing
Once again it sweep the nation
Now they call it swing

When singers used to sing
They would go hot cha
But with this modern thing
Now they go dru, du du, dra, da da

Rhythm has its seasons
Summer, fall and spring
But for seven silly reasons
Someone pulled the string
And they started dancing
Now they call it swing"

Re: Louis Armstrong Quote

Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 1:31 am
by straycat
Thanks - this had escaped my radar somehow.

Nice song :)

Re: Louis Armstrong Quote

Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 9:51 pm
by Surreal
Ah criminy! I'm almost positive I actually have this soundbyte somewhere in my library because I know I've heard it... does he play a song after the soundbyte? If so, that might help my search.

Re: Louis Armstrong Quote

Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 10:03 pm
by Surreal
Don't think it's on this one, but still a fascinating listen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PtU9guGNnw