Big Band Swing and Lindy Hop come up together...
It was around 1927, it was new and it was hot!... It was big band
swing and lindy hop, and it was happening in Harlem at the Savoy
Ballroom, New York city. It wasn’t called the Ballroom
just because there were bands there, no, the Savoy is were the kids
went to dance. The Charlston was on the out and the lindy hop was
coming in. The dancers took the name from Charles Lindbergh
after being the first man to fly a plane across the atlantic ocean
from New York to Paris.
Swing dancing, or lindy hop as it was being called, grew up with
swing music. It had elements from the Charlston as well as the 8-count
structure from the European style where partners danced close together.
The great thing about the Lindy is the dancers can break away from
the structured 8 count and do improvisational steps which could
include big twirls and turns and throwing your partner in the air.
This improvising element was obviously a big part of the swing music
as well.
I think it’s interesting how lindy swing dancing evolved alongside
the big bands that performed regularly at the Savoy Ballroom which
became famous for their “battle of the bands”
and dance competitions. Imagine how much
energy those big bands in the late 20’s had during one of
those battling sessions! They didn’t use microphones yet but
there were a lot of musicians on that stage to fill the room with
sound, a sound that fuelled the lindy hoppers with energy and excitement.As
every musician knows, that energy bounces right back from the dance
floor to the stage, it’s totally reciprocal.
One influenced the other
This was the “pop” music of the day so going to the
Savoy wasn’t just to go and listen to a band, they’d
be there to dance and party. Not only did the music influence the
dancers but you can bet the good arrangers were making sure their
music would be knocking out the dancers. Things like instrumental
breaks, long ferocious drum solos, horn solos that gave time for
the soloist to take it over the top which in turn made for some
over the top moves on the dance floor. One affected the other. Big
band swing and lindy hop... a perfect match!
I’ve had the opportunity to play for many swing dance events
and I’ve also experienced dance events that used recorded
music, it’s just night and day, two totally different things.
Even the difference in energy that a 5 piece band and a 15 piece
band can create is huge.
One of the most important bands from the time was the Fletcher
Henderson Orchestra. Henderson is credited for establishing
the instrumentation and many of the arrangement techniques that
lasted throughout the swing era. He also hired some very important
musicians, the 2 most notable were trumpeter Louis Armstrong
and tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins.
The other key figure from the Savoy Ballroom was Chick Webb
who had the most popular band among the dancers. Webb was a lovable
little guy, literally cause he was only about 5 feet tall due to
a spinal disorder. He was the first drummer to lead a big band and
was considered the best among his cotemporaries like Buddy
Rich, Gene Krupa, and Louie Bellson.
Two notable members of his band were a 17 year old Ella
Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan.
But it was Chick Webb who really drove the band with his excellent
drumming and wild solos which always had the potential to drive
the dancers into a frenzy.
This era of music and dance started to fade in the mid 40’s
as people started to open up to other styles but neither has ever
totally disappeared. Today there are people dancing the lindy hop
and bands playing swing music all over the world.
Big band swing and lindy hop... 80 years and counting!
- JF
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