Song of the Week by Mike Thibault
by Carl Nelson
This week we feature DJ Mike Thibault from Rochester, NY. Mike has been dancing and DJing for many years at events like Swing Out New Hampshire, Lindy Focus and he even helps to organize Stompology (an all solo jazz workshop).
Song: Just Squeeze Me / It Don’t Mean a Thing
Artist: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
Album: Hot Summer Dance
I’m sneaking in two songs for my song of the week. I don’t normally play medleys, but I make an exception for this exceptional case. These two tunes come from a dance date that Ellington and his band played on July 22, 1960 in Sacramento, CA. Both feature Duke’s resident trumpeter/violinist Ray Nance on vocals. The quality of these recordings is exceptional and I highly recommend the whole album; it really showcases how tight Duke’s band was at this time. Seeking out these great bands in live dance settings is especially rewarding for us as dancers since we can get a glimpse at how these legends would play to a crowd. You can find this album on the cheap at Amazon.com, and it’s well worth the small price you’ll pay.
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