Birth of the Jank

Message

djstarr · #1 Post by **djstarr** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 2:35 pm

We've coined a term in Seattle - "Jank". Jank is the polar opposite of groove. Just as you can always count on a song with Ray Brown on it qualifying as groove, anything with Sidney Bechet is automatically jank.

However, all post-war songs are not automatically groove, just as all pre-war songs are not automatically jank.

Iain came down last night and spun for us; I had challenged him to play some jank, and he responded with Illinois Jacquet - "Jacquet's Bounce" -- it was pretty darn janky.

Mr Awesomer · #2 Post by **Mr Awesomer** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 2:56 pm

Not to burst any bubbles, but the term "Jank" was coined a couple years back in reference to a certain dancing couples style of dancing. The female side of said couple was up in Seattle recently which may have spread the term up there.

djstarr · #3 Post by **djstarr** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 3:10 pm

oh, I picked the word up from Leigh --- he has certainly taken ownership of it here, but like all good terms it's nice to know the history. He has broadened the usage to include the style of music, as well as the style of dance.

So people with the surname "Brown" can also be counted on to deliver the jank?

Mr Awesomer · #4 Post by **Mr Awesomer** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 3:18 pm

Leigh huh... yeah, he for sure picked it up from said lady w da jank.

(geek) · #5 Post by **(geek)** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 3:41 pm

now I must find a song that is both jank and groove.

one song, in the darkness to bind them! =)

Travis · #6 Post by **Travis** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 5:38 pm

GuruReuben wrote:Not to burst any bubbles, but the term "Jank" was coined a couple years back in reference to a certain dancing couples style of dancing. The female side of said couple was up in Seattle recently which may have spread the term up there.

The female side of said couple informed me of the birth of the term while she was in Seattle. Leigh and I have used it for a while now - I'm sure Leigh told me about it - we were talking about the rhythm sections of bands like Shaw's Grammercy Five and the sextets of Benny Goodman and John Kirby and how the rhythm section makes a "jank" kind of sound.

Maybe the male side of said couple will play some "Jank" for us in May?

Mr Awesomer · #7 Post by **Mr Awesomer** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 5:43 pm

I heard that the male side may be joined by the female side in May... so maybe they'll be making some jank babies together.

Travis · #8 Post by **Travis** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 5:59 pm

GuruReuben wrote:I heard that the male side may be joined by the female side in May... so maybe they'll be making some jank babies together.

Good time of year for jank babies.

yedancer · #9 Post by **yedancer** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 6:38 pm

[nerdtalk] Among some collectible card game players, "jank" refers to card combinations that are complicated, difficult or strange, yet produce powerful or unique results. [/nerdtalk]

Soupbone · #10 Post by **Soupbone** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 7:19 pm

[more nerd talk]

In some basketball circles, "jank" means to make a nasty move on someone (ie. big throw down dunk, break their ankles running past them, etc.)

[/nerd talk/

djstarr · #11 Post by **djstarr** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 1:46 am

yedancer wrote:[nerdtalk] Among some collectible card game players, "jank" refers to card combinations that are complicated, difficult or strange, yet produce powerful or unique results. [/nerdtalk]

like a full house? (the collectible part of this is the chips

).

Andy Reid · #12 Post by **Andy Reid** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 7:46 am

(geek) wrote:now I must find a song that is both jank and groove.

one song, in the darkness to bind them! =)

You are right. The Darkness is janky.

Get your hands off of my woman motherfucker.

djstarr · #13 Post by **djstarr** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 12:49 pm

(geek) wrote:now I must find a song that is both jank and groove.

one song, in the darkness to bind them! =)

I think Sidney Bechet can deliver --- his blues songs certainly will bind a few in the darkness......Summertime and Sweet Lorraine (off of Ken Burns Jazz collection) can compete with Gene Harris and O.P.

p.s. I really enjoyed your sets on Monday!

Campus Five · #14 Post by **Campus Five** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:33 pm

I've never heard the term Janky to refer to the Artie Shaw or BG small groups. I would think a lot of 2-beat stuff say before 1934 would be more Janky. Such as used on the yehoodi threat about "Janky charleston music."

djstarr · #15 Post by **djstarr** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:40 pm

A lot of Artie Shaw is not janky IMHO, but Gramercy Five definitely is. I can always tell the jank level by how much kicking gets thrown in as variations to lindy hop swingouts.