John 'Jazzman' Clarke - vocals
Aime Hansen - dance and performance
Jake Doran - guitar and digeridoo
Dunstan Clarke(no relation) - djembe and percussion
Sounds Like
'BEAT COMBO WITH DANCE & U.S.WEST COAST FEEL/SOUND'
COMPARISONS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH 'THE LAST POETS'&
'CAPTAIN BEEFHEART'
'LIVE' ON STAGE 'SWING IT'PRODUCE A STUNNING &
STARTLING MUSICAL/PERFORMANCE CHEMICAL REACTION
(EMPLOYING A MIXTURE OF RAW & MELODIC GUITAR RIFFS
+HYPNOTIC WHIRLWIND DJEMBE BEATS & HAUNTING
DIDGERIDOO/PERCUSSION MARRIED TO SPECTACULAR/HUMOROUS DANCE
FROM THE ENCHANTING AIME HANSEN RESPONDING TO THE
DECLAMATORY/LYRICAL VOCALS OF 'JAZZMAN' JOHN CLARKE.
YOU ARE LEFT WITH AN EXPERIENCE THAT FEEDS BOTH THE
AUDITORY AND VISUAL SENSES ALMOST THE POINT OF
SATIETY OR
CESSATION.'
Swing it
is an acoustic-visual extravaganza that involves poetry, music and dance, all happening at the same time. Poetry, music and dance intertwine with each other, creating the unique world of Swing it.
The performance is based on John Clarke’s passionate jazz poetry. However Swing it is a project, where poetry, music and dance carry equal importance and where the outcome is more then just a sum of the components. Each piece in the program has a different mood, from jazzy swing to African rhythms to surrealistic ambient tunes. Swing it is a journey through different landscapes of artistic moods.
Swing it crosses the strict boundaries of the genres. It can be classified as a multi-media performance, experimental jazz, etc – depends from which angle to look. It’s like an amphibian that can walk, swim and fly. And this is also why Swing it fits in to a broad variety of events: poetry, music and cabaret evenings and theatrical showcases.
Swing it has developed as a collaboration, all aspects of the program are the original creation of band members. On the exotic side we use didgeridoo as one of the instruments and the dancer uses masks and other visual effects.
Swing-it in performance is up beat, energetic, entertaining and humorous.
If you would like to book Swing it for an event, please e-mail:
jcjazzman03@yahoo.co.uk
or
aimehansen777@yahoo.co.uk
---------------------------Swing it was created in spring 2005 and has been gigging regularly ever since. The band has been playing a variety of London venues. Swing it has also taken part at festivals, such as Hammersmith and Fulham festival, Spike festival, Jam at the Lock and festival at Nunhead. Swing it has appeared at local radio stations and a documentary about the group is in the process of being made.
Swing it members
John Clarke – jazz poetry
Jacob Doran – guitar, didgeridoo
Dunstan Clarke – bongo drums (not J.C’s relative!)
Aime Hansen – dance, visual effects
History:
The four members of 'SWING IT' were brought together
between 2004/2005 through a mutual passion for
London's
Alternative Music,Song,Spokenword & Poetry scene.
John & Aime met initially through performances at The
Poetry Cafe in Covent Garden at Tuesday's popular open
mic 'Poetry Unplugged' night & subsequently through
the
regular 'Radge Poets'event 'Walking The Dog'whivh also
incorporated 'live' music & performance.
John would go on to meet Dunstan via a mutual friend
(Poet/Performer & Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter,Eugene
Wolstenholme)who worked at 'WORDSWORTHS BOOKSHOP' in Butterfly walk in Camberwell(which sadly closed its doors
during 2006).
Around that time John had began to run his own
alternative performance/music/poetry event called 'HIP
HEAVEN'(monthly every last Thursday)in the atmospheric
cellar of the 'Bubblegum Club',46 Deptford Broadway,
SE8. It was there that Dunstan (on djembe-African Drum)
& John began to collaborate-with John vocalising his
rhythmic Jazz Poetry.
