The hot jazz we love and the swing dance to which we groove were created and enriched by Black Americans. The weekly Traditional Tuesday night swing dances (with live bands!) is adding to the typical routine in February to pay homage to the Black artists and dancers that have forever changed the world.

Each Tuesday night at Falcon Bowl we will be teaching the swing line Dance “Shim Sham” from 7:30 to 8:00 (basic swing lesson at 7:00) and we will have a 2-hour Shim Sham lesson on Sunday February 23 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. All free! Lessons by music/dance educator Meaghan Heinrich. Video below is Meaghan demonstrating the entire routine, along with us dancing the Shim Sham on a recent Tuesday night.

The DJ breaks feature a different pairing of early Black musicians who have inspired each other. The pairings and sets are being crafted by band leader John Mroz (Troubadours of Rhythm).

Week 1: The band break musician pair was King Oliver and Louis Armstrong. Based in New Orleans, Oliver shaped the landscape of early jazz. His move to Chicago in 1918 marked a turning point and in 1922 he summoned his protege – Louis Armstrong – to join his Creole Jazz Orchestra. Armstrong flourished and this duo ignited a musical revolution. Listen to the bands Creole Jazz Orchestra, Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five, and Louis Armstrong and His Hot Seven.

Week 2: Fletcher Henderson was paired with Duke Ellington – both influential band leaders, composers, and arrangers. Henderson was a pioneer of big band jazz and paved the way for many other band leaders, such as Ellington. In turn, Ellington became a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance, blending blues, ragtime, and swing into a uniquely Black American sound. Henderson and Ellington both played in New York City and would be inspired by each other’s work. The great depression was hard on Henderson and he began composing for Benny Goodman. Henderson essentially created the structure for the sound of the swing big band era.

Week 3: Black women were highlighted by DJ and music educator Meaghan Heinrich during this week’s band break. Black women have deeply shaped swing jazz and swing dancing, often with the their contributions overlooked or under-appreciated due to the double hit of both misogyny and racism. Big Maybelle, Big Mama Thornton, Julia Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Mildred Bailey, and Norma Miller are a few of the Black women we honored this week through the music we played and the Lindy Hop we danced.