Barcelona Swing Flamingos. Sant Andreu de la Barca. 18/11/23 (Blue 'N' Booguie - Dizzy Gillespie)

FROM BEBOP TO DANCEABLE SWING
Although it doesn't happen as much now, a few years ago it was relatively common that, in a concert designed for swing dancers, the solos were more Bebop than 30's jazz.
It is true that Bebop can be danced but it clearly escapes the language that we are used to and ready to understand and transform into movements and steps. In fact, one of the reasons why Bebop was born is to escape the commercialization of jazz and move it away from dance floors, playing pieces at undanceable tempos and with a complex language for the general public.
The piece played by the BCN Swing Flamingos this Saturday, in Sant Andreu de la Barca, does exactly the opposite.
Dizzy Gillespie's Blue 'N' Boogie is an iconic Bebop song. If you listen to the original version by this same trumpeter or those made by Miles Davis, Wes Mongomery or Charlie Parker you will see that, apart from going to more than 250 beats (some exceed 300 bpm!!!) they use the language of this style (and different from danceable swing).
The Famingos make a very danceable version of the piece, not only because the tempo but for the interpretation, incorporating elements such as the stop time at the beginning and melodic solos.
It is true that the song still has touches of Bop (the melody is very typical of the style) but perfectly adapted to danceable swing, I think.
The Barcelona Swing Flamingos are:
Miquel Donat - Trumpet
Marc B. Trepat - Trombone
Albert Gassull - Alto Sax, Tenor Sax
Toni Gili - Tenor sax
Octavi Banyuls - Piano
Jordi Casanovas - Double bass
Carles Gili - Drums
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