Swingin' Away, by George Gee Swing Orchestra

Swingin' Away

by George Gee Swing Orchestra

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Live at Roseland Ballroom May 26 1999 Celebrating the 85th Birthday of Lindy Hop Legend Frankie Manning with 1800 attendees and two big bands and performances. When Roseland closed several years later iin 2014, the New York Times recognized this event as one of the most memorable of recent years.

"1999 Frankie Manning, known as the Pied Piper of the Lindy Hop, danced with 85 successive partners at the Roseland Ballroom to celebrate his 85th birthday. It was satisfying, said Alan Sugarman, a producer of that event, since, in 1935, Mr. Manning had been excluded from the hall because he was black. “In 1999, Roseland apologized and put Frankie’s dance shoes on their wall of fame,” he said."

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1.	Take The A Train 02:56	info	buy track
2.	Intro to Blues 00:58		buy track
3.	Blues For Stephanie 04:15	info	buy track
4.	Smack Dab In The Middle 03:00	info	buy track
5.	Basie Boogie 02:58	info	buy track
6.	Let The Good Times Roll 02:27	info	buy track
7.	She's Never Satisfied 05:33	info	buy track
8.	Roll 'Em 04:53	info	buy track
9.	Four Five Six 04:32	info	buy track
10.	The Lady Is A Tramp 01:56	info	buy track
11.	Pennies From Heaven 02:35	info	buy track
12.	720 In The Books 02:16	info	buy track
13.	Every Day I Have The Blues 06:04		buy track
14.	Blues In Hoss' Flat 05:15	info
15.	The Continental 03:40	info	buy track
16.	Wednesday Night Hop 02:48	info	buy track
17.	Stompin' At The Savoy 04:00	info

about

Product Description
Live recording captures an adrenaline-filled evening of hot swing music at the Roseland Ballroom in May 1999, celebrating the 85th birthday of swing legend Frankie Manning. Gee has been a mainstay on the New York scene & is surrounded by a cavalcade of veteran musicians who have played for Lionel Hampton, Illinois Jacquet, Duke Ellington & Count Basie; features Grammy-nominated vocalist Carla Cook on 3 tracks, as well as vocalist/sax man Lance Bryant

From the Label Zort Music Ltd.
It is an honor for us to have been able to release "Swingin' Away" as our first CD, in honor of that special man, Frankie Manning. We were concerned that some would think that because this was recorded live at a birthday celebration, it would be looked upon as just a tribute CD. But, when we first listened to the live mix, we knew we had something hot that the whole world had to hear.

There is something special about live recordings and some of my favorite recording were those recorded live. This is the way it is, on edge, live, and then there is the interaction between band and crowd. No studio recording could ever match this. One take and that is that.

George Gee is also a special man -- he is a guy who loves this music, played big band swing when it was not popular, even took the barbs when the "serious" jazz musicians looked down on playing for dancers. Swing music was from the beginning dance music. Today, a lot of the name big bands say they play big band dance music, but, what they really play is concert music -- they play for themselves. Except for society benefits, a lot of them never play dance events on a regular basis. That is what sets the Gee music into another category, one like the bands of the swing era. If the dancers did not like your band at the Savoy, well, then the band had a very very very short run. So put this CD on and roll back the rug.

Also there are the band members themselves. I know each one of them and they are all superb jazz artists and they love to play for Gee and to play for dancers. In fact, little by little, the band is lured on to the floor and a lot of them turn out to be pretty good dancers as well. They are all individuals and this is no cookie cutter band.

credits

released November 1, 1999

Executive Producer: Alan D. Sugarman Producers: Walt Szymanski (Musical Director), George Gee, Alan Sugarman; Recording Engineers John Burns and Mark Frankel Mixing: James Madison, Garden Productions Mastering: John Burr-jbQ Studios Photography: Clement Kois; CD Notes and Design: Alan D. Sugarman; Graphic Design: David Levy Historical Information: Cynthia Millman Recorded Live: Roseland Ballroom, NYC, May 26, 1999 Carla Cook Appearing Courtesy of MaxJazz Records Available on MaxJazz, "It's All About Love". Copyright 1999 Zort Music, Ltd.

Artists:
George Gee, Bandleader
Lance Bryant (tenor sax/vocals)
Gene Ghee (tenor sax)
Ed Pazant (alto sax/clarinet)
Mark Gross (alto sax)
Alex Harding (baritone sax)
Charles Stephens (trb)
Brian Bonvissuto (trb)
Robert Trowers (trb)
Jack Jeffers (bass trb)
Walt Szymanski (trpt/vocals)
Steve Wiseman (trpt)
Evan Barker (trpt)
Derrick Gardner (trpt)
Matt Hughes (bass)
Willard Dyson (drums)
Rick Germanson (piano)
Carla Cook (vocals)

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