by Marce
Bria Skonberg’s Hot Five had the floors vibrating at Boston Swing Central in Charlestown on Friday night. From New York: Bria Skonberg trumpet, Ted Gottsegen guitar (Queens), and Kevin Dorn drums. Local: John Clark reeds, Justin Meyer string bass. This joint was jumpin’!
The dance floor was filled with swingers, and wanna-be swingers, all having a fun evening on the smooth wood floor, perfect for dancing – even in sneakers.
From 8-9pm, introductory dance class for beginners, led by Kate Feldman and Carl Herrmann of New School Swing. “Introductory” in that everyone finds a partner and forms a circle, basic steps are taught for a couple of songs. Then everyone moves down one person and starts with a new partner for a few more songs. By the time the band starts, everyone has been introduced to seven or eight new friends, and even the shy persons are comfortable with dancing with other people.
This was Trumpeter-vocalist extraordinaire Bria Skonberg’s second appearance at Boston Swing Central, and she was sincerely welcomed by the crowd of swing dancers.
If you haven’t heard of Bria, you soon will. Originally from Chilliwack, British Columbia, she moved to New York to pursue her life’s work, playing trumpet and singing. See Toast of New York.
She recently appeared at Jeff & Joel’s House Party in Connecticut, the only woman with 15 musicians.
28 years old, and she likes our kind of music!
Kevin Dorn and John Clark also have Traditional/Dixieland Bands, Kevin’s was formerly The Traditional Jazz Collective, now The Great 72. John Clark’s is the Wolverine Jazz Band.
Kevin Dorn
John Clark, clarinet/ten. sax
Justin Meyer
Ted Gottsegen
They played many of our favorites – in rapid swing time –
One o’clock Jump Pennies From Heaven, Deed I Do, Out of Nowhere, Whispering featured Ted’s electric guitar. Bria sang My Blue Heaven, Paper Moon, (nice bowing by Meyer), Them There Eyes, Shimmy Like My Sister Kate. John was featured on clarinet with Rose Room (with a bit of In a Mellow Tone slipped in.)
What Is This Thing Called Love featured Clark on tenor sax. And there were many more; from the 60’s, Janice Joplin’s Mercedes Benz, check out those swing moves!
Kate Feldman and Carl Herrmann
of New School Swing
“New School Swing exists to help foster Lindy Hop / Swing Dancing in the Boston area. We provide Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Lindy Hop and authentic partnered and solo dance instruction.”
“We’re excited to be partnering with bostonswingcentral.org, an organization which runs a Friday and Tuesday dance.”
“Our beginner and advanced beginner lessons are on Tuesdays in the same space as the Tuesday night dance so you can go out dancing after your very first lesson.”
Kate and Carl, and Brian Towne
(It was difficult keeping track of everything while swing-dancing with my grandson.)
When Bria left us, she was heading for NY, Iowa, New Jersey, Chicago and Switzerland – she’s in demand all over the world. http://www.briaskonberg.com/live/
She will celebrate the release of her new Random Act Records So Is The Day, with nine originals and three well-known pieces, at The Iridium in New York City on April 24. http://www.randomactrecords.com/
We’re looking forward to her return to New England – June 9th when she’ll bring another swing band to Boston Swing Dance, The St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA.