Ko Ko - Harlem Hot Shots & Carlings 2007
- 17 years ago
Ko Ko - Harlem Hot Shots and Gunhild’s Big Band 2007
Lennart Westerlund started his Rhythm Hot Shots (later Harlem Hot Shots) in 1985 and studied old film clips to learn more about not only the lindy hop but also the charleston, tap, acrobatics and other things related to the African-American swing dance tradition. Gradually these studies led to the Hot Shots performing and teaching these dances and later on becoming professional. They gained international acclaim and performed frequently within Sweden as well as worldwide.
In 1986 Lennart got in contact with Frank Manning and in 1987 he was for the very first time invited to Sweden to work with the group.
The Swedish Herrang dance camp, which started in 1982, is frequented annually by Mr. Manning, It has developed as one of the largest jazz dance camps in Europe. It usually lasts for the full month of July.
Our Carling Family band has been involved with Mr. Westerlund for years. I believe drummer Ulf made the initial contact.
In this clip we see Gunhild’s band play an exact arrangement of the Duke Ellington tune Ko Ko as recorded in 1940. Westerlund’s Harlem Hot Shots used to rehearse to this recording. In order to get a “life” big band playing this tune Hans and Gunhild wrote the charts to match the moves of the dancers as they had learned them from the 1940 record.
Quite a lot of loving work from the dancers as well as from the musicians.
Bravo for all !
Lennart Westerlund started his Rhythm Hot Shots (later Harlem Hot Shots) in 1985 and studied old film clips to learn more about not only the lindy hop but also the charleston, tap, acrobatics and other things related to the African-American swing dance tradition. Gradually these studies led to the Hot Shots performing and teaching these dances and later on becoming professional. They gained international acclaim and performed frequently within Sweden as well as worldwide.
In 1986 Lennart got in contact with Frank Manning and in 1987 he was for the very first time invited to Sweden to work with the group.
The Swedish Herrang dance camp, which started in 1982, is frequented annually by Mr. Manning, It has developed as one of the largest jazz dance camps in Europe. It usually lasts for the full month of July.
Our Carling Family band has been involved with Mr. Westerlund for years. I believe drummer Ulf made the initial contact.
In this clip we see Gunhild’s band play an exact arrangement of the Duke Ellington tune Ko Ko as recorded in 1940. Westerlund’s Harlem Hot Shots used to rehearse to this recording. In order to get a “life” big band playing this tune Hans and Gunhild wrote the charts to match the moves of the dancers as they had learned them from the 1940 record.
Quite a lot of loving work from the dancers as well as from the musicians.
Bravo for all !