Does a jazz performance have 'swing'..? What some scientists are saying about it. (Page 1/1)
rinselberg JAN 19, 11:05 AM
"What Is This Thing Called Swing?" "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" Jazz recordings anyone could find on YouTube.

Is there a scientific explanation of "swing"..? Some researchers have been working on it (scientifically), of late. And here's a new article that includes some audio clips.

Maria Godoy for NPR; January 18, 2023
https://www.npr.org/section...unravel-jazz-mystery
maryjane JAN 19, 11:22 AM
Bob Willls is still the king......
williegoat JAN 19, 12:00 PM
First, for maryjane:



Now, when I first saw this thread last Friday, I was thinking of commenting that there are two things that AI will never achieve: Humor and Swing. Because of this, machines will never be truly intelligent.

I happened to read the NPR article last night and all I can say is, they still don't get it. It has always been understood that swing is slight deviations in timing, but a machine will never be able to decide when and how much.

Louis Armstrong got it:



Bobby Darin didn't:



And just because...



Lord, I can't help myself...
maryjane JAN 19, 12:25 PM

quote
Originally posted by williegoat:


Lord, I can't help myself...




Can't blame you..Benny's version is the classic swing!!! He had such a great group of musicians behind him too. None equalled.
Gene Krupa nailed it.
williegoat JAN 19, 12:36 PM
Same song, same singer, same guitarist; but the smaller ensemble allowed for more freedom expression:



I like this version better:
maryjane JAN 19, 12:46 PM
Oh, just stop!! Peggy Lee's raised eyebrow is killer.............
williegoat JAN 19, 12:51 PM

quote
Originally posted by maryjane:

Can't blame you..Benny's version is the classic swing!!! He had such a great group of musicians behind him too. None equalled.
Gene Krupa nailed it.


Gene Krupa will always be one of my favorite drummers and he did a great job as always.

The star of that particular recording was Jess Stacy. His piano work that night is the stuff of legends. Volumes have been written about that two minutes from 85 years ago.

edit: It just occurred to me that that was exactly 85 years and three days ago. Goodman is finishing up his solo, Krupa does a fill and Stacy gets his nod at 9:20.

[This message has been edited by williegoat (edited 01-19-2023).]

williegoat JAN 19, 01:42 PM
Really, the feel and timing that makes Swing so expressive isn't exclusive to Jazz.

Floyd Cramer and Patsy Cline had it.