"IT DON'T MEAN A THING...," BUT WHY NOT?
Swing rhythm releases you from planetary pull.
It frees communication
and creates community.
It defines the moment.
It frees communication
and creates community.
It defines the moment.
Escape from gravity.
“It became apparent that there was an element
in the playing of the best Negro bands
(such as Fletcher Henderson’s, Louis Armstrong’s, and Duke Ellington’s)
that could not be identified as an expression
of anything in the written parts they were using."
--Irving Kolodin, on the Swing Era
LISTEN: On "Come Back Sweet Papa" (1926) Louis Armstrong's cornet lead follows
Johnny Dodds' alto sax intro. Dodds, new to the sax, simply could not compete with Louis' swing.
"Something was happening to the rhythm of the music,"
Ralph Ellison said about
early Kansas City jazz.
"Not only did we hear it, we saw it, because you listened
to the band swing the dancers
and watched the dancers swing the band. "
Ralph Ellison said about
early Kansas City jazz.
"Not only did we hear it, we saw it, because you listened
to the band swing the dancers
and watched the dancers swing the band. "
