Music for Lindy Hop
We are often asked what kind of music is suitable for dancing to. The fantastic thing about Lindy Hop and other Swing Dances is that it is possible to dance to a wide range of music.
Looking for music to practise to can be daunting when you first start dancing, here is some information which will help.
Swing Music
Swing is the music to which Lindy Hop is most often danced. When Lindy Hop was first danced, Swing was the music which it was danced to.
Look out for:
Benny Goodman
Glenn Miller
Count Basie
Artie Shaw
Slim and Slam
Ella Fitzgerald with the Chick Webb Big Band
Neo-Swing / Retro Swing
There are many great modern bands playing Swing either in an original style or with a modern twist.
Look out for:
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Cherry Poppin Daddies
Royal Crown Revue
Indigo Swing
Brian Setzer
Lavay Smith
Rhythm and Blues
Rhythm and Blues was usually played by smaller groups and can be upbeat and raucous or smooth and slow. Although often thought of as 50's music Rhythm and Blues was being recorded from the 40's into the 60's.
Look out for:
Big Joe Turner
Wynonie Harris
Bull Moose Jackson
Tiny Bradshaw
Wynona Carr
Roy Brown
Hillbilly / Country Boogie
Many people enjoy the country influenced sound of this type of music. Later recordings often have a more upbeat flavour similar to Rock n Roll. This music eventually spawned Rockabilly.
Look out for:
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Sid king and the Five Strings
Merle Travis
Hardrock Gunter
Red Foley
The Carlisles
Rock n Roll
Many people think of Rock n Roll music as being suited to Jive rather than Lindy Hop but it is worth remembering that you can dance Lindy Hop to it too. Many of the old Rock n Roll films featured Lindy Hop dancers, check out Rock around the Clock!
Look out for:
Bill Haley and the Comets
The Champs
Little Richard
Above all listen to as much music as you can and choose the music you like for yourself!
52nd Street Jump © 2009.