Vocal Coach reacts to Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers - Jumpin Jive

[@Redspeare]

The Nichols Brothers were in a class by themselves. Artists and superlative athletes. And Cab Calloway is just a flat out legend.

[@aulduronsmith5577]

This is the greatest song/dance sequence to ever be put on the silver screen

[@robert-ef8qv]

EVER 👍👍👍👍

[@byHexted]

What a unique opinion

[@anthonywilliams7110]

ABSOLUTELY!

[@npilot4445]

the best tap routine you will EVER see.. Nicholas brothers. Where do you think Michael Jackson got his moon walk moves, eh? Yep. The older Nicholas brother I believe taught him...

[@malbourne805]

Fred Astaire said that as well. There's an old, grainy video of him dancing with them both at a movie backlot when they were young boys.

[@joeniedbala]

Flat out, without arguement, the most thrilling sequence in the history of cinema. Absolutley classic stuff. Cab is my desert island singer. I could listen to him FOREVER.

[@queenreg7]

I like how the guy on the sax just calmly leaned out of the way and kept playing while the brother danced a millimeter away then swung his leg over him. He was the true star of the show.

[@osovagabundo1]

I've seen Cab twice! Once in 81 and again in 93. In 93 he was at the grand Re-opening of the rebuilt Durham Theater in North Carolina. He was asked to play as he was the one who opened it 60 years earlier! Still had his mojo. The 82 show was at a similar grand hall for only 1200 seats. His voice was so clear he gave us a couple songs without a microphone, not needed. Amazing. It was the Blues Brothers opened my eyes to Cab ☺️

[@GinMae]

Lucky you! he is amazing!

[@brgilbert2]

Yes, you are one lucky guy. I was privileged to see the Mills Brothers twice when they came through Seattle in Washington State.

[@osovagabundo1]

@@brgilbert2 wow! Wasn’t expecting to hear that name. They’re a pillar of Americana. The 1900s was a huge transition for this country on every level. Thats what I love about youtube and being able to revisit so much of it.

[@Rdwrer]

Me too! And the film Stormy Weather, 1943. Thank you for sharing!

[@FoobRMann]

If that dance number came out today, I feel like no one would believe it wasn't CGI. It goes beyond "great" to "how is that even possible?"

[@delbertreno8089]

I have watched that clip so many times and each time I am totally blown away!!! I love the Singing and the rythm! then when you get to see the Nicholas Brothers!! That has to be one of the greatest dance routines of all times. I have either read or seen that it was a single take on that dance routine!!!! If that isn't enough to blow you away. I remember back in the day when everyone wanted to dress up and look classier. But that was a Bygone era!

[@ericturner7824]

SO GLAD......you had a chance to see both Cab Calloway and the Nicholas brothers in their PRIME....the movie "Blues Brothers".......has Cab in his later years singing his signature song "Minnie the Moocher", and i think the Nicholas Brothers worked with Gene Kelly in one or more of his films..great reaction.

[@tric5122]

Big Bang/Jive is one of the best era's of music. The tap dancers ability to sync their jumps to land at the exact same time always amazes me, it's insane, the stuff that comes after leaves me gawdsmacked but it's the simple things leading up, i couldn't imagine being able to do.

[@tomyoung9049]

Tap dancing, especially from this era has always fascinated me. A performance like this you can't help but smile all the way thru. 😁🕺💃

[@memathews]

The Nicholas Brothers were incredible and Cab Calloway was a master entertainer, and his band were also unbelievable craftsmen. Your joy in watching this amalgam of big band swing music and tap dance is understandable. As the drummer for an 18-piecce big band and a tap dancer, I know how enticing the music and movement can be. I was fortunate enough to meet Fayard at a tap master class back in the 1990s, he was a nice gentleman who could still dance and tell great stories.

[@jpsned]

The drummer seen at the beginning (0:30) is J. C. Heard. I spoke to him a few times on the telephone back in the mid-1980s when I was an announcer at a jazz radio station in Trenton, NJ. He was a really nice guy and was excited that my station was playing his records. (He was leading his own big band out of Detroit at this point.) I first saw this dance clip when I was taking swing dance lessons in the mid-1990s. The Nicholas Brothers aren't only incredible dancers but outstanding athletes as well. They knew how to both control their muscles and take care of them, too. Nobody does stuff like that without getting injured unless they knew proper stretching, warm-ups, etc. This dance is a marker by which all other dances need to be measured.