Meanwhile Jacob, one of Dunstan's friends had been
running a monthly event with another friend,Brett Gow-
lett,over in Whitechapel,called 'THE HUMAN ZOO' (check out their myspace below).
This was run in 'open mic'style and,like John's 'HIP
HEAVEN',attracted a wide variety of quality
performers.
With the added feature of a 'jam'to round off the
evening this proved very successful.Like 'HIP HEAVEN'
the event was to last for approximately two years-
the final 'HIP HEAVEN' was on 31 March 2006.
The forming of 'SWING IT'(MARCH 2005)was not a
completely conscious decision,as such,but grew
organicallythrough the collaborationsformed between
the four members at both 'HIP HEAVEN','THE HUMAN ZOO'
& elsewhere.Many Bands seem to adopt a similar formula
as a starting point it seems.
From a base of just a couple of full rehearsals
'SWING IT' devised a programme of pieces to perform
(and, in Aime's case, to interpret choreographically)
to audiences.
With all four members having previously established
a solid network of contacts this led to invitations to
the Band to perform at a variety of venues across the
Capital.
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All artistic materials on the site:
C Swing it 2007-----------------------------
Hi Aime - you are looking wonderful here- I still have your lovely Christmas message and will reply sometime. Hope to see you whenever - maybe Swing It might play in Devon one day? Or I shall manage to come to London... Fond memories of poetry and mud, love from Lucy x
Wendie's Words loves your 'Fruits of Love'. Thanks for coming over to say hello and share all the great John Sinclair info. I was blessed to meet him at The New Orleans JazzFest in 2002, as I was gathering the strength to start this project, and performing solo still. Thanks for 'rockin' tender, and rollin' your souls' here with us. Wunderful to have an incredible new friend. I have a personal spot too, feel free to join me also at myspace.com/wendieswords with more poetry and adventure. Have a fantastic weekend.
Welcome To the Family. Real recognizes Real. It's in our nature to draw to close to what is familiar. Yet we strive to be defiant and break through this mis conceptualized media. That glorifies junk, as music! Please check out our movement to revive music to it's natural element. When music was about expression of the soul. Not hooks and gimmicks, scheming to make money. There is no art in the music on heavy rotation. Poetry Over Music promotes the Real artists, the Real music, and Real talent. Please download Volume I, share it with your friends, family, co-workers. Support the real artists, the real poets and real music.
Blessings,
Poetry Over Music Family
VOLUME II “DIFFERENT SHADES OF LOVE” DOWNLOAD FOR FREE, AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK Poetry Over Music: Volume No.2
Hi, we've updated the London Burlesque Listings at our page for the month of December, come check them out! & Be sure to check out the featured event for next month:
*BURLESQUE in the BOUDOIR 3*
Date: Sunday December 2nd 2007 Time: 7pm Doors. Show starts 8:30pm Sharp! Location: Bardens Boudoir 38-44 Stoke Newington Rd N16 Tickets: £10 on the door.
Full Details @ the London Burlesque Exchange: www.myspace.com/LONDONBURLESQUE
Support London Burlesque: Send us your listings!!!
By counting the beat you simply hasten its death...liking the tracks, hope you're well man - will see if I can come along to the show on the 29th. Catch you at Gerald Stern either way!
Hey Jazzman - you're friends with the Goo too? Just come back from one of his gigs in Lewisham, rockin!...I'm a little bit drunk...Will have to check out some of your gigs very soon. Those hip-heaven nights were legendary. I don't normally understand poetry, but every act you had on had me enraptured, and I remembered Dunstan from all that time ago!!! Keep me updated, must sleep now, James.
Hi guys, hope all is well in Swing It land. Been a while, just thought Id drop by and get my fix! I brought Loathesome Cowboy Bill along with me, cos as you know he likes that Kinda thing....Conil is getting pretty busy now, all good stuff man! If I live to be 100 I'll never thank you enough for that one John. Best, Alex 1.
