John Malmstrom

I’m going to take a little break from my usual swingy hyperbole to offer some simple, genuine heartfelt thanks.

The end of March, the 30th and 31st to be exact, was a truly wonderful weekend. On Friday I was able to play a huge “Prohibition Swing Dance” event for Jazzeast, Halifax’s jazz society. They are a wonderful and vibrant organization comprised of a small paid staff and a corps of dedicated, enthusiastic volunteers. We were the opening act to an evening of swinging music and swell dancers. Sending out my licks from the stage of Halifax’s cavernous and historic Olympic Centre was a huge thrill.

A photo slideshow of Swingology at Jazzeast’s prohibition Swing Dance

The next night we were honored a few miles to the south by the chance to play to a full house of gypsy jazz fans at the Chester Playhouse. Our sound tech, the acoustics of the theatre, our audience, and my incredible band mates made for possibly the best evening of music I’ve gotten to be a part of.

A photo slideshow of Swingology at the Chester Playhouse

I hope the folks running the venues and organizations, our old and new friends who came out to listen and dance to our tunes, and my Swingology band mates know how much I treasure the chance to be part of this. Thank you.

The photos of the two events were taken by my wife Susan Malmstrom, who deserves no small bit of thanks as well.

Huh!

Thought you might enjoy seeing this, we have a number of big gigs this weekend, but it was quite a surprise to wake up and see the morning paper.  Click the screen-shot for the full story:

The Chronicle Herald is the paper-of-record in Nova Scotia’s provincial capital, Halifax. Here’s a peek at the venue we’re playing (as it appeared in 1948!).

She was born March 13, 1916. With her highly respected, all-woman band she was one of swing’s hottest acts ever in terms of music, and in terms of… well, er, I’ll say!

She headlined at the kinda club I want to go to!

Here’s my favorite clip,

Here’s an ultra-mini “documentary”:

Thank you Ms. Hutton!

It was just a year ago that this cold and weary jazzman stumbled in out of a howling Nova Scotia snowstorm and into a cozy café filled with folks who were soon to become his wonderful friends. You can read the original story here.

It’s been a great year, in many ways my happiest. Want to hear what we’ve been up to? Stop by the little Trellis Café sometime to find out! The music — and the friendships — are still in full swing.