Music VIDEO: Dorothy Dandridge sings "A Jig In The Jungle"

Before there was DEI, before affirmative action, even before the Civil Rights Act, a black... or non-white... actress could still make it big in Hollywood. All she needed was talent. Here's song-and-dance artiste Dorothy Dandrige singing "A Jig in the Jungle" (Walt knows what you're thinking) in front of Cee Pee Johnson and his Orchestra.

Dorothy Jean Dandridge was an American actress and singer, born on 9 November 1922. That makes her 18 at the time this video was recorded. 

Ms Dandridge was the first black American to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, for Carmen Jones (1954). She performed as a vocalist in venues such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater. 

During her early career, she performed as a part of the Wonder Children, later the Dandridge Sisters, and appeared, usually in uncredited roles, in a succession of films, including a Marx Brothers picture. Can you think which one? Keep reading and Walt will tell you.

In 1959, Ms Dandridge was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Porgy and Bess. She was the subject of the 1999 biographical film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, with the well-chosen Halle Berry portraying her. She had been recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Ms Dandridge was married and divorced twice, first to dancer Harold Nicholas (the father of her daughter, Harolyn Suzanne) and then to hotel owner Jack Denison. She died on 8 September 1965 at the age of 42. 

[Well? What about that Marx Brothers movie, then? Ed.]  Oh. Sorry. It was A Day at the Races, 1937.

End of summer MUSIC VIDEO: Van Morrison: Come On In

It's been a while since Walt posted a music video, so we're grateful for to Agent 5 (our man in the music industry) for sending us the link to a great tune from Van Morrison's new album Moving On Skiffle. This is an old blues song by Washboard Sam. Enjoy!

 

Walt confesses to having forgotten both skiffle and Van Morrison. For younger folk who never heard of the genre, skiffle is American jazz or folk music played entirely or in part on nonstandard instruments (such as jugs, washboards, or Jew's harps). 

In the UK, the same name was applied to a derivative form of music featuring vocals with a simple instrumental accompaniment. Its popularity led to the formation of many new groups in Old Blighty, and saw the first musical steps by future stars such as Cliff Richard, Jimmy Page and... wait for it... the Beatles.

VIDEO: Latest Tuba Skinny webcast

Ed. here. It's been a while since Walt gave you a break from politics and religion. It's also some time since we reposted a video featuring Tuba Skinny (leader, Shaye Cohn), possibly the greatest New Orleans (formerly "Dixieland") jazz band extant. So here's their webcast from yesterday afternoon. If you like it, please tip the band: Paypal - tubaskinny@gmail.com; Venmo - @tubaskinny



Politics, religion... there was another topic we used to talk/write about... what was it... oh yeah, hockey! Poor Len Canayen reports that the 16 teams competing for the Stanley Cup have entered bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton and will start playing (in empty arenas, sadly) this coming week. Poor Len may... or may not... have something to say about the possibility of the Montréal Canadiens, seeded 16th, going home with Lord Stanley's silverware, in a few days.

VIDEO: Tuba Skinny livestream, May 16th - 90 minutes of great jazz

Just released yesterday, a treat for all you music lovers who are locked down, locked in and/or locked up. Not only to you get to hear the Best New Orleans jazz band extant, but you get to hear Shaye Cohn (and the others) talk. Just like having them in your own garage, or whatever. Almost an hour and a half, beginning with a fine old(ish) Duke Ellington tune. Enjoy.

VIDEO: Latest Tuba Skinny number - the band needs your help now!

Regular readers will know that Walt is a hyuge fan of Tuba Skinny, the best New Orleans jazz band extant. Today we have a new number, posted to YouTube just yesterday, "The Variety Stomp". But hear this! James Sterling, who puts up these videos, has added an

URGENT APPEAL! "Tuba Skinny and all New Orleans musicians are in a financial crisis and need your help. All concerts, clubs, and restaurants are now closed due to COVID-19. Go to tubaskinny.com and purchase music or tip the band. Links provided on the band's web page. These YouTube videos are free but the band has bills to pay so please help the band in their time of need."



Walt [and Ed.! Ed.] ask you to help out, if you can. And tell `em Walt sent ya!

New VIDEOS from Tuba Skinny - Ballin' the Jack & Sugar House Stomp

In all the excitement of the past week -- and what a week it has been! -- I didn't learn until today that my favourite New Orleans-style band, Tuba Skinny, had dropped some new videos recently. Here they are.

"Ballin' the Jack"


"The Sugar House Stomp"


Readers who are hot for Shaye Cohn [Project, much? Ed.] are gonna like these. Thanks to James Sterling for putting them up. If you tip the band (see link at start of video), tell `em Walt sent ya!

VIDEO: Brand new tune from Shaye Cohn and Tuba Skinny

Got the mid-winter blahs? Here's some New Orleans jazz that'll get you tapping your toes and feeling GOOD. The Tuba Skinny Jazz Band, praised here before, plays a new composition by Shaye Cohn. Robin introduced it as "The Diamond Dove Song" but James Sterling, who posted it to YouTube says he's not sure if that's the official title or if it's simply "The Diamond Dove".



Recorded at The Starlight Lounge in New Orleans, on 15 January 2020. Mr Sterling says you may need to turn up the volume, as he's experimenting with new recording equipment.

