Zoot Suits…they’re a bit like Marmite – either you love them or (like me) you don’t. But ever wondered where they came from? Well this post doesn’t tell you. But if you’re interested in finding out more about the mob, Mexicans and this strange Swing fashion then this amazing post on Queens Of Vintage is well worth a read…

“During the Forties, American teens were at odds with the adults. They went to clubs that served over sized menus and soda and would listen to music by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong. They would go dancing in ballrooms, for walks with their sweethearts and took advantage of their time as youths. They danced the jitterbug, wore saddle shoes, over sized skirts, and Zoot Suits along with wide brimmed hats. Our LA correspondent and Zoot Suit lover Vanessa Sandoval takes a look back in time.” Read more…

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The other day I found a raft of swing CDs back at my parents’ house that I hadn’t touched since my teenage big-band years. These poor neglected CDs had been sat gathering dust, completely forgotten, and it was wonderful to stumble across them. It’s been great revisiting old familiar artists and songs with my dancing hat on.
To this month’s pick of swingin’ songs from artists I discovered pre-lindy hop …

1) “A Swinging Safari” – Bert Kaempfert
This is a song that’ll put a spring in your step. You’ll probably know it from the ING advert, or as the theme music of several American TV shows. Bert Kaempfert was a prolific German songwriter and orchestra leader with over 50 albums to his name. After WW2, in which he’d served in the German army as a bandsman, he turned his hand to producing and signed a little known band called “The Beatles” to perform as a backing band.

2) “The Pink Panther Theme” – Hollywood Studio Orchestra
I expect you’re familiar with the clumsy Inspector Clouseau, and have watched the cartoon opening, feet tapping. But have you danced to it yet? This is cool jazz verging on lounge music and is very danceable with the most incredible saxes. Henry Mancini who wrote the song was a pianist and arrangist for the Glen Miller Orchestra, and became a composer for Universal pictures with 20 Grammys to his name.

3) “Hallelujah I love her So” – Ray Charles
Ray Charles – what a Master! Soul, blues, country, gospel, swing: he does it all. This is such a happy song: I can’t get enough of it and have been known to stand at  the bus stop subtly (and then not too subtly) executing jazz steps to it on repeat. If you are interested in learning more about Mr Charles, catch the film “Ray”.

4) “Tuxedo Junction” – Glenn Miller
I have to confess that I’m a big Glenn Miller fan. You don’t play in a big band without coming to love his classic tunes. There’s a fair bit of snobbery on the dance scene about Mr Miller, but I say if you like the music and it makes you want to groove then who cares! Tuxedo Junction has long been a favourite of mine – it’s the muted trombone that does it – and no matter how many times it’s played, I still want to get up and dance to it!

5) “Shadrack” – Louis Armstrong
I met Louis as a kid, listening to “The HitchHikers Guide to the Galaxy” with his “What a Wonderful World”. “Shadrack” by contrast is a haunting religious song  about burning children in fiery furnaces … and their subsequent rescue by angels with snow-white wings. The song is medium tempo with a nice upbeat tempo contrasting to theme.

Happy listening. Let me know what you think of the tunes in the comments section.
Hannah (AKA Mistress Groove)

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