The term Swing was originally used by jazz musicians to describe Louis Armstrong's style of playing in the mid-20s when he joined the Fletcher Henderson Band but the King of Swing, Benny Goodman, is credited with kicking off the swing era in 1935. Many variations on the swing dancing theme have emerged over the decades, including the lindy hop, west coast swing, east coast swing, the jitterbug and the shag. The dances originated from specific areas, usually US cities, and each has a radically different style.
Sydney is also home to popular swing outfits. Nicknamed "the Cat in the Hat", John Morrison and his big band Swing City play upbeat 40s swing music with a star studded line up.
Raised in a family of swing music enthusiasts (his brother is trumpeter James Morrison), John is at the forefront of the swing revival in Sydney with his band Swing City.
Swing City is a big band made up of Australia's finest young jazz musicians who all share a love of music that swings. Many of them are band leaders in their own right and take time from their own groups to enjoy performing with Swing City.
The repertoire includes material from all the world's greatest big bands and extends from the music of Chick Webb in the 1920's through to contemporary swing material written by the band members themselves.
All the players in the group play featured solos in the show accompanied by the hard swinging rhythm section led by John Morrison.
Some songs include ...
- Ain't Misbehavin'
- Begin to Beguine
- Blue Moon
- Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
- Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
- Chattanooga Choo Choo
- Drum Boogie
- Hey ba ba re bop
- Ipanema
- Little Brown Jug
- Minnie the Moocher
- Moonlight Serenade
- Swing City
- Zoot Suit Riot
