Austin Lindy Hop
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Austin Lindy Hop
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The links below provide pages of information that can help you develop your Lindy Hop interests from the musical side. Types of Lindy Hop MusicLP's ABCs of Shopping for Swing MusicLP's Top 25 Essential Swing AlbumsAlbum of the Week
Musician Biographies
One large misconception is that "Swing" dancing is done to poppish, Neo Swing twitty music. However, Since Lindy Hop and Swing dancing re-emerged from virtual extinction in the mid-1990s, it has grown and evolved far beyond the poppish Neo Swing and vintage Swing Era Pop Swing that helped bring it back to life. Although the Neo Swing stuff has it merits, Lindy Hoppers have mostly abandoned Neo Swing and other Swingster, Hepster, Lounge Acts. Lindy Hoppers now dance to widely diverse jazz and blues music, from the classic Swing Era music of Benny Goodman, Count Basie or Duke Ellington to the more modern, grooving jazz of Oscar Peterson, Al Grey, Ray Bryant, Roy Eldridge, Jack MacDuff, and other jazz greats, as well as the hard-hitting Blues of Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon, and even Austin's own Stevie Ray Vaughn. Lindy Hopping to the music is just another way of appreciating this great American music. Indeed, it is the best way. Lindy Hoppers thrive on truly great music. We don't want music to which we would not listen if we were not on the dance floor. Our music is great for just sitting and listening, if you can resist the urge to jump up and dance. Developing an appreciation for the music to which we dance can develop into a fascinating, obsessive hobby of its own. Many of the best Lindy Hoppers are also huge music fans: their interest in music inspiring and fueling their ability as dancers. Indeed, many times in those natural lag periods when my own interest in dancing stagnates, my interest in the music often keeps me going and revitalizes my interest in dancing, again. Unfortunately, starting to develop that interest is not easy. Most record store toadies--especially at the chains--know little to nothing about Jazz or Blues, particularly of the danceable variety. Even professed Jazz experts at these shops tend to sneer at danceable, rhythmic music, perhaps to justify to themselves the fact that they don't get the groove at all. And most "Swing" compilations merely regurgitate either the same "Hepster" Neo-Swing by some hyperactive, Neo-crap band, or the same, cheap, out-of-copyright Swing Era Pop stuff that might have historical significance, but was recorded poorly (and digitally re-mastered even worse) and just does not quite get the blood boiling anymore. Someday, if the right database programmer comes along, perhaps Muzip.com will come to the rescue. Until then, here are some suggested tips and starting purchases. You know the drill. Click on the underlined text above to go to that page.
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