My DJ Set for 1st hour of 2011 Blues Dance, and How It Went
Got any suggestions for blues songs (@ 60 to 120 bpm) for blues dance for New Years? Cool renditions of Auld Lang Syne? I'm playing the set right after the new year rings in.
Here's what I came up with so far.
Auld Lang Syne-Jeff Golub
Sad Hours-Gary Smith
Easy-David Barrett
Love Her with a Feeling-Tip of the Top
Down with It-Kim Wilson
Why Can't You Love Me-Paul deLay
Third Degree-Billy Branch
To Someone that I Love-B.B. King
Ready Steady Stroll-Mark Hummel
Moe's Blues-RJ Mischo
HooDoo Man Blues-Rod Piazza
She's My Heart's Desire-John Nemeth
As you can see, I decided to appreciate my blues family, and honor some memory's of the passing year---including this year's discovery after seeing Kim Wilson live: He's always danceable....as are all the tunes I've chosen. Hmm what is that? How do you stay in the pocket? How do you find this groove? As Rick Estrin says in his new DVD (Rick Estrin Reveals Secrets, Subtleties & Tricks of the Blues Harmonica), it's more than just staying with the rhythm. There's a MmMMmmm, yayuh, about it. (my words :-) I feel it when I dance, only once and a while on the harp yet. It'll happen.
What's your new year's music look like?
Anne Marie
I will check it out. Yes, Charlie Musselwhite is a people mover. Thanks.
Charlie Musselwhite's My Baby is a great song to dance the West Coast Swing to. Thanks, Stinkhippie.
OK! This is going to be fun! Plus I will be dancing in 4-inch, platform heels (keep your fingers crossed for me). What a hoot!
I 'll tell you the final set, but first a word with the "Administration": Where is the forum, "Music to Dance to"? I just wanna know. Hmm! (Just kidding. I think it's in San Francisco tonight!)
I did indulge in some personal meaning to recap and appreciate my year, but it represents the best music I heard this year: The people in my harmonica family (Gary, David, and Aki), some of the artists we heard, met, and studied with at the Harmonica Masterclass, David, Aki, Dennis Gruenling, Joe Felisko, the artists I got to see at the Poor House Bistro in San Jose, and Yoshi's and Biscuits and Blues in San Francisco, and one of David's picks for the year, which I'll accompany.
By the way, these were all "kitchen" tested by me, which requires me to dance around the house all day. It's hard work, but somebody's got to do it.
(Beats per minute to the right)
Auld Lang Syne-Jeff Golub 93
Ready Steady Stroll-Mark Hummel 106
Easy-David Barrett 94
Sad Hours-Gary Smith 72
Love Her with a Feeling-Tip of the Top (Aki Kumar) 65
Let Me Hold You-John Nemeth 74
'Fatuation-James Cotton 96
Good Time Charlie-Kim Wilson 126
South City Fog-RJ Mischo (Dm) 74
Made Me Lonesome-Joe Felisko 90
I Want a Woman-Dennis Gruenling 108
I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water-(Don't know who's playing this, but I'm accompanying :-) 74
Happy New Year! Please drink wisely, dance it off, and drive carefully!
Anne Marie
Realized I had 3 harp instrumentals in a row, so I spread them out and interspersed Sugar Pie Desanto's Baby, What You Want Me to Do.
The crowd didn't get "Fatuation. They kept trying to dance to the hook instead of the underlying rhythm, so I decided I shouldn't chance a song that required a "ballrooming" flavor and left out Joe's Made Me Lonesome. I need more slow blues and lindy songs from today's professionals.
They loved the Auld Lang Syne. I had them switch partners every chorus too, which was fun for right after midnight.
My Baby by Charlie Musselwhite on his Stand Back!-album always gets the crowd movin'!