Book Description
This digital document is an article from San Diego Business Journal, published by CBJ, L.P. on June 16, 2003. The length of the article is 892 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Nagi's Bar & Grill: Downtown hot spot swings into action with fine dining, dance fever. (What's on the Menu).(downtown restaurants in Gaslamp District)
Author: Jack White
Publication: San Diego Business Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 16, 2003
Publisher: CBJ, L.P.
Volume: 24Issue: 24Page: 20(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
Charles Peterson entered the jazz world of New York as a guitarist but made his true contribution documenting an era and its most notable performers. Peterson took up the camera in the mid 1930s and transformed himself from a performer on stage to a visual recorder and observer of the stage. Creating a photographic style that combines artistic sensibility and technical skill, he became a preeminent New York jazz photographer of the pre-bebop, small combos and Big Band era.

A deep love of jazz led Peterson to the legendary clubs of Harlem, 52nd Street, and Greenwich Village, concert halls and ballrooms, jam sessions, recording studios, backstage get-togethers, and private parties. As a jazz scene insider, Peterson had access to all of these formal and informal venues. Among the countless subjects he enshrined on film are Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Zutty Singleton, Fats Waller, Mildred Bailey, Cab Calloway, Pee Wee Russell, Lester Young, and Jack Teagarden.

Peterson's photographs expose a startling contrast between integrated bandstands and audiences and the segregated world, as well as reveal the determination of those who refused to be confined by such oppressive conventions. They depict musicianship and camaraderie, dancing, and technical innovation, as well as the harsh contrast of an all too pervasive alcoholism that interrupted the lives of many in that New York scene.

W. Royal Stokes provides commentary, historical and biographical information, and lively anecdotes that connect the musicians featured in Peterson's photographs to each other and to the music within the social world of jazz. Don Peterson restored the 229 photographs included here from his father's original negatives. More than half have never been published, while many others have not been seen in print since the 1940s. This striking collection represents a historical document of a city and an era that brought the great jazz and swing musicians of the time to the height of success and solidified their reputations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A classic.
Ted Sannella has put together a useful and accessible book. The material is somewhat dated, but it still contains material that should be in every New England Traditional dance caller's collection. ... Read more

Book Description
Written by one of jazz journalism's best and most knowledgeable critics, this book explores the full swing spectrum from its origins in the 1920s through its current retro resurgence. Features intriguing capsule biographies of 400 of the best musicians, from classic artists like Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman to retro swingers such as the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Lavay Smith and the Red Hot Skillet Lickers, with each artist's most notable CDs reviewed and rated, plus info on film appearances, books, and hard-to-find recordings. Includes insightful essays that explore this music's cultural impact, fun photos and swing memorabilia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Exellent book, Yanow isn't afraid to tell it like it is!!! D
Yanow covers almost every aspect of swing(he's left out Banu Gibson!), with a few acceptions. From Louis armstrong's Hot Fives & Sevens to Glenn Miller, to Squirrell Nut Zippers. Surprisingly the tough jazz critic likes Bran Setzer's Dirty boogie Cd, and gives Squirrel Nut Zippers HOT cd, a rating of 9(out of 10)! A great book and Yanow tells it like it is, if it doesn't swing, or the musucianship is poor he's not afraid to say so. a grea thonest book that will tell you what cd's to bu yand what to skip. Includes an interview with big band leader Lavay Smith(he gives her cd a perfect 10 rating)! Even a whole section here on modern swing including Big Bad Voovdoo Daddy, Cherry Poppin Daddies, and more... Fun book to read while stuck on the toilet, I keep one in all three of my bathrooms, and one in the car for when I go to record stores!!!

Ace bunny killer!!
Scott Yanow, the editor of the "All Music Guide To Jazz," is probably one of the most readable jazz critics around.Here he concentrates on the music all the kids were talking about, that crazy little thing called swing.As ever, his style is clear and compact, and the breadth of his knowledge impressive.Yanow covers all the bases: the big bandleaders, the important musicians (broken down by type of instrument) and even a section on composers and arrangers.Even when he's talking about unfamiliar artists, he knows how to stir your curiousity (Cab Calloway had a famous older sister...!?), and the book has a lot to offer to a wide variety of readers.Hundreds of albums are rated on a 1 to 10 scale, and if anything Yanow is a little more charitable here than in his "AMG Jazz" reviews... He's particularly kind to the dozens of retro-swing acts that have sprouted up in recent years...but at least he had the good sense to knock the Cherry Poppin' Daddies down to size!

Swing
Swing takes readers into a world that few of us know.Yanow's research is flawless and his writer's voice is full of respect for the rich history of the jazz world.Even novices will enjoy this book.It is the standard for all other jazz books.

