Yes, it’s that time of year when thoughts of turkey appear in our heads and a lot of it ends up in our tummies. Tonight we’re going to dance off the previous nights yams and pies (or at least try to). What better way to burn off all those added calories than taking a spin on the dance floor? So if you happen to be in town, come on out and share some camaraderie with those of us who aren’t travelling on this hectic holiday weekend.

Lesson (included in the price of admission):
8:00pm - 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm - 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Friday, November 11th is Veteran’s Day and we’d like to say a big Thank You to our Vets (and active service men and women) by throwing a special USO style* swing dance, like they did back during WWII. Though we have no political agenda here at BSC, it seems appropriate to show our respect to those who serve and protect so the rest of us can keep on swingin!

The USO is a private organization that has provided morale and recreational services since 1941. Their first priority has always been supporting America’s troops. USO centers and clubs opened around the world as a “Home Away from Home” for GI’s, and was a place to go for dances and social events.

In the 1940’s big bands were the cat’s pajamas. For this event we’ve got one of Boston’s Best Big Bands, the White Heat Swing Orchestra. They’ll be playing all the classic Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie hits of the 30’s and 40’s. So get dolled up like it’s 1941 and help us say thanks to our military brothers and sisters. White Heat float up and down at the Boston Harbor Hotel and swing hard to Lindy Hop classic: “Digi Digi Doo”!

Servicemen and women who show up in their Dress Uniforms get in for FREE!
Veterans of WWII, Vietnam, Korea, and Desert Storm get in for FREE!
All other veterans and active military (as well as police and fire) personnel get in for $5 off!

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm - 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm - 12:30am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

*Please note that Boston Swing Central is not associated with the United Service Organization.

Keeping up our relentless Fall schedule of great live music, we’re happy to welcome back Swing Legacy! It has been a while since we had this six-piece little big band play for us.

Swing Legacy has been a fixture of the Boston swing scene since 1991, playing with the style and informed of the great big bands from the swing era. Their repertoire concentrates on classic big band swing music including many Duke Ellington and Count Basie numbers ideal for Lindy Hop and swing dancing. Much of their great catalog of songs showcases their phenomenal singer, Debby Larkin. It promises to be a night full of exciting original arrangements that will keep you dancing all night long!

Here’s a short story as told to us by their larger-than-life saxophone player, Ted Casher

(on right) Ted Casher

“I was gigging with Bo Winiker Orchestra at the Faneuil Hall Rotunda for a Wellesley College 10-year class reunion. Bo said that we could play anything we wanted, only as soft as possible! We were playing bebop tunes, the ladies were reuniting, when I noticed a tall, good-looking man listening intently, standing up against the wall. At the end of the set, he came up to me and asked, “Is that the new Dukoff mouthpiece? I’ve heard about it. Sounds good!”

We talked on—he was knowledgeable about reeds and mouthpieces, and I asked “Are you playing now? He answered, “Not much these days. I’m the Governor of Arkansas, and I don’t have time to practice.”

I then asked, “Wanna play?” He said, “Sure!”, and so I grabbed Bo and said “I’ve got a tenor player who wants to sit in—he’s the Governor of Arkansas.” Bo said “Sure”, and so I gave William Jefferson Clinton a spare strap and my tenor sax. I grabbed my alto, and we all played.

We played some blues, followed by “Perdido”, then “Take the A-Train.” You could tell that Bill had spent time with the instrument — he knew such minutae as the out-choruses to “Perdido” and “A-Train”. He also soloed well — didn’t make any blatant errors!

The alumnae were beginning to come up to the bandstand to watch him play, and after the set was over, a lady with brown wavy hair and big hexagonal glasses came up and said to him “You sounded great, Dear!” It was Hillary Rodham Clinton!

The next time I saw Bill Clinton, I was playing a fundraiser for him at the Parker House. And the next time, I was in DC with the Winiker Orchestra, playing lead alto at his Inauguration!”

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm - 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm - 12:30am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129