VIDEO: New(ish) tune from Tuba Skinny

Ed. here... again. I've received a quasi-urgent message from Agent 78 saying that Walt said, at around dawn on Tuesday, that he was going out for a walk and might be awhile. He hasn't been seen since.

While we wait for him to emerge from the woods, here's "Cushion Foot Stomp", performed by the great Tuba Skinny Jazz Band, at Philthydelphia on August 30th. Enjoy.



Footnote: Shaye Cohn shows a lot of leg in this one. But what's really admirable is her talent!

MUSIC VIDEO: Latest from Tuba Skinny - "Forget Me Not Blues"

Had a nice rest this weekend from things political, on either side of the World's Longest Undefended Border. [Lotsa Canadians wondering if it will ever be defended! Ed.] Let's begin a new week... and a new season... with the latest offering from my absolute favourite New Orleans-style jazz band, Tuba Skinny. It's called "Forget Me Not Blues".



Publishing this in B&W [sepia-tone? Ed.] rather than colour is a nice touch, gives it kind of an olde-tymey look to go with the olde-tymey sound.

MUSIC VIDEO: Newbie but goodie from Tuba Skinny, just dropped

Nice to take a break on a hot summer day -- and I do mean hot -- from politics and religion and relax with an ice cold Dixie. And what better kind of music to accompany the imbibing than a new piece by Tuba Skinny, the greatest New Orleans Jazz Band on this side of the Pacific! Just posted to YouTube on July 24th, this is "Cushion Foot Stomp".



If you enjoyed this (and how could you not?!), check out "Won't You Be Kind to Me?", posted on WWW 27/4/19 and the band's first appearance on WWW, 12/1/19, recorded at the Albita Springs Opry, 19 June 2017.

MUSIC VIDEO: Duelling trombones! New Orleans Jazz Hounds

Ed. here. Occasionally, when Walt was feeling "blocked", we've reposted music (or other entertaining) videos scraped from YouTube. Most of these have been well received, judging from the number of click-throughs, so it may be that our faithful readers like the occasional break from Walt's rants about religion and politics.

With that in mind, I've found -- recommended by Agent 3, thank you -- a great Dixieland jazz band which I hadn't heard of before. Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition, and I dare say nobody expects an excellent jazz combo named the New Orleans Jazz Hounds to be an all-Japanese group! And who would expect a 7-piece band to include three -- count `em, 3! -- trombones. Here they are, with a terrific rendition of "Careless Love"



Recorded At The Hub Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. For more, search "New Orleans Jazz Hounds" on YouTube. You're welcome.

Note from Walt: Well done, Ed. I admire your self-control not to have gone for the cheap gag about the tune being called "Careress Rove". I couldn't resist it.

NEW TUBA SKINNY VIDEO: "Won't You Be Kind to Me?"

Ed. again. While we wait for Walt's blood pressure to get somewhere near normal, it falls to me to find other stuff for this space. "Other stuff" includes topics other than politics, religion and -- sorry, Len --hockey. From time to time we like to share a bit of music, guaranteed to brighten you day. In January we introduced Tuba Skinny, a New Orleans traditional jazz band formed in 2009. The ensemble includes tuba, trombone, cornet, tenor banjo, guitar, vocals, washboard, and clarinet, and is inspired by the jazz and blues music of the 1920s and 1930s.

The band has performed on streets and stages around the world, including music festivals in Mexico, Sweden, Australia, Italy, France, Switzerland and Spain. They're all great musicians, but my favourite, the erstwhile leader of the band, is Shaye Cohen. The granddaughter of noted jazz musician Al Cohn, she plays (in addition to cornet) the fiddle, piano, accordion, banjo and spoons! The only thing I've never heard her do is sing.

Listen for Shaye's stage direction before and during this performance of "Won't You Be Kind to Me?", a Memphis Jug Band/Hattie Hart song from 1929. This video was recorded on April 14th at The French Quarter Festival, Jackson Square Stage. Thanks to James Sterling for putting it up on YouTube.

VIDEO: Tuba Skinny Jazz Band

It's been a quiet week here in Lake Wobegon. [Watch it! Ed.] A lot of stupid stuff has happened in a lot of stupid countries around the stupid world, but nothing that got my blood up to the boiling point. So, dear readers, let's take a break from assininity and acrimony and enjoy some fine Dixieland jazz, performed by the Tuba Skinny Jazz Band. Band members and playlist below. Running time: 45:30.

The Tuba Skinny Jazz Band 

at the Albita Springs Opry, 19 June 2017

Shaye Cohn, Cornet - Barnabus Jones, Trombone - Craig Flory, Clarinet

Jason Lawrence, Banjo - Max Bien-Kahn, Guitar

Greg Sherman, Guitar and vocals

Todd Burdick, Sousaphone - Robin Rapuzzi, Drums and washboard

1. Two Wide Babies

2. Kansas City Stomps

3. Any Old Time

4. Cold Morning Shout - South St. Trio Segue

5. Any Old Time - Jimmie Rogers

6. Deep Bayou Moan

7. Fire Works

8. Rooster Crowin' Blues

9. Bella Mina - from the Bahamas

10. Pearl River Stomp - Tuba Skinny

11. Jungle Partner

Hope this made your January day a little brighter. Thanks to Alice Glick for posting this on YouTube.