The Track - 054 - Helena Martins
The Track with Ryan Swift
Lindy Hop dancer and DJ Helena Martins sits down with host Ryan Swift to talk dance and music.
info_outline
The Track - E053 - Julia Loving
The Track with Ryan Swift
In this episode, I am joined by dancer, organizer, and educator Julia Loving. Julia has been a Teacher of Africana History and School Media Specialist in the New York City public schools for the past 27 years, and began Lindy Hopping in 2013. In addition to being a mainstay at social dances in her native New York City, she organizes dance events in Harlem as co-founder of , and is the creator of undergarments for dancers. Julia currently serves on the Boards of the and the . Julia joined me by video from her Bronx home to talk about growing up in the Bronx during the , memories of watching...
info_outline
The Track - E052 - Giselle Anguizola
The Track with Ryan Swift
In this episode, I am joined by dancer, instructor, and musician, . Giselle has been swing dancing for over 20 years, and is founder of , an organization honoring women in swing music and dance through weekend festivals around the globe. Widely renowned for her as a performer and instructor, Giselle spends most of her days singing and dancing with in New Orleans and San Diego. Giselle joined me by video chat from her home in San Diego to talk about finding swing dancing thanks to a middle school music teacher, the importance of recognizing followers in their own right, and what it means when...
info_outline
The Track - E051 - Gordon Au
The Track with Ryan Swift
Trumpeter and bandleader Gordon Au joins host Ryan Swift
info_outline
The Track - E050 - For Frankie
The Track with Ryan Swift
We celebrate this milestone 50th episode of The Track with a collection of stories from past episodes about the Ambassador of Lindy Hop, Frankie Manning.
info_outline
The Track - E049 - Evita Arce
The Track with Ryan Swift
Dancer and instructor Evita Arce joins host Ryan Swift.
info_outline
The Track - E048 - Caleb Teicher
The Track with Ryan Swift
Tap Dancer, Lindy Hopper, and choreographer Caleb Teicher joins host Ryan Swift
info_outline
The Track - E047 - Dr. Christi Jay Wells
The Track with Ryan Swift
Swing dancer and musicologist Dr. Christi Jay Wells joins host Ryan Swift
info_outline
The Track - E046 - Marie N'diaye
The Track with Ryan Swift
Instructor, performer, and choreographer Marie N'diaye joins host Ryan Swift
info_outline
The Track - E045 - Felix Berghäll
The Track with Ryan Swift
Swedish instructor, performer, and choreographer Felix Berghäll joins host Ryan Swift
info_outlineThis month, I am joined by one of the swing world’s most popular bandleaders and sought-after clarinetists, Paul Cosentino. Paul founded the Boilermaker Jazz Band in 1988 at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and quickly became a mainstay at traditional jazz and Dixieland festivals for over a decade. Then in 2001, the Boilermakers first played specifically for Lindy Hoppers at the first PittStop Lindy Hop and have been a fixture in the swing dance scene ever since, playing around the world at countless exchanges and events like ILHC and DCLX.
Paul and I got together at Stompology in Rochester NY, where we spoke about his extended family of musicians, his immersion in the Great American songbook at an early age, some of his early gigs playing clarinet with George Gee’s Make Believe Ballroom Orchestra in the 80's, and the Boilermakers' transition from Trad Jazz festivals to Lindy Hop events.
We also discussed the differences between being a sideman and a bandleader, touched on some of the great jazz clarinetists, explored the magic of improvisation both on the bandstand and the dance floor, and wondered if popular music will ever again see another Cole Porter.