[@rcinsley]

At the time, Fred Astaire said this was the best movie dance scene he had ever seen. The 1943 movie was "Stormy Weather", starring Lena Horne, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and (of course) Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers.

[@podunkcitizen2562]

Every morning, when I wake up, this is how I go down the stairs for breakfast.

[@TheSoundOutside]

These two guys weren't just dancers, they were athletes of the first order.

[@FollowingGhost]

I've watched this so many times. It doesn't get much better than this..

[@robert_bbiii]

I am so happy you reacted to this. Many have and go on, rightfully so, about the dancing, but you are one of the few who also go on about how amazing Cab really is. The song itself is awesome

[@almostfm]

You know what I think part of it is? He just makes it sound so easy. I'm not saying that it's not-I bet he couldn't have kept track of the endless hours he spent learning his craft. But he, like Nat King Cole or Chet Atkins on guitar, had some God-given gift to take the talent they developed and make it look easy.

[@yvonneplant9434]

​@@almostfmThere is natural talent where you're not spending hours perfecting a gift such as his.

[@BryanAlaspa]

Man...Cab is so smooth. And he could do that scat singing better than anybody. And what can you say about the Nicholas brothers? Even Fred Astaire said they were the greatest.

[@brgilbert2]

@Ed P. Or Sarah Vaughn maybe!

[@jibsmokestack1]

And the inventor of scat singing and the greatest jazz musician of all time Louis Armstrong!

[@giuseppesavaglio8136]

0:28 Beth "I think there's some dancing in it as well." It's the Nicholas brothers...what an understatement...😁

[@bulldoggery]

I don't understand how it flew over so many people's heads that she was joking. Maybe some of you are a little too concrete for your own good.

[@giuseppesavaglio8136]

@@bulldoggery My little emoji smile at the end was my attempt a subtlety saying, yes i know she is joking.😁

[@dragoss2736]

Exactly 80 (eighty) years ago, on JULY 21, 1943, a film "STORMY WEATHER" appeared on the cinema screens at that time. There are many songs on the soundtrack of this film, the most famous being "Jumping Jive" performed by Cab Calloway (you can also see it in the famous film "The Blues Brothers" from 1980) and his "Cotton Club" orchestra. . . . there was a time when the singer came to the filming with his own VOICE (NOT processed in the studio and recorded on tape), and the members of the orchestra knew their instruments perfectly (NOT processed electronically on the computer). But this movie "Stormy Weather" remained forever in the history of cinema for the incomparable dance performed by "The Nicholas Brothers". . . . and the sequence with the dance of the NICHOLAS brothers being considered by many dancers and choreographers to be in the first 3 places in the entire history of films of this kind. If you were impressed by the dance of the NICHOLAS brothers. . . give LIKE and then SHARE to other friends.

[@ToeTag1968]

Scatting, and runs, can be a challenge. But, if you slow them down and take them one at a time, you can eventually speed them up where it sounds amazing. Such a fun video!

[@rookmaster7502]

If I attempted to dance like that, afterward I would need to be rushed to the hospital for multiple torn ligaments, a sprained ankle, a cracked knee cap, a dislocated hip, and who knows what else! The athleticism and precise body control of the Nicholas Brothers was absolutely incredible.

[@sophiefairbanks1412]

It didn't hurt that he was gorgeous! Unbelievable!!

[@austenrobinson2747]

The GOATS of tap.

[@joemercury100]

Thank you, Beth! I LOVE anything Big Band! (It was my father's fav music.)

[@larrydewein401]

I'm with you! Big Band all the way!

[@vorkosigrrl6047]

You’re so right, it was a joyful, graceful era in the arts. It gladdens my heart to see young people enjoying and appreciating it as well. So much of music, film, tv, etc seems to love exploring the dark. This is pure light!

[@thgeremilrivera-thorsen9556]

"And I think there's some dancing in there as well" Buckle up love, you're about to go on a ride...

[@jrdlabs]

According to a 2002 interview with Fayard Nicholas, they did that in one take with no rehearsal! Obviously, they had it choreographed, but....wow!!

[@whatwouldhousedo5136]

These musicians are just killer.

[@cspaikido]

Fred Astaire said this was the best choreographed number ever put to film.

[@silencesays228]

I've always loved how the Nicholas Brothers tap the rhythm of the melody and add another musical instrument to the song. Genius!

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

I love watching you dance to this so much, you can really tell you TRULY enjoy this, it's wonderful to see!!

