BART&BAKER “track by track” comment SWING PARTY
1. CLUB DES BELUGAS “It Don’t Mean A Thing”
Club Des Belugas is one of the leading lounge & NuJazz projects in
Germany, perhaps even in Europe. They combine Contemporary European Lounge & NuJazz Styles with Brazilian Beats and American Black Soul of the fifties, sixties and seventies, using their unique creativity and intensity.
They have already released superb mixes of tracks such as “Mambo
Italiano” (Dean Martin) but also “Put It On The Ritz” (Fred Astaire). We wanted to share the more obscure and original cover of “It Don’t Mean A Thing”, which has just the right rhythm to please fans of both vintage and modern versions of this track written in 1931 by Duke Ellington.
2. RAY BRIANT COMBO “It’s Madison Time”
Created by the American Jazz Pianist and composer Ray Bryant, The Ray Briant Combo started its recording career in the late 1950’s and performed throughout the world. As well as Madison time, he composed popular tracks such as “Cubano Chant”, “Monkey Business” and “Little Susie”.
“It’s Madison Time” was the track that launched a new dance steps craze, with no partner but in time with the person dancing next to you.
3. ARTIE SHAW “Prosschai” (Minimatic Remix)
Artie Shaw was a leading jazz clarinetist and big band leader of the mid-20th century. His 1938 recording of “Begin The Beguine” made him a popular rival to superstar clarinetist Benny Goodman. His big bands
were roaring successes but he frequently broke them up, only to form
new bands months or years later. Shaw wrote books (he nearly quitted the music industry to become a writer but never really made his mind).
A famous ladies’ man in his day, Shaw was married eight times, including marriages to Hollywood beauties Lana Turner and Ava Gardner. He would have probably been happy to be remixed and this version made by Minimatic a producer from Nice is a good revamped version of his classic track.
4. FROHLOCKER “Hipbrass”
Frohlocker is a duo of German producers, Wanja Saelzer and Gabriel Zahn. In addition to propose great cover design they have offered new directions to electro jazz music. Hipbrass is a dancehall tune, pure ear candy and we’re proud to include it on this album.
5. DJANGO REINHARDT “Minor Swing”
One of the first prominent European jazz musicians, Reinhardt remains
one of the most renowned jazz guitarists. Returning from a performance late one night, Reinhardt apparently knocked over a candle on his wayto bed. He received first- and second-degree burns over half his body.His right leg was paralyzed and the third and fourth fingers of his lefthand were badly burned. He learned to play guitar with only two fingers.That created a unique style and owed him respect from the Jazz community. The French crroner Jean Sablon gave him his chance to take part to studiorecording and with violinist Stéphane Grappelli, he cofounded the Quintette du Hot Club de France. John Beltran, a respected US Dj and producer has managed to keep the track Minor Swing close to the original and added a great rhythm to it.