Dan Parshall
www.danparshall.com
Knoxville, TN

Dan started dancing in 1997, and has been active as a dancer, organizer, teacher, and of course DJ. His analytical side has led him to spend countless hours learning about the roots of Swing music, from European harmony to African polyrhythms, and discovering how these aspects blended in America to form the uniquely African-American music, Jazz.

His passion for music of all sorts brings him to exchanges and workshops throughout the southeast USA, and beyond. His broad yet discriminating taste in music has made him a favorite at dance events of all sorts, such as Lindy Focus, BluesSHOUT, and Battle Of The Cities. He can be found in the near future at the Gulf Regional Lindy Hop Championships, Southern Belle Swing Bash, and in the month of July you can hear him as the guest DJ on Yehoodi radio.

Lately he's been focusing on music with a lot of rhythmic complexity. Or harmonic richness. Or growl trumpet.  You can find all of these in Gospel, Soul, and Blues, which is how Dan got interested in throwing this weekend in the first place.

Sonny Boy Williamson - "Close To Me" : Audio Sample
Available on The Essential Sonny Boy Williamson

Written by Willie Dixon, this cover features rockin' harmonica, great pulse, and entertaining lyrics, all of whichmake this song a lot of fun.  Sonny Boy's singing is what really makes this though : the way he h.o..l...d....s and. then. releasesallthetension.  The variation between fast and slow is great fun.

Sam Cooke - "Another Saturday Night" : Audio Sample
Available on Portrait Of A Legend

This is the man who practically invented Soul.  His early career was as a Gospel singer with the Soul Stirrers; he eventually broke off to carry many of the same musical ideas into the secular domain.  The piano, normally an instrument that does dual duty as a rhythm and melody instrument, is here used almost exclusively as a percussion piece.  Sam's vocals range from sweet and drawn-out to sharp and staccato.  Like most of Sam's music, this one takes a simple melodic idea and makes several quick variations before coming to a close.  Short and sweet.

Albertina Walker - "Born Again" : Audio Sample
Available on Sail Away

It was while dancing to this song that I realized I simply *had* to throw an event that featured Gospel music.  While structurally simple, there's a fair amount of rhythmic complexity that suggests a lot of possibilities for breaks and hits. The backup singers approach an ecstatic fervor; it's hard to imagine more passion in a song than this.

Abigail "Aba" Browning
www.vintagerhythm.com
Nashville, TN

Born North Carolina and raised by the south, Abigail Browning grew among the roots and traditions of gospel and blues. From grimy tracks of Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey to smooth sounds of John Lee Hooker, Nina Simone and Eric Clapton, Abigail loves blues. The crossover of blues into gospel fascinates her, but nothing makes Aba want to jump out of her seat and dance like soul music. Ms. Browning enjoys feeling out the flow and energy of the dance floor and challenging her dancers with new music that appeals to all styles of Swing. You'll see a smile on her face when she hears Sidney Bechet, Slim and Slam, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Janice Joplin and Billie Holiday.

Stevie Wonder - "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours" : Audio Sample
Available on The Definitive Collection

Irresistible beat, melodic yelling, grooving soul song from Stevie Wonder in 1970. It is amazing how blues lyrics have a completely optimistic outlook when they are put to this track.

Eric Clapton - "Running on Faith" : Audio Sample
Available on Unplugged

Live, acoustic Clapton at his finest. I love the rolling piano as it intertwines with the string bends on the guitar, and the building of the song as it crescendos through the end.

Nina Simone - "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl" : Audio Sample
Available on 20th Century Masters

Nina Simone. Simple, evocative lyrics, deep velveteen vocals, light ambient piano, brushes, snapping, and a saxophone contribute to this beautiful piece about desire.

Jim Wheatley
Atlanta, GA

Long before he started DJing swing / Lindy events or dancing those styles, Jim was listening to and loving Soul, Blues and Gospel Music. That love became evident back when he DJed dances during his high school days, all the way to 1999 when, as a DJ at “Swingers” in Atlanta’s Buckhead District during the days of neo-Swing, he still managed to pepper his playlists with tunes from James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Jr. Walker, Al Green and the Swan Silvertones. Since then, as the nature of music played at some dance events has changed, Jim has enjoyed the opportunity to slip more Gospel and Soul tracks into his sets. He even presented an all-Soul set at ASEDA’s “Hot Jam” in May, just prior to the Grand National Dance Championships (he also had the privilege of DJing at this renowned event in 2005 and 2006).

Among the other events where Jim has DJed with a little extra “soul” include ATLX, Beantown, Enter the Blues, and exchanges in Austin, Chicago, San Diego, Knoxville and South Florida, among others. His soulful experience recently culminated with an appearance at the Ypsilanti Swing & Soul Exchange in late June.

Jim understands the interacting influences between Gospel and Soul, and the differentiations between the classic Soul eras, from the earliest days of Jump Blues through the exciting days of Motown and the deep soul of Stax / Memphis, into the Philly Soul days of the pre-Disco early ’70s. In the Gospel realm, he also appreciates the eras of Gospel, from the days of the legendary groups to the time of popular full choirs and key solo vocalists. He enjoys mixing and matching these styles according to the needs of the dance floor at that time.

Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions - "We're A Winner" : Audio Sample
Available on The Very Best Of The Impressions (Rhino)

When Ray Charles melded together the sounds of the church and the juke joint with his first recordings on Atlantic Records, some called it an “unholy alliance".  But the power of the music crafted by this blending of styles fueled an upcoming generation with a new energy and a new mission.  Soul music provided the soundtrack for the Civil Rights movement, as this 1967 song, “We’re a Winner” by Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions, clearly testifies.

Frank Frost - "The Things You Do" : Audio Sample
Available on Harpin' It On : The Complete Jewel Recordings

It’s been said that the Blues is Gospel’s evil twin, but many Blues songs often craft a morality play worthy of any Biblical parable.  Here, Arkansas bluesman Frank Frost bemoans the unfaithful ways of his lover and asks her not to tell him (or the public).  Frank, who toured some with Sonny Boy Williamson, got his start playing the piano for choirs in his family’s church.  He later crossed over to the Blues; conversely, many Blues players crossed over into Gospel later in life.  The line between the two styles is sometimes barely existent.

The Blind Boys Of Alabama - "Marching Up To Zion" : Audio Sample
Available on Oh Lord, Stand By Me / Marching Up To Zion

During the glory days of Black Gospel Music, from just after World War II to about the mid-1960s, exceptionally talented, spiritually vibrant black gospel groups would travel the U.S., bringing down the glory (and the house) in both rural and urban churches.  The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama were one such group; the energy of their great performances is nearly unmatched in any form of music.  They provide clear evidence that Soul music is the child of -- and Blues the sibling of -- Gospel Music.

Patrick "Jaguar" Manigault
Atlanta, GA

As one of many "dancing DJs," Patrick has not yet mastered the art of doing both simultaneously while juggling. (It's safer that way.) However, his experience as a DJ has been enriched through more than a decade of experience in music theory as a vocal musician, and several years of experience dancing, performing, and teaching dances of the Swing-Era.

Put simply, his approach to DJ-ing focuses on "music that inspires dancing." He is drawn to and has assembled a collection of music that moves both the body and the soul. As a DJ for over 4 years, Patrick primarily DJs at events local to Atlanta such as Hot Jam, ASEDA dances, Georgia Tech dances, Atlanta Varsity Showdown, and the Atlanta Lindy Exchange.

Patrick's enjoys playing sounds and soul from Jazz and Blues artists such as Count Basie, Wingy Manone, Cab Calloway, Dinah Washington, Jimmy Witherspoon, Howlin' Wolf, and Muddy Waters. So, whether you are dancing Lindy Hop, Blues, or Charleston, you'll find inspiration to move, connection with your partner, and joy in what you hear.

James Brown, "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" : Audio Sample
Available on 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of James Brown

James Brown... What more can I say?  This tune by the Godfather of Soul makes you want to dance not matter what style of movement you subscribe to. I've always loved this tune and wondered why I never heard it more when swing DJs would occasionally play "non-swing" stuff.

Sam & Dave, "Hold On I'm Coming" : Audio Sample
Available on Hold On, I'm Comin'

This inspirational song brings to life the spirit of so much of the music of this era with it's upbeat rhythms and supportive message to anyone who's going though hard times. You can't help but feel good when you hear it.

BB King, "Rock Me Baby" : Audio Sample
Available on Original Greatest Hits (Virgin)

I find this tune combined with the lyrics a bit hypnotizing. It's one of those tunes you probably could dance to in any number of ways, but when I hear it, I just think' of zonin' out in that closer than closed position for little while.

Gina Helfrich
www.dancewithgina.com
Atlanta, GA

Gina Helfrich has been dancing lindy hop since 1999 and DJ'ing Lindy Hop gigs since 2006. Gina's DJing style is strongly influenced by her experience as a dancer. Not one to tell you the evolution of African-American music from Fats Waller to Aretha Franklin (because she doesn't know), instead she tries to reach inside and listen for the "soul" in the music that makes your feet start tappin' and your body want to move.

Gina has DJ'd at a number of southeast events with different musical themes, including Enter the Blues, ATLX, and Sugarfoot Stomp; she also recently DJ'd for Atlanta's first "Summer of Soul" dance in mid-June. She looks forward to bringing some seriously soulful tunes, along with some swingin' classics, to the Revival Day.

Betty Wright, "Shoorah! Shoorah!" : Audio Sample
Available on The Very Best Of Betty Wright

Betty Wright sings all these songs about losing her man to another woman or how he done her wrong. I love this song because it's about woman-power: that man "won't catch her." Plus the chorus, is "shoorah, shoorah" with this clapping rhythm, which is just awesome. You've got to sing along!

Barbara Acklin, "Love Makes a Woman" : Audio Sample
Available on 20 Greatest Hits

This song is so chill and groovy, with a bass-line that makes you want to swing. Barbara Acklin sings breathy and sweet over the top. This song just screams "outdoor picnic with friends" to me, which I think jives very well with the theme of Revival Day!

Tyrone Davis, "Can I Change My Mind?" : Audio Sample
Available on 20 Greatest Hits

In my humble opinion, this song has the best guitar riff of all time (Forget "My Girl," it's all about this song). In the great tradition of soul tunes, this song is about wishing things were different with your ex-sweetheart. It's so soulful and sweet and tragic and groovin' all at the same time, I can't help but get up and move around to this one.

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