Ko Ko - Harlem Hot Shots and Gunhild's Big Band 2007

Ko Ko - Harlem Hot Shots and Gunhild's Big Band 2007

Lennart Westerlund started his Rhythm Hot Shots (later Harlem Hot Shots) in 1985 and studied old film clips to learn more about not only the lindy hop but also the charleston, tap, acrobatics and other things related to the African-American swing dance tradition. Gradually these studies led to the Hot Shots performing and teaching these dances and later on becoming professional. They gained international acclaim and performed frequently within Sweden as well as worldwide.

In 1986 Lennart got in contact with Frank Manning and in 1987 he was for the very first time invited to Sweden to work with the group.

No one has contributed more to the Lindy Hop than Frankie Manning as a dancer, innovator and choreographer. For much of his lifetime he has been an unofficial Ambassador of Lindy Hop. Originally touring with  Whitey's Lindy Hoppers in  the 30's and 40's, he helped spread the popularity of the Lindy Hop through three continents.  Once again, since the swing dance revival that started in the 1980s, Frank Manning, now in his nineties, has been a driving force worldwide with his teaching, choreography and performance. His own love of swing music and dancing has been as contagious as his dazzling smile.

The Swedish Herrang dance camp, which started in 1982, is frequented annually by Mr. Manning, It has developed as one of the largest jazz dance camps in Europe. It usually lasts for the full month of July.

Our Carling Family band has been involved with Mr. Westerlund for years. I believe drummer Ulf made the initial contact.
In this clip we see Gunhild's band play an exact arrangement of the Duke Ellington tune Ko Ko as recorded in 1940. Westerlund's Harlem Hot Shots used to rehearse to this recording. In order to get a "life" big band playing this tune Hans and Gunhild wrote the charts to match the moves of the dancers as they had learned them from the 1940 record.
Quite a lot of loving work from the dancers as well as from the musicians.
Bravo for all !

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz
• classic
• revial
• swing
• carlings
• harlem
• hot
• shots

[Alberad08]

Pure fun - thanks for upload!

[Zarie56]

Terrible sound quality on what is a briliant performance. We tried to play this song in our band and just weren't able to play it well in spite of lines that aren't all that hard.

Koko as written by Duke Ellington was supposed to depict a religious ceremony, and the trombone is the priest summoning the worshippers. Who says worship can't be fun?

Zarie

[sambs89]

ALRIGHT!! Badass! keep it real!