Lindy Hop DJ Corner: You Should DJ Big Band Music

The Frankie Manning Foundation is pleased to welcome guest bloggers on a variety of subjects. Kicking off our new Lindy Hop DJ Corner is Michael Gamble: 

HELLO, MICHAEL GAMBLE HERE

I want to talk to you, dancers and DJ’s, about my passion for big band music. Mostly, I want you to fall in love with it the way I have, and, if you’re a DJ, to take it upon yourself to make sure this stuff saturates the dance floor. I’m gonna make a lot of suggestions, over many posts, but this first one is just to get us rolling and introduce the topic.

IN THIS SERIES

I will present information in a simplified way that hopefully makes it easy to find. If you find that you are interested in certain details (“who’s that clarinet soloist??”) that are not listed, I welcome comments and questions, and will try to update/reply with information that may prove useful.

IN THIS POST

I will list big bands and songs alphabetically, cleverly avoiding the need to rank them in any subjective way.

I will include “big” bands of various sizes. And though there was a range, I’ll say a minimum of 10 musicians counts as “big” for this list.

I will include a spotify link to all the music at the bottom of the post.

GET THIS MUSIC AND PLAY IT

1. Al Cooper & His Savoy Sultans – Sophisticated Jump

2. Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds of Joy – Walkin’ and Swinging’

3. Artie Shaw & His Orchestra – Everything Is Jumping’

4. Benny Goodman & His Orchestra – Roll ‘Em

5. Boots & His Buddies – Rhythmic Rhapsody

6. Charlie Barnet – The Right Idea

7. Chick Webb & His Orchestra – Blue Lou

8. Count Basie & His Orchestra – Sent For You Yesterday

9. Duke Ellington Orchestra- Stepping Into Swing Society

10. Gene Krupa & His Orchestra – Boogie Blues

11. Earl Hines  & His Orchestra – Riff Medley

12. Edgar Hayes & His Orchestra – Meet The Band

13. Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra – Rockin’ Rollers’ Jubilee

14. Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra – Christopher Columbus

15. Glen Grey & The Casa Loma Orchestra – Little Brown Jug

16. Glenn Miller & His Orchestra – Johnson Rag

17. Harry James Big Band – Rose Room

18. Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra – Okay For Baby

19. Larry Clinton & His Orchestra – Sugarcoat Stomp

20. Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra – Till Tom Special

21. Lucky Millinder Orchestra – How About That Mess

22. Teddy Powell – Teddy Bear Boogie

23. Teddy Wilson – Jumpin’ For Joy

24. Will Bradley – All That Meat and No Potatoes

Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/wmgamble/playlist/6GjOy5co9X6JqlPrK0YUHk

Michael Gamble is a DJ, Musician, and dancer from Ashville, NC, and one of the organizers of Lindy Focus.

#playlist #newDJ #whattoplay #Play #swingDJ #DJ #Music #LindyHop