An almost perfect buyer's guide to Swing Music
This is a truly valuable book.Far, Far better than the Musichound Swing book.Unlike that book, which had several different reviewers, Scott Yanow is the only reviewer of selections in this book which makes for a much more even assessment of Swing Recordings.Yanow gives a brief history of Swingand gives the reader excellent bios of the musicians.Yanow also givesvery good coverage to today's retro swing music, which, as Yanow pointsout, is often dismissed as fad by the mass media, many Jazz fans and Jazzmagazines. His reviews of the new bands are honest and fair, unlike theMusichound book which, for the most part, seemed so have the view thatOld=Good and New=Bad. His recomendations for each artist are perfect inalmost all cases.I disagreed with only a few of his selections andreviews. The only complaint I have is a relatively minor one.He virtuallyignores one of the greatest Swing acts, The Andrews Sisters.He includea ashort bio and acknowledges their popularity, but he doesn't even recommendone CD for the trio.Surely, Mr. Yanow doesn't think the sisters are thatterrible! This is really the only omission that I objected to. With theoverwhelming selection of CDs to choose from, Scott Yanow's 'Swing' pointsout the very best selections and will help you to separate the goodcollections from the not-so-good collections. ... Read more

Book Description
Brought to you by legendary publisher V. Vale (formerly of Re/Search Publications), Swing! The New Retro Renaissance is a comprehensive guide to the new swing movement. In addition to the multitudes of interviews with your favorite swing personalities (Royal Crown Revue, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Lavay Smith, Big Six, Flyin' Lindy Hoppers, Sam Butera and more!), this is lavishly illustrated, and packed with photos, informative directories, and lists of recommended recordings, books, and films. Documenting the first lifestyle change since punk, Swing! is the first and only book available on this exciting new movement. Featuring interviews with the cutting-edge musicians, dancers, and visionaries that started the new retro renaissance, this book is a treasure trove of information that no serious swinger should be without. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

My ambivilant opinion on excellent reportage.
V. Vale has served as the counter-culture's principle archivist and preservationist. The richly varied subjects of his books read like an anthology of dissent with the status quo. The potentcy of each topic is (orat least was) due in part to its' rupture with the overall views of thegeneral public. The work is comprehensive, thurough and has always provideda great deal of insight to the subject, oftentimes in the subject's ownwords. SWING! is no exception. It is the definitive text to the what, thewho, the wheres and the whys of the neo-swing movement. The one problem Ihave is that every time Vale releases another great book on anothersub-culture, it doesn't seem to be soon after that that sub-group iseventually consumed by the status quo... castrating the subject of its'adverse positioning which debilitates its' power altogether. In thisrespect Mr. Vale is much like Columbus: A passionate explorer who's arrivalforeshadows the coming of many uninvited strangers. Don't get me wrong. Ienjoyed this book very much. All the musicians, dancers and otherluminaries are very commited to this thing that they love very much. Thoughsuch a thing tends to be its' own reward, the dedication should berecognized, accredited and applauded which is exactly what this book does.At the same time, there is the imfamous GAP advert as well as someautomobile commercials, The Cherry Poppin' Daddy's in an ad for BEST BUYand, of course, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy appearing on MELROSE PLACE, as thehalftime entertainment at the ROSE BOWL (complete with flag twirlers insequense fedoras) and the up-coming SUPERBOWL. In one respect, all thispopularity has enabled some great musicians to make a full time living atwhat they do best and they deserve to cash-in. On the other hand, all thishype does seem to detach from this thing most of what made it interestingto begin with. Like so many others before it, the Neo-Swing scene seemsless and less disposed to define itself on its' own terms and more at themercy of how it is pecieved by an outside population of faddists and otheravid magazine subscribers. For me, one of the most appealing things aboutgoing to rockabilly and swing shows was the noticeable LACK of Yuppies.That was three years ago. Today, kookery abounds. More actors than action.Too bad.

Very Good Rertro-Swing Style Book
Although not much in the way of dancers and Swing Dancing, it does capture somewhat the Retro-Style of The Bands, Attire, Cars, Martinis, Cigars, Tattoos, etc. It would have been nicer to include more dancing and morePeople in the dance. Alot of the Information is NOT FACT and should not betaken Historically as so, but... it is based on what some of those peopledoing it now believe! If you are in the Boonies or not local to Los AngelesOr San Francisco this book is Awesome. Even if you are it is worth theMoney.. Every Swing Fan should not be without it...I Liked It.

THIS BOOK IS LIKE THE BIBLE OF SWING ITS GREAT
THE INTERVEIWS ARE GREAT AND ITS CHEAP ITS A GREAT DEA

Most comprehensive coverage of the swing culture
This book interviews over 15 of the major bands including big players likeRoyal Crown Revue and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. In addition to the bands, thisbook covers multiple swing dance groups, clubs, and record labels. Forthose topics where words simply aren't enough, this book packs hundreds ofpictures from milestone preformances to Vice Grip's 1947 Cadillac to MarkJordan's vintage tie collection.

