Eddie. Fiddle
Eddie adds his own brand of country gypsy folk fiddle to this Hot Club mix, and makes sure we don’t forget the European side of the swing thing.
Stan. Double bass
Stan plays in his own mutant bull fiddle style, and tries to perfect his ’Mingus Fingers’ by devouring all that is Swing and other kinds of Dead People’s Music.
Andy. Clarinet, baritone saxophone
Master of the horns, Andy plays all kinds of stuff, from Trad to FreeForm. He regularly gigs with guitarist Adrian Ingram and others across the North of England.
Tom. Guitar, vocals
Tom’s style is influenced by Django Reinhardt, the 9.30 for Darlington, and the melodic mating sounds of the male actilythum mite.
Chris. Guitar, vocals
Our rhythmatist plays a 4 string tenor dobro with fingers as dextrous as a Chinaman’s chopsticks and sings with a gravelly coffee smooth voice.
Influences
Django/Grappelli Hot Club Quintet, Louis Jordan, Henri Crolla, Cab Calloway, Les Primitifs du Futur, Charlie Christian, Count Basie, Louis Prima, 40's/50's Calypso, 40's/50's Highlife, Oscar Aleman, Klezmer, Gypsy musics, Slim Gaillard, French Musette, French Chansons, small Swing bands
Sounds Like
Swing of Things mixed in a blender with Django/Grappelli Hot Club Quintet, Louis Jordan, Henri Crolla, Cab Calloway, Les Primitifs du Futur, Charlie Christian, Count Basie, Louis Prima, 40's/50's Calypso, 40's/50's Highlife, Oscar Aleman, Klezmer, Gypsy musics, Slim Gaillard, French Musette, French Chansons, and many small Swing bands.
A Yorkshire based quintet of two guitars, clarinet/baritone sax, violin and double bass (plus vocals), our sound is primarily inspired by Django Reinhardt’s Swing Guitars of the ‘30s and ‘40s, and then rotates through other points of the compass to include Boogie Woogie, the Blues and Afro-Latin rhythms: all with swing-driven improvisations and a wry sense of humour.
The set includes songs, ballads, dances and instrumentals from the ‘30s through to the ‘60s, with a list of characters including Harry Lime, Minnie the Moocher, Jerry the Junker, Mrs Murphy, the Peanut Vendor and Top Cat.
There’s also a food/drink/sustenance thread with eulogies to Dunkin’ Bagels, drinking tea and Ovaltine, or just plain drinking. Oh, and let’s not forget some swing standards from Django, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Louis Jordan and Cab Calloway for good measure.
Throw in some sozzled melancholia, tight rhythms, stage presence and exciting playfulness, and you get a small swing band that guarantees a good time.
We are available to add SWING to your party, wedding, ball, naming, dance, festival, street event, corporate event, university do, dance, pub, park, club or restaurant. Get in touch with any questions or check out our website at www.swingofthings.co.uk
Hey you crazy guys, Fab leaflet looking forward to seeing you at Cabaret Heaven at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, I hear Lawrence himself will try to make it! Trevor Organ
