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Swing It

About Me

Swing itis an acoustic-visual extravaganza that involves poetry, music and dance, all happening at the same time. Poetry, music and dance intertwine with each other, creating the unique world of Swing it.The performance is based on John Clarke’s passionate jazz poetry. However Swing it is a project, where poetry, music and dance carry equal importance and where the outcome is more then just a sum of the components. Each piece in the program has a different mood, from jazzy swing to African rhythms to surrealistic ambient tunes. Swing it is a journey through different landscapes of artistic moods.Swing it crosses the strict boundaries of the genres. It can be classified as a multi-media performance, experimental jazz, etc – depends from which angle to look. It’s like an amphibian that can walk, swim and fly. And this is also why Swing it fits in to a broad variety of events: poetry, music and cabaret evenings and theatrical showcases.Swing it has developed as a collaboration, all aspects of the program are the original creation of band members. On the exotic side we use didgeridoo as one of the instruments and the dancer uses masks and other visual effects.Swing-it in performance is up beat, energetic, entertaining and humorous.If you would like to book Swing it for an event, please e-mail:[email protected] [email protected] ---------------------------Swing it was created in spring 2005 and has been gigging regularly ever since. The band has been playing a variety of London venues. Swing it has also taken part at festivals, such as Hammersmith and Fulham festival, Spike festival, Jam at the Lock and festival at Nunhead. Swing it has appeared at local radio stations and a documentary about the group is in the process of being made.Swing it membersJohn Clarke – jazz poetry Jacob Doran – guitar, didgeridoo Dunstan Clarke – bongo drums (not J.C’s relative!) Aime Hansen – dance, visual effectsHistory:The four members of 'SWING IT' were brought together between 2004/2005 through a mutual passion for London's Alternative Music,Song,Spokenword & Poetry scene.John & Aime met initially through performances at The Poetry Cafe in Covent Garden at Tuesday's popular open mic 'Poetry Unplugged' night & subsequently through the regular 'Radge Poets'event 'Walking The Dog'whivh also incorporated 'live' music & performance.John would go on to meet Dunstan via a mutual friend (Poet/Performer & Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter,Eugene Wolstenholme)who worked at 'WORDSWORTHS BOOKSHOP' in Butterfly walk in Camberwell(which sadly closed its doors during 2006).Around that time John had began to run his own alternative performance/music/poetry event called 'HIP HEAVEN'(monthly every last Thursday)in the atmospheric cellar of the 'Bubblegum Club',46 Deptford Broadway, SE8. It was there that Dunstan (on djembe-African Drum) & John began to collaborate-with John vocalising his rhythmic Jazz Poetry.Meanwhile Jacob, one of Dunstan's friends had been running a monthly event with another friend,Brett Gow- lett,over in Whitechapel,called 'THE HUMAN ZOO' (check out their myspace below). This was run in 'open mic'style and,like John's 'HIP HEAVEN',attracted a wide variety of quality performers. With the added feature of a 'jam'to round off the evening this proved very successful.Like 'HIP HEAVEN' the event was to last for approximately two years- the final 'HIP HEAVEN' was on 31 March 2006.The forming of 'SWING IT'(MARCH 2005)was not a completely conscious decision,as such,but grew organicallythrough the collaborationsformed between the four members at both 'HIP HEAVEN','THE HUMAN ZOO' & elsewhere.Many Bands seem to adopt a similar formula as a starting point it seems.From a base of just a couple of full rehearsals 'SWING IT' devised a programme of pieces to perform (and, in Aime's case, to interpret choreographically) to audiences.With all four members having previously established a solid network of contacts this led to invitations to the Band to perform at a variety of venues across the Capital. Swing it will be performing what is probably to be theri last ever gig on Mon 18th August at teh Rhythm Factory, come and see us so you can say you were there! Dunstan is off to seek fame and fortune in the Czech republic and although he'll probably be back who knows whether swing it will but hey nothing lasts forever its been about 2 years weve had loads of great gigs thnaks to all the lovely people who booked us some very memorable evenings and who knows what the future holds the site's gonna stay up and will be used by Jazzman John who is of course going on to bigger and better things all the time so you can keep in touch with it here, check out Jacob and Amie's myspaces for news of the many exciting, creative and absolutely bloody marvelous things they're doing you wouldn't wnat to miss out!-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- All artistic materials on the site: C Swing it 2007-----------------------------

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Member Since: 03/02/2007
Band Members: John 'Jazzman' Clarke - vocals Aime Hansen - dance and performance Jake Doran - guitar and digeridoo Dunstan Clarke(no relation) - djembe and percussion
Sounds Like: 'BEAT COMBO WITH DANCE & U.S.WEST COAST FEEL/SOUND' COMPARISONS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH 'THE LAST POETS'& 'CAPTAIN BEEFHEART''LIVE' ON STAGE 'SWING IT'PRODUCE A STUNNING & STARTLING MUSICAL/PERFORMANCE CHEMICAL REACTION (EMPLOYING A MIXTURE OF RAW & MELODIC GUITAR RIFFS +HYPNOTIC WHIRLWIND DJEMBE BEATS & HAUNTING DIDGERIDOO/PERCUSSION MARRIED TO SPECTACULAR/HUMOROUS DANCE FROM THE ENCHANTING AIME HANSEN RESPONDING TO THE DECLAMATORY/LYRICAL VOCALS OF 'JAZZMAN' JOHN CLARKE. YOU ARE LEFT WITH AN EXPERIENCE THAT FEEDS BOTH THE AUDITORY AND VISUAL SENSES ALMOST THE POINT OF SATIETY OR CESSATION.'
Type of Label: Major

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