SWING DANCE with THE SMACK DABS

*7:00pm, before the show, join us for a brief lesson on the basics of swing with Jen & Ray of Lindy Maine!

The Smack Dabs, out of Boston MA, specialize in good-time Swing Blues music from the 1930s, featuring the songs of Tampa Red, Big Bill Broonzy, The Harlem Hamfats, and many others. This delightful and timeless genre features a rich variety of musical styles, ranging from mournful blues to joyful celebrations, setting the stage for incredible solo and group improvisations and delighting audiences and dancers alike.

We are proud to feature some of Boston's most compelling improvising musicians in our rotating lineup, bringing a fresh and unique sound to each performance.

• Mark Earley: guitar, vocals, kazoo

• Richard Saunders: piano

• Jim Gray: upright bass

• Mark Berney: cornet

• Kit Buckley: saxophone, clarinet

• Jon Kraus: washboard

SWING BLUES: THE BACKSTORY

The 1930s were halcyon days for Swing music, but not just for the likes of big bands like Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Jimmy Lunceford, and the Dorsey Brothers. There were literally hundreds of small Swing combos from trios to octets, each with its own unique take on the music that dominated the market during the height of the Great Depression. The list of artists who led small combos include Tiny Grimes, Slim Galliard, Billie Holiday, and Fats Waller. In addition to these groups, several important vocal harmony groups were also active on the scene, including the Cats and the Fiddle, the Mills Brothers, the Ink Spots, and the Spirits of Rhythm. Evolving out of New Orleans jazz and ragtime stylings, Swing music was fueled by the improvisational and rhythmic innovations of soloists like Louis Armstrong and Coleman Hawkins. It remains primarily dance music. 

$17 advance | $22 day-of

*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)

A special evening of swing and Gypsy jazz music in celebration of the legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt. Featuring Django’s compositions with a sprinkling of Holiday classics, this is bound to be an unforgettable evening that will bring you joy and that Holiday spirit!

The band includes Dance Hall favorites Jason Anick on violin, Matt DeChamplain on piano, Jack Soref on guitar, and Greg Toro on bass. 

Berklee College of Music Professor Jason Anick, has earned a reputation among string players as an imaginative improviser, versatile composer, and insightful educator.

Growing up playing fiddle tunes with his family and classical music with local orchestras, he developed a passion for improvisation, which led him to study jazz and classical music at Hartt Conservatory. In 2008, Anick started what would be a 10 year stint touring and recording with Grammy award-winning guitar virtuoso John Jorgenson while still a senior at Hartt Conservatory. 

As a band-leader, Anick has launched a variety of musical projects over the years, including the Gypsy Jazz group Rhythm Future Quartet, an Americana-inspired Acoustic Trio, and a contemporary jazz ensemble with pianist Jason Yeager. His string of recordings (Sleepless, Tipping Point, United, Travels, Rhythm Future Quartet and Friends) has earned him praise from Downbeat Magazine as a "Rising Star in the world of jazz violin." 

$20 advance. $25 door