Imagine a world where spectacle and beauty can be found behind even the most banal and well traveled quarters. Anytime I get to be part of enriching the day-to-day experience of my fellow New Yorkers I know I am in the right place. So we do what we do. That the result of our sharing earns us some money from time to time only makes the process more easily maintained and more attractive. But, of course you know, we were doing this long before there was the regular promise of income like there is these days. It’s just a blast to make people smile because you rescued them from the numbing routine of New York life that many experience.
And then George Yi comes to town every once in a while and the whole dish is just sweeter and sweeter. George is one of those people who because of his specific work skills get stationed at different places all over the globe. He was in Australia a few years ago and now he’s in Amsterdam. He’s been there for more than a year I think. Everywhere he goes, he relies on his love of Swing Dancing to make a social, fun happening world around him. In Amsterdam, he’s a swing DJ and he’s doing his best to add vitality to a burgeoning scene.
Last week, George, (also known as “Shorty George”) came by each of our subway hits and, and this is important . . . brought girl with him! To dance with! I love that. We all love that. It makes the music so much more fun. It just makes people stop in their tracks when they see these guys and gals throwing themselves around.
So first, up – some solo George – dancing to “Putting on the Ritz” It looks like we wore him out a bit at the end there but he made it work. Maybe he just got slowed down by the cop. (I like the cop’s smile too!)
Next some partner dancing with the lovely and spirited Vicki… Ice Cream, yum…
I’ll try and do a better solo next time. 🙂
Wow, that Ice Cream is crazy good! Info please, who’s song is it? Have you all recorded it? Jesse, your vocals are getting better and better.
Thanks Jeremy!
“Ice Cream” is a traditional song. I’m sure you’ve heard the original: “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.”
We just put the thing in a minor key and I wrote some taunting lyrics:
“A whole heap of sugar, a tiny bit of salt.
I swear baby, it’s not my fault.
Rocky Road, hit the road,
why you always so cold?
I scream, you scream.
why you still screaming at me?
I know you want that Ice Cream, no?
No. You can’t have none.”
etcetera
We tried to record it for Hound’s Tooth but ultimately we weren’t satisfied with the take so it got left in the bin. Maybe on a future release.
This is great! What joy in that dancing! It’s true… we all play better when you dance!
I’m a high school bari sax player and I love jazz. I was at the subway that day and I wanted to say how awesome you were!