[@johnafirth]

I can't count the number of times I've watched that clip, and it never ceases to amaze me. Have at several times stayed up far too late watching Eleanor Powell clips as well...

[@davetosch1970]

You should check out the movie The Blues Brothers. Cab is great in it. Plus, I'm sure you would love the whole soundtrack to the movie, so might as well watch the whole thing. ;)

[@davidgoza5620]

I don't care what anyone says, The Blues Brothers is a musical and one of the greatest ones ever made.

[@BlackSmokeDMax]

Sounds like you are putting Beth on a "Mission from God"!

[@Ozzy_2014]

That makes my legs hurt just watching. Incredible work. Not seen Cab Calloway clip since the 80s.

[@hornerinf]

The Nicholas Brothers may have been the best dancers in history. Nobody can do the moves they did with such style, precision, and class.

[@JbBarnes88]

I agree, don’t really know who you could put next to them 😂

[@hornerinf]

@@JbBarnes88 Hollywood wanted to make a film about them and they asked Gregory Hines. He said they were not going to be able to do that because nobody could imitate their moves.

[@stretmediq]

I think it was Fred Astaire himself who said this was the greatest dance routine ever filmed

[@bellesterbeatty3571]

I wish everyone would stop stopping the clips. Watch them in their entirety!

[@yvonneplant9434]

Cab Calloway just did what was needed to do scat singing. No analysis. 😂😂

[@bigtenor62]

not the dancers,not the leader, not the musicians, not a single entertainer on that stage was anything less than exceptional!

[@mahatmakane1946]

The Brothers did this in ONE TAKE.

[@yonaavraham9594]

My mother grew up in the 1940's in the segregrated South(Texas),and this was her music,just like me being born in 1958 and the 60's and 70's being my music-not all of the music of that era,but most. I love how you're loving it!

[@merrillhess5626]

Cab Calloway was the living definition of coolness. Fred Astaire said that was the best dance sequence ever captrued on film.

[@davidl5452]

Love the pure joy on your face while you watched this. Amazing talent on display.

[@thomastimlin1724]

Probably the greatest physical dance ever on film. i bet they did that last bit doing the splits down the steps over each other in one take knowing they wouldn't be able to do it twice in one day without real physical damage [came to work as a tenor, went home as a soprano]. If I attempted the splits, even at age 20, I would have ended up in traction lol. Worse if I had attempted that dance for any length of time, I would have ended up in Forest Lawn, but my name wouldn't be on the headstone. they would have put "Dumb Fool Thought He was a Nicholas Brother."

[@seanherskowitz665]

Loved it ; Can Calloway I was introduced to me in the iconic ; funny movie with an all world musical score 1980 The Blues Brothers with an older Cab performing the great song Minnie The Moocher . Included Aretha Franklin And Johnny Lee Hooker as well. If you get a chance Beth you should watch it ; it stars john Belushi and Dan Akroyd . Your sense of humor and love of music will be well satiated

[@BethRoars]

📖 Get your signed copy of my album Fable here: www.bethroars.com/shop ☀ Pre-save my first single "Power Of The Wolf" 🐺 on Spotify (it really helps me out!): distrokid.com/hyperfollow/bethroars/power-of-the-wolf 🥁 Become a Patreon Supporter: www.patreon.com/bethroars

[@ex4life96]

Swag you say? Cab Calloway is the Birth of Swag.

[@lilacpower2693]

Miss, there weren't any consonants on the part of the song you were referring to. Cab was scatting on that part. Not singing☺️ doll. Take care.💖

[@BringItMAGA]

So much respect for Cab Calloway and the Nicolas Brothers.

[@nickerpsg1]

LOVED, LOVED your reaction. I grew up in the 40s and would love to see these clubs come into existence again... which I believe would be hugely successful (just needs the talent again). If so, I'd rather go there than to a movie.

[@ChrisB-xm3mg]

I believe I recall hearing that the dance sequence was done in one take. True masters.

[@bigredmatt1011]

Cab sang forever. His part in the Blues Brothers was fantastic.

[@jpsned]

He had a sister named Blanche. She's one of the prettiest women I've ever seen in my life.

[@sulfurcitymusic]

If you enjoy swing, you should check out The Brian Setzer Orchestra - Jump Jive An' Wail. That song brought the great swing revival of the 90s to the forefront. So many amazing bands in that era. They sure cut a rug in that video too :)

[@13822831]

So glad you took a look at Cab Calloway I’ve been following him for a few days although I’ve known of his music for years thank you for sharing this video and your comments. Keep up the good work.

