4 3 2 1 Swing

Imagine gaining a clear, concise understanding of the core fundamentals that make West Coast Swing work. What are the characteristics of the dance and how do I do them right now? What are the basic structural components of the dance and how do I use them to build amalgamations? How do I put all of this together with exceptional lead and follow? You get all of this and more in 4-3-2-1 SWING!

Buddy Rich - Swingin' New Big Band (1966) {Pacific Jazz CDP 7243 8 35232 2 1 rel 1995}
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© 1966, 1995 Pacific Jazz / Capitol Records | CDP 7243 8 35232 2 1
Jazz / Bop / Modern Big Band / Mainstream Jazz / Swing

1966 was a most illogical time for anyone to try forming a new big band but Buddy Rich beat the odds. This CD reissues the first album by the Buddy Rich Orchestra, augmenting the original Lp program with nine previously unissued performances from the same sessions. The arrangements (eight by Oliver Nelson along with charts by Bill Holman, Phil Wilson, Jay Corre, Don Rader and others) swing, put the emphasis on the ensembles and primarily feature Corre's tenor although trumpeter Bobby Shew, altoist Pete Yellin, pianist John Bunch and guitarist Barry Zweig are also heard from.

Oscar Alemán is one of the great unknown talents in jazz history. A brilliant guitarist who sounded very close to Django Reinhardt at times, Alemán was overshadowed in Europe by Reinhardt in the 1930s and spent much of the rest of his career in his native Argentina, remaining well known only in that country. This 1998 double CD from Dave Grisman's Acoustic Disc label has highlights from Alemán's career, including the eight selections he recorded during his three European sessions of 1938-1939, plus music from 1941-1947 and 1951-1954. Although the settings varied (including a sextet with violinist Svend Asmussen, a nonet, and two unaccompanied guitar solos), Alemán's basic swing style stayed the same, retaining its enthusiasm and creativity and remaining unaffected by bop. Sticking throughout to acoustic guitar and taking an occasional good-time vocal, Alemán is heard in peak form. He deserves to be much better known. A definitive two-fer from a major talent.

Various Artists - Gypsy Swing (2008) {4CD Set Wagram 3138862}
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© 2008 Wagram Music | 3138862
Jazz / Swing / Gipsy Jazz / Electro-Swing / Balkan

The "Gypsy jazz" - also known as Gypsy swing - is an expression that is often said to be born with the guitarist Jean "Django" Reinhardt in the 30's. Because its origin is, to a large extent French, it is often referred to as "Gypsy Jazz" or "Manouche Jazz" even in English texts. Between 1930 and 1950, Django was at the head of a group of gypsy guitarists working in Paris and around.

George Barnes and Carl Kress often teamed up to play guitar duets from 1962-65, although they made relatively few recordings. "Guitars Anyone?" was their last meeting on record, and it finds the pair in high spirits on a dozen selections. The second part of this CD features Barnes' Second Quartet with Dick Hyman, Hank Jones, Milt Hinton, Jo Jones and others.

Bart&Baker will release their first ever Remix collection, simply titled Bart&Baker Remixed. Fuelled with killer versions taken from their first EPs, it contains brand new remixes from the likes of KeX, DJ Mibor and Skeewiff, as well as the brand new track, a glorious cover of a Ray Charles “Swingnova” classic from the sixties. The German-Israeli singer Maya Saban and her Band are Jewdyssee. They have devoted themselves to revitalising the pearls of Jewish/Yiddish culture bringing back to life what was once considered to be virtually extinct.