The jazz musicians I know get a special pleasure from playing for dancers, watching the moving figures both vibrate to and reflect the music. Wise swing dancers know there’s a particular delight dancing to a live band instead of an iPod.
Clint Baker and his New Orleans Jazz Band proved this — as they always do — one night about three weeks ago at the Wednesday night swing dance session held at Savanna in San Francisco’s Mission District, known as Cat’s Corner.
Clint, cornet and vocal, was joined by Jim Klippert, trombone and vocal; Bill Carter, clarinet; Jeff Hamilton, piano; Bill Reinhart, banjo; Marty Eggers, string bass; Steve Apple, drums. Here’s the second set — suitable for at home swing dancing as well — which draw happily on pop tunes of the remembered past. The first set can be enjoyed here.
IN THE SHADE OF THE OLD APPLE TREE:
SWEET SUE:
THE GIRLS GO CRAZY:
INDIAN LOVE CALL:
CRAZY RHYTHM:
FRANKLIN STREET BLUES:
TIGER RAG:
ST. LOUIS BLUES:
JOE AVERY’S PIECE:
SHAKE THAT THING:
In terms of shaking that thing, everyone, on and off the bandstand, did. I had to hold on to my tripod to keep it steady.
May your happiness increase!
JAZZ LIVES 