[@GwenByrd-d4k]

Honey back then people didn't have anyone to teach them how to scat sing, it came naturally and they taught themselves.

[@Braktooth]

When I'm feeling down on humanity in general, this is one of the performances that I go to in order to convince myself that people might be worth something.

[@TheCosmicGenius]

It's always a thrill to see someone discover the Nicholas Brothers. Glad you watched this.

[@raphaellopes4396]

This is undoubtedly one of the best presentations of all time

[@Itsjandz105]

Great observation they are so graceful.

[@jupiterlegrand4817]

The Nicholas Brothers are the greatest dancers of all time. What they do here is almost beyond human. No one...ever...comes even close.

[@hostetler125]

The Nicholas brothers, the way I hear it, were able to do that all in 1 take. Without rehearsal beforehand, they were simply that good and had done the routine a million times before.

[@Decrepit_Productions]

I don't think they did the entire dance routine in one take, though it's possible. But the stairs splits was definitely done in one take, and no rehearsal! The brothers were so in sync with each other that they simply discussed what they intended to do, then did it. Besides, when you think on it, how many 'takes' of those stairs splits can anyone endure? :)

[@peterwehrmeyer925]

How can anyone not have heard this.

[@dougel4709]

Thank you for sharing such a wide variety of styles. And sure, vocals are you specialty, but you have such great appreciation and get so much joy for all the art forms that are on display.

[@somthingbrutal]

first saw Cab Calloway in the Blues Brothers his performance in that is stunning

[@richardfuchs3690]

Amazing performances. I was lucky enough to see Cab Calloway live in Toronto in the early '90s and he still had it.

[@tgchism]

Beyond belief talent and energy by all!!

[@woverby1963]

Ive never seen anything like this , its FABULOUS! I feel we may never see the like again.

[@rickieodem488]

The greatest dancers from Gene Kelly to Fred Astaire to Bob Fosse and Gregory HInes all gave homage to the Nicholas Brothers and specifically this performance. Cab was cited as an inspiration to black singers ranging from Ray Charles to Michael Jackson. It doesn't get better than this. Great review!

[@shaknit]

Love that era of music.

[@mrfrosty3]

Stunning, they look so loose, as if it isn't choreographed, such elegance! This was a treat.

[@markwoehrle6860]

Love it, love it, love it. My mom introduced me to this stuff very early. I'm talking 78 rpm

[@davidhaen2743]

This was all filmed in one take-unbelievable!

[@wadeerwin3920]

Absolutely love how you are getting into this! A little before my time, but i love this era of music.

[@vincentsablan732]

Imagine how many "takes" it took. I understand the editing process, but---literally every 2 or 3 seconds, there was a chance for debilitating injury!!! This is AWESOME!!!

[@nzlemming]

1 take. It's a known fact. These guys did this on every working night.

[@vincentsablan732]

@@nzlemming I had to do research as it seems EVERYONE has to "embellish" greatness to sometimes MYTHIC proportions. This performance was done for a movie in 1943. It seems it was done in 1 take, as I couldn't find evidence to the contrary. They didn't even rehearse this routine. They saw the stage setup, had the music then sort of "winged it", according to Fayard Nicholas (the elder brother). THIS IS WHERE THE GREATNESS LIES!!! He stated they worked 3, sometimes 4, nights a week, doing 3 shows nightly, from midnight to sometimes 5 or 6 in the morning. Harold, the younger brother by 6 years, was still a minor. So, technically, this is a "one off"---but that does NOT minimize the greatness of this performance...

[@anthonyhaylock6655]

Cab is such a character and the Nicholas Brothers are amazing dancers

[@carol-d-60s]

Couldn't agree more with you here, Beth :D Great video to react to! What an era of music and dance, showmanship.

[@stevenmclaughlin6034]

Every move to the music perfect

[@michaelfreedman1006]

I saw the Glenn Miller orchestra in 1984. Magic, pure magic.

[@tylerbuckley2092]

Cab Calloway was also a good actor blues Brothers movie with John Belushi and Dan Akroyd Cab Calloway played a care taker at a orphanage Jake and Elwood Blues grew up in

[@Mars-]

CAB and company were AMAZING. THX BETH

[@badgermcinnes2383]

Cab Calloway was a master at everything he did. So glad to see this reaction! You may want to check out Danny Elfman from Oingo Boingo; he was greatly influenced by Calloway, and even did a cover of St. James Infirmary when they were The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. Danny is also an amazing vocalist!