Swing Baby!
This book was sooo good. It gave many interviews and tons of pictures. Aswell as venues where you can go swing dancing. It had lists of bands andmusic to listen to and go see. I thought this book was really good andeveryone who loves swing dancing and swing music should have this book. ... Read more

Book Description
The forgotten history of the “all-girl” big bands of the World War II era takes center stage in Sherrie Tucker’s Swing Shift. American demand for swing skyrocketed with the onslaught of war as millions—isolated from loved ones—sought diversion, comfort, and social contact through music and dance. Although all-female jazz and dance bands had existed since the 1920s, now hundreds of such groups, both African American and white, barnstormed ballrooms, theaters, dance halls, military installations, and makeshiftUSO stages on the home front and abroad.
Filled with firsthand accounts of more than a hundred women who performed during this era and complemented by thorough—and eye-opening—archival research, Swing Shift not only offers a history of this significant aspect of American society and culture but also examines how and why whole bands of dedicated and talented women musicians were dropped from—or never inducted into—our national memory. Tucker’s nuanced presentation reveals who these remarkable women were, where and when they began to play music, and how they navigated a sometimes wild and bumpy road—including their experiences with gas and rubber rationing, travel retrictions designed to prioritize transportation for military needs, and Jim Crow laws and other prejudices. She explains how the expanded opportunities brought by the war, along with sudden increased publicity, created the illusion that all female musicians—no matter how experienced or talented—were “Swing Shift Maisies,” 1940s slang for the substitutes for the “real” workers (or musicians) who were away in combat. Comparing the working conditions and public representations of women musicians with figures such as Rosie the Riveter, WACs, USO hostesses, pin-ups, and movie stars, Tucker chronicles the careers of such bands as the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Phil Spitalny’s Hours of Charm, The Darlings of Rhythm, and the Sharon Rogers All-Girl Band.



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Customer Reviews (2)

The Best History of Women Jazz Musicians Ever
This book is a fascinating and unique book on jazz, gender, and race. Thoroughly researched and beautifully written, Swing Shift documents thecentral position black and white women musicians played in the Swing Eraand World War II.Sherrie Tucker combines oral histories with archivalresearch, producing a stunning record of what history books can be and whatjazz women are.Most amazing is the author's analysis of race and racismas structuring aspects of the music industry, jazz history, andcontemporary accounts of the 1940s.Swing Shift is the most accomplishedbook on women, music, and race that I have ever read; it is a gift asremarkable, talented, honest, funny, and captivating as the women musiciansDr. Tucker researched and loves.

More Than Just My Grandma
My Grandmother was part of an all-girl band during this era, and stillplays strong today.She was contacted to participate in the making of thisbook and thus my interest in reading the work was peaked.However, I soonrealized there is so much more the book offers.Starting with a detailedhistorical description of the way African-American women were treated, thebook moves on to cover a wide variety of trials women went through to gettheir music heard. I highly recommend the book for anyone interested inJazz, in history, in women's study, or in just understanding the power ofmusic, of voice, and of struggle throughout the ages of this society. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A great beginner's book!
Kersten's handbook is both a great starter book for those looking to get into the swing scene, and a great refresher for those who have had some swing classes.

It introduces the basic steps that you will need to know in order to get any further in this line of dance.The instructions arevery easy to understand and the pictures are very helpful.If you wouldlike to learn some of the moves (and feel comfortable doing them) beforeyou take a class with a live instructor, this book is what you need.

Ifyou're already into swing dancing but don't have the opportunity to do itvery often, you may forget some of the basics.In this case, the bookcould help you out by being a quick refresher course.

This book isdefinitely a good investment if you're interested in swing!

Disappointing-- buy an instructional video.
In this reader's opinion, a swing dance book isn't useful unless it catalogues all those moves that you see people doing on the dance floor and breaks them down so you can see what was going on.If you don't know howto dance at all, a book isn't enough to get you started--it's verydifficult to communicate a beat on paper.However, this book only covers afew basic moves-- moves my partner and I had mastered after several short"show up at the bar and dance" lessons.So it's not reallyenough to get a beginner started, and it's not enough for an intermediatedancer to look into for ideas and enrichment.

Great beginner's handbook for learning "Swing" dancing
If you've always wanted to dance, and considered checking out dancelessons but find it too intimidating to actually be out there with your"2 Left Feet", or you've in fact sampled a lesson or two fromlive instructors, but you "just don't get it" and have problemswith certain steps, read this book!

It's short & to-the-point (50pp.), and the writing style is crisp - light - fast.

Tons ofphotographs, accompanied by thorough, clear & logically-sequencedwritten descriptions of the dance steps (for those who are better witheither L or R brain!).

