Amber asks:
~Amber
Swing DJ Resources' answer
I was doing some research in the book [easyazon-link asin=”1592135641″ locale=”us”]Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop[/easyazon-link] and found several passages:
On page 82:
As I've mentioned, there was a contest every Saturday night at the Savoy. (…)
The orchestra leader picked the music, which was almost always “Christopher Columbus,” because it was so swinging.
On page 99: here Frankie writes about doing the first air step in a contest:
As I've said before, the tune we always used in contests was “Christopher Columbus.” But earlier in the evening, Chick had played “Down South Camp Meeting,” which is this real swingy tune. […]
On page 151: about the big apple contest
If Chick Webb was the house band, he usually played “Stompin' at the Savoy.” Other bands, such as Teddy Hill, Erskine Hawkins, Buddy Johnson, or Lucky Millinder, generally chose “Christopher Columbus.”
And on page 95 he writes:
At that time I didn't know anything about counting. We were used to working with bands that played the Savoy, like Chick Webb.
So, my understandig is that Frankie doesn't say that Chick Webb played “Christopher Columbus”.
I don't know any recordings of “Christopher Columbus” by Chick Webb.
What about you?
Does anyone of you – the readers – have any other informations? Share them in the comments sections below.
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