Late July is our family time of year. My sister, brother in law and nephew trek in from San Diego, CA. She stays at our mom's house. My brother comes in from Saint Louis with wife, son, daughter, son in law and 4 grandchildren. They stay with his sister in law. My brothet and his wife drove up from NC and stayed with us. This past weekend was the church picnic. Plenty of food, beer and music. We took our daughter in law and grandaughter along Friday night. Pop pop got to ride on the rotating bears, the big ferris wheel and the slides with this 2 1/2 year old wonder. I really have to take her aside and explain the economic facts of life to her. Beer was $1, kiddy rides $2. I no no there are 10 bolts holding the ferris wheel seat side mechanism, 4 rotaing bears, 6 spinning teacups, but she was a bit overwhelmed trying to count the 12 seats on the merry mixer. She enjoyed being out on the dance floor with all the other little ones.
Saturday my mother has to be there early for the "Polka Mass". Saturday night adds my daughter, son in law and grandaughter, Saint Louis brother's in law cousins and our cousin and her husband. More polka music as the night wears on.
Sunday night we merely stop by for something to eat, different than the other 2 nights. With polka music overload, my wife and I hook up with cousin and husband again and head to the local borough park for a free "swing band" concert. Majority of the band, 18 in all, were in the 60-80 year old range. However they had 3 trumpet players in the 18-20 year old range with great chops. Mostly Glenn Miller music which really fit in as I sat there and finished reading Jeff Shaara's "The Steel Wave" a WWII Normandy Invasion historic novel. The music was quite appropriate. My one older brother stops by on the way to mom's and catches the last song. He argues it is "String of Pearls" and I explain it is "In The Moood". Almost no adults in attendance under 60 years of age.
We sent brother and sister on their way back home this morning after a breakfast of creamed chipped beef on toast, SOS. My sister had picked us up a few pounds on a day trip they made to Lancaster County last week.
Paul in PA
Sounds like a wonderful summer family get-together. It's what is really important in life; doing things with friends and loved ones, all ages, and enjoying it and appreciating it at it's finest.
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
pretty hard to confuse String of Pearls with In the Mood but maybe that's just me.
String of Pearls
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I've played in swing bands and polka bands, will take swing any day. Much easier and more fun, the trumpet and clarinet in a polka band never stop.
It sounds like a lot of fun, makes it all worthwhile for the band when folks enjoy themselves.
In the Mood
[flash width=480 height=385] http://www.youtube.com/v/ZJE-onnw2gM&hl=en_US&fs=1 [/flash]
> I've played in swing bands and polka bands, will take swing any day. Much easier and more fun, the trumpet and clarinet in a polka band never stop.
>
> It sounds like a lot of fun, makes it all worthwhile for the band when folks enjoy themselves.
I like swing bands too! It's very enjoyable to listen to them as well as watch those dancing to it. Makes me wanna dance too! Reminds me of a scene in "The Notebook" where the swing band is playing and everyone is boogieing down.
Just curious...is any of Frank Sinatra's music considered swing music??
Absolutely! Sinatra got his start with Harry James and was the last true crooner until his voice began to falter in his later years.
If you have Sirius, try Siriusly Sinatra, a ridiculously addictive station! They mix up the format with not just the Rat Pack stuff, but also his early years.
Swing Revival
Revisiting the original stuff, or 15 years too late for the big "Swing Revival" thing that was going on?
[flash width=480 height=385] http://www.youtube.com/v/1IqH3uliwJY&hl=en_US&fs=1 [/flash]
Swing Revival
[flash width=480 height=385] http://www.youtube.com/v/VdAt4qWvz_8&hl=en_US&fs=1 [/flash]
Swing Revival
I don't know if this is "swing" or what, but I think it's related or has it's roots in that genre somehow. Fun Irish rockabilly with a great chanteuse, Imelda May.
YOutube forbids embedding on this one, so I don't know how to post it, other than providing the link. It's worth watching.
Swing Revival
Haven't seen or heard that in a while.
The singer (Steve Perry) and I were in the same Honors College program at the University of Oregon in the early 80's.