The book is also good as adjunct to watchingswing-dance-lesson videos in your home instead of in a class setting.

"Jitterbut Swing" will allow you to feel less of a klutz andget you prepared for lessons BEFORE stepping foot on a dance-class floor... an easy read, you'll feel more confident when you actually get outthere with live dance-lesson partners and a live instructor, after you'vedigested this nugget of a beginner's swing-dance instruction book. So goto it ... grab this book, then grab your feet, and dance! ;~]

(Note:Amazon.com spelled the title wrong ... it's NOT "Beginners"Handbook, but "Beginner's" Handbook)

Dean near Vancouver... ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

it on big confusing blur!
Dance is, arguably, complicated to teach in text.

I wanted to like this book, give it a break; it has a campy feel and the dancers are wearing cute vintage clothes. It gives names to moves you might have learned outside of a structured classroom environment or forgotten the name of.Sadly, "Swing Dancing- Put Your Dancing Shoes on and Get With Hip-swinging, Toe-tapping Swing" is confusing to any level of dancer because of lacklusterinformation and appalling information design.

This book, however eye catching, makes even the simplest swing dance moves utterly confusing. The "flow motion" selling point, while at times adds a touch of clarity, for instance, about which direction to turn, often does not and usually serves as a barrier to understanding even the simplest moves. Turning, in almost every case, could be better represented with a simple, curved, directional arrow.

More confusion caused by "flow motion" is the miscommunication of traveling motion. In swing dance, we do move back and forth and spin but the faded in between pictures don't help readers understand when they are moving in place and when they are stepping. Instead, it makes it look as if swing dance is some kind of traveling line dance that moves dancers to the opposite side of the floor in a single move. This is seldom the case.

Also is it seldom that dancers float in thin air. It looks better visually but learners could benefit from knowing how high to step and better see the difference of a step, a heel raise, and a toe touch. For that a bit of reference to flooring is necessary.

Chapter text is overlaid with dance move text and chapter introductions are no more clear then the introductions of new moves making the information about the different forms and where they apply, again, confusing. The only real way to tell that the dancers have moved on to teaching a new form is that their outfits have changed. And for many of the moves they should have, apparently, put on an additional outfit! Within the Lindy Hop section, Charleston, a historically classic dance that predates Lindy Hop, is shown as a couple of moves called Charleston butset up as a move tucked inside Lindy Hop while, Hollywood Swing, which is considered, by most, to simply be a more slotted/elegant stylization of Lindy developed to make dancing look more divine in Hollywood films, has its own chapter!

Needless to say, the history chapter is also a bit mixed up doing little to describe the actual variation between different swing forms.

Simply reading the descriptions of the moves does give some useful information and if you can look past the confusion of the graphic design, you can see clean stop action poses by the dancer models, but on second thought the writing is sexist (man/woman instead of lead/follow) and requires trying to match up the visuals with the misaligned text blocks in order for much of it to make any sense. The starting point too, does not necessarily seem to line up with the photo action and bounces around from page to page.

I could say more but I think I've said enough.

An excellent reference, with a few flaws
This book gives more usable detail on steps for Savoy- and Hollywood-style lindy hop, as well as for East Coast (6-count) swing, than any other I've seen, and it's a nice reference for intermediate-level dancers.It covers a good range of the steps frequently encountered in social dancing (examples: tuck turn, back Charleston, sugar push, catapult, Texas Tommy), plus a couple of basic air steps *not* suitable for a crowded floor.You'll never learn to dance from this or any book, but you might use it as a supplement to instruction or experience.

The layout is unique.(Amazon, how about putting up a couple of sample pages?)Each step gets a two-page spread of photos like those on the cover, with the kind of "stro-motion" series of photographs of its progress that TV sportscasts sometimes use to detail figure-skating moves or football plays.There are text explanations below each part of the step, and a running count of the musical beat at the bottom of the page.Some complicated but crucial steps -- notably whips and swing-outs -- get three two-page spreads, with leaders (= men, usually), followers (= women), and both-together each shown separately.

So what's not to like?Several things, all of which spring from the lack of space on the two-page layouts:

* The overlapping photos are presented so densely in places that it's hard to see crucial details, and the text often isn't quite below the appropriate photo.If you've never seen the step before, you'll have a hard time understanding what's going on.

* The follower's footwork gets short shrift in too many of the descriptions -- particularly annoying on moves in which she's turning.(In this regard the book is no better and no worse than many dance instructors.)

* The descriptions pretty much always tell the leader what to do with his hands during the step, but frequently don't explain what the actual *lead* is that signals the start of the step.That's the kind of information somebody who's learned the step in a class needs to be able to dance it afterwards.

These beefs aside, I like the book, I'd recommend it for dancers trying to remember which foot you start the kick-around on, and paging through it makes me want to grab my dancing shoes and head for the floor. ... Read more