[@gerrymcguire7494]

One artist that unlocked this whole era for me was (surprisingly) a UK "New Wave" musician: Joe Jackson. Most of his music was pop (with wicked bass lines). In 1981 he released a 10 song album of swing tunes: The Jumpin Jive. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5DWlIGGiqyWetU This predated the swing revival of the late 90's by roughly 16 years. Is band is known for a string of 80s Hits. For live performances he added amazing Caribbean percussion. They are incredible live: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3iummuoaKqbZrs

[@sophiefairbanks1412]

They had to be really talented to survive in those days! Legends!

[@LeahC208]

Absolutely amazing. ❤️

[@racinnut77]

What you call "poise" and "grace" becomes part of a dancer's muscle memory after enough practice (which can take years). This is true for both professional Ballet and Ballroom dancers. A trained professional doesn't think about these things, they just do it automatically.

[@amylulu5739]

YES! THIS SONG/ACT IS AMAZING

[@1953jazzman]

This was taken directly from the classic movie "Stormy Weather" released in the year 1943! The film is well worth your time!

[@deborahm9393]

Honey, this is African American big band jazz. These rhythms are integral to our culture. My Grandmother and Great Aunts jammed to this music when we were kids. They introduced us to this music and we introduced our kids to it. It's a legacy of joy in a world of pain.

[@scorp116]

"I think there's some dancing in it" is the understatement of the century 😂

[@arthurdturner3394]

Jumpin Jive was filmed in one take, I understand. Awesome!!!! From the movie Stormy Weather.

[@anthonyhaylock6655]

He was also included in the cast of the second Blues Brothers movie (Blues Brothers 2000) , he role was at a pivotal part of the movie , a great movie and Cab’s role was awesome love those blues brothers movie and all the music

[@ronaldfoster6807]

The Nicholas Bros. Dance routine was done in one take. Fred Astaire said it was the greatest dance routine ever put on film!

[@Nghilifa]

The Nicholas brothers shot that entire routine in one take, WITHOUT having rehearsed it beforehand apparently. Absolutely ridiculous (even if they did rehearse it beforehand). Also, you can see how they inspired other terrific dancers such as James Brown and Michael Jackson, and the music is just top notch.

[@netzahuacoyotl]

I can guarantee they did not roll film without a rehearsal, if for no other reason, for the camera crew to figure out what their shots were going to be.

[@gosforthlad]

@@netzahuacoyotlYes the cameras had to be in the right position with the correct focus . Not to mention the lighting and microphones . Probably a good idea if the podiums and steps were tested for stability and glide also .

[@nzlemming]

@@netzahuacoyotl Don't guarantee too much. They did this act in the Cotton Club on a regular basis. The director just needed to attend a few times to see where they would go and then discuss with them where the cameras were going to be. They were that good.

[@nzlemming]

@@gosforthlad People who don't do live theatre don't understand how performers can hit the same marks night after night. The set would have been built for the act rather than the act adapted to suit the step. They may have entered through the audience but they weren't part of the audience. This was their gig and the filming took that into account.

[@gosforthlad]

@@nzlemming I work in theatre , film and TV 40 hours a week building and installing sets and props . Everything that the talent are jumping cannot be overbuilt but must be stable and tested for safety . FYI talent , audience and background extras are completely different .

[@t0dd000]

Wow. So great. Thank you for sharing. I've never seen this. So. Damn. Cool. I hope you shared it with your sister.

[@professoryaffle]

I’d only ever seen Cab Calloway in the Blues Brothers singing Minnie the Moocher. Recognised him immediately.

[@incoco2]

Like the performance, looking it up now, thanks for introducing me to this ... I'm a subscriber now .

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

The singing is almost incidental. This is as complete a performance as there ever was.

[@kajlennartsson4234]

A great reaction. 👍👍 I send you a big hug from Sweden

[@riffmondo9733]

Talent level back then was off the scale.

[@BaronessErsatz]

His lead trumpeter was Jonah Jones (closest to the camera). He went on to a successful solo career. My late father collected his albums. Good stuff!

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

The phrase ..Aint got no maps on my taps .... Could have been written to describe these guys. Defining excellence ... Musicians and dancers.