I realized that I post a lot about dancing and a lot about current music, but rarely do I post anything about jazz music. This isn't a well-thought out post, but I figured it was about time that I shared with you some great jazz.
Remember when I posted a day or so ago and told you that I haven't been that inspired by Lindy Hop? Well, in the past day I've come across a few balboa videos, with the help of my friend Becca, that have got me ITCHING to dance.
This one makes me weak in the knees. I love how both Kelly and Bobby play with the music, especially around 1:00. Noises shot forth form my lips at that moment to express my awe.
I also really love this little ditty of Nelle Cherry and Nick Williams from Lindy Focus this year. Can I just say that I really love Nelle's enthusiasm for the dance? Watching her dance is like watching joy in motion, as her smile says it all. Somebody once made the criticism of saying she gives away her flaws in competitions because she laughs so easily at them. Well, maybe so, but dancing isn't always meant to be perfect, and when you can laugh at and enjoy even your flaws in a dance, even more so in a competition, that speaks of only good things. Anyways, check out the video:
I feel like I've been a blogging fool this past day. All my dancing and music thoughts have been pent up or something.
Anyways, I wanted to share some songs with you that are getting to me. Making me listen to them over and over because there is something more there that just gets to my very fiber.
I heard about Kasey Rogers because he's played with my pal John Davey. For some reason, John knows how to pick some great musicians to play shows with (other examples: Bro. Stephen, Moor Hound), including Mr. Rogers (bah! I didn't even intend to make that joke).
Kasey Rogers is of the country-folk variety, but his voice almost sounds as though he should be in a pop-punk band. He sings out his songs with heart-felt energy, to the point where he is at times just belting out the words. It is great folk, but it's also pop-y, in the sense that his tunes have a tendency to put you in a feel good mood. Oh, and the guy plays the banjo. Definitely a plus in my books.
Check out his video:
And here he is playing with John Davey:
So, there are no free downloads from this guy, but you can purchase his EP on i-Tunes. (Do it!)
Recently, I've lost a bit of my enthusiasm for lindy hop. Why? Well, after watching a slew of videos tonight and not being terribly impressed by any of them, I think I may have realized part of the reason.
Well, I think that I haven't been terribly impressed or inspired because it seems as though people aren't really dancing to the music or that they're trying too hard to dance to the music. It feels a little bit artificial or forced. Too many "moves" and not enough dancing. What I mean by that, is that I've seen a lot of dancing that is "good" or takes practice and effort, but recently I feel as though I haven't seen a lot of dancing that is the result of loving the music and the feeling and embracing that dance for what it is. Because, ultimately, those are the dances that are the most inspiring. The kind of dances that the goal is to be in the moment and to embrace the spirit of lindy hop, not where the goal is to dance lindy hop well.
I think that this video of Frida is inspiring. She appears to be taking each moment as it comes and really dancing.
I think I need to remember my own criticisms for my own dancing. Since starting to compete, I have a harder time not just enjoying each dance for what it is. I focus on my mistakes, what I'm not doing well. Maybe I need to re-learn what it is to really love lindy hop. Maybe I just need to dance.
Crazy! This video is off a No-Touch Lindy competition at Lindy Focus this year. I could not take my eyes off the pair on the left. They seemed to work together well and even were quite creative in the process.
Looks like a challenge. I wonder if learning to read each others body language for this competition helps with their overall partner dancing skills? Or, as follows, does it just make it easier to second guess and/or back lead?
Eau Claire, Wisconsin is best known for it's local legend Bon Iver (Justin Vernon), but it's also home to a whole slew of musicians, many of which you may not have heard of.
One of these bands, Adelyn Rose, just released their single "Never Get Tired" from their upcoming album release Mezzanine due out in March. After seeing these folks play shows and switch up their sound in the past year and get better with time, I'm eager to find out what the full length will sound like. But alas, the single will have to do for now (plus it's a free download from Bandcamp, along with other free downloads from their previous work). Check it out:
