Young and Old Show Dance Moves at Library

The Swingtime Big Band commemorated young men and women in uniform from the past and present at the on Nov. 14 with their authentic recreations of timeless music from the Swing Era, which ran from the mid 1930s through the early 1950s.  

With Steve Shaiman as conductor and Bobbie Ruth and Mark Buttice as vocalists, the 20 musicians of the Swingtime Big Band covered hits from Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie and more.

East Meadow community members crowded into the central area of the library to listen to the Swingtime Big Band bring to life both the style and the spirit of big band classics and popular tunes from the great American songbook.

Couple Carole and Skip Lambe were not shy; they were two of the few people who danced the evening away to Swing Era Jazz. 

"This is my parents' music; but I love the classics," Skip said. "We have been to this concert last year and we were looking forward to come back this year to dance." 

The dancing was not just for the older generations.  The younger generations also found themselves moving to the swinging beat.  Matthew Bondandy, though too young to know how to Fox Trot or do the Merengue, gave a great rendition of classic swing dance moves.  

His mother Dee Dee shared that Matthew "had never heard this music before; but when I told him that we were going to attend this concert, he got up early so excited to come today."

Sarah and Al Fishberg were also excited to attend the concert on Sunday. 

"We wish we could have danced tonight to all our favorite big band classics, but there was no room for us to get up and move amongst all the people," Al Fishberg said.

During intermission, as people were dispersing, the Fishbergs managed to get in a couple of swing steps; the twinkling in their eyes and the smiles on their faces gave away that they were satisfied.

Many people in the audience have attended this concert the past three years.  Yet, many others attended this concert by accident.  

One such library goer, Laura King, just happened to come to the library to check out a book and to her surprise was able to enjoy listening to Bobbie Ruth recreate the "gal vocals" of legendary singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee.  

King, part of a musical company with her mother, Bonnie King, was dancing to the old time music she loves dearly.  

"I am thrilled I came here by accident tonight; I just love this swing time music," King said.

Swing classics can be heard on the band's new CD: "Live...From New York," which is a compilation taken from recent concert performances and was available for purchase.

In addition to performing at the East Meadow Public Library, the Swingtime Big Band has performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Radio City Music Hall, the Plaza Hotel, the Rainbow Room and the Waldorf Astoria.

People certainly left satisfied after a long night of music.