Finding 1920s Style DJ Sets - Big Band Bush Doofer Seeks Similar

April 13, 2007 10:10 AM

Help me find some DJ sets / albums that prominently feature music / samples from the 20s and 30s, such as big band, jazz and swing.

I'm hosting a 20's themed birthday party for my wife, and am looking for some great music to play. I'm planning on opening with some traditional recordings, such as Billie Holliday, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Betty Boop and some other artists I've discovered since starting to research this, but as the night wears on I'd like to put on some more modern takes with the same prohibition-era feel.

Ideally I'd like to find a couple of well put together DJ sets, albums or even single tracks that have a chilled out dance beat with samples or tracks that borrow from music of the eras in question.
I'm not especially picky as to the exact era things come from, as long as the vibe and flow remain fairly consistent. I'd also like to hear suggestions for other original recordings of great artists in the same style if anyone has favorites.

Here's some interesting artists / links I've found just to get things started.

Wax Tailor Interesting mix of samples from old movies with some great production
Wax DJ One of my favorite resources for full DJ sets, and finding excuses to go clubbing here in Seattle
Hybrid Music Interesting question on combining music genres

Thanks!

posted by mikw to media & arts (12 comments total)

Jurassic 5, while not at all what you're talking about, has some swing samples on Quality Control.
posted by devilsbrigade at 10:17 AM on April 13, 2007

Yeah, the final track, "Swing Set", is a turntable workout using 1930s swing. Great stuff.
posted by Dean King at 10:30 AM on April 13, 2007

Swing Set rocks!

Check out Koop! They have a very 20's style for percussion in many of their tracks, and use wonderful vocalists with similar tendencies. Really, a great group all around, specfic tracks to look for:

Summer Sun
Come To Me
Island Blues

Their other stuff is glorious, but not notably swing-ish.
posted by phrontist at 10:43 AM on April 13, 2007

maybe something by kid koala?
posted by juv3nal at 11:20 AM on April 13, 2007

Verve Remixed! All are amazing.
posted by radioamy at 11:25 AM on April 13, 2007

Ohi Ho Bang Bang, a one-off Renegade Soundwave sideproject, fits the bill.

“Swing Set,” which others have mentioned, is featured in Steinski’s Nothing to Fear.
posted by hilker at 11:28 AM on April 13, 2007

I think the recordings of Pimp Daddy Nash totally fit the bill. Both of his albums are good, but but his first, Private Leftfield Downtempo Fuzz has the most references/samples of 20's & 30's music. There's also a Pimp Daddy Nash compilation track called "Joe Dropped The Swing" that's like a full on electronica/swing mash up. It's makes the people dance around all funny, too.
posted by General Zubon at 11:56 AM on April 13, 2007

There's some great stuff here everyone, thanks. This should keep me occupied for a while... The Paris DJ site is especially interesting, I think I'll be frequenting that one for a while.
posted by mikw at 12:22 PM on April 13, 2007

De-phazz
Mr. Scruff's Get a Move On also certainly a must.
Doo Uap, Doo Uap, Doo Uap from Hotel Costes 5 is also kickin'.
posted by cowbellemoo at 12:33 PM on April 13, 2007

If you can track down anything by DJ Steinski's track "Jazz," it features a lot of samples from the swing era (plus some dixieland and bebop).
posted by Alabaster at 1:31 PM on April 13, 2007

You might want to check out Luke Vibert & BJ Cole's "Swing Lite - Alright". You can download the mp3 here. I don't know how 20's/30's it is, but Xploding Plastix has some great jazzy electronica. They stream their albums on their site.
posted by snez at 3:12 PM on April 13, 2007

Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Meets King Pennett
posted by euphotic at 8:46 PM on May 21, 2007