Dear Folks,

You have been more than 3’000 to connect to the two rounds of the ElectroSwing People Favorite 2011 edition.

We first thank our curators and friends Chris Tofu (ElectroSwing Club), Martin (Chin Chin records), Nick Hollywood (Freshly Squeezed), Julien & Nuno and all (Electro-Swing.com), Tom Longland, Gulbuhar Kultur and Johannes  (from Lola’s World), Shoji (from Rambling records), Tavo (Bedroom Musik).

Remember the results are only related to online votes and IP address recognised can not vote twice for the same artists. The unfinished questionnaires were not considered by the software.

1335 online votes

564 fully completed (sorry, but the system does not approve unfinished questionnaires)

Any winner can use the official logo and the Blog Post in order to let its community know about the results.

In the first round the MIXTAPE that won the Best Mixtape of the year was :

Mr jennings – the intergalactic speakeasy (ES048) – http://electro-swing.com/2011/podcast/mr-jennings-the-intergalactic-speakeasy-es048/

1. Best Artist

   Swing republic (263 votes) WIN

   Parov Stelar (168 votes)

   The Correspondent (133 votes)

   1. Best track

   Caravan Palace – Crash EP – 231 votes WIN

   Swing republic – Ballroom EP – 175 votes

   Parov Stelar – The Paris Swing Box –  158 votes

   1. Best Party

   Electro Swing Club London – 247 Votes WIN

   Electro Swing Club Paris – 164 Votes

   White Mink UK – 153 Votes

   1. Best DJ

   Kiwistar – 227 Votes WIN

   James Copeland – 174 Votes

   Bart&Baker – 163 Votes

   1. Best remix

   Dimitri From Paris « Sacré français » (Bart&Baker remix) – 213 Votes WIN

   Dirty Honkers – Gingerbread Man ( Tavo remix) – 180 Votes

   Muse – Feeling good – fr33m4n remix – 171 Votes

   1. Best Live Act

   Electric Swing Circus – 293 Votes WIN

   Caravan Palace – 161 – Votes

   Parov Stelar Band – 110 – Votes

   1. Best Video

   Kitten & The Hip – Don’t you worry – 238 votes WIN

   Bart&Baker feat Kitten on the Keys – Peek a Boo – 190 votes

   AlgoRythmiK Andrew’s Break – 136 votes

   1. Best Album

   Swing Republic – ElectroSwing Republic – CD version – 312 votes WIN

   The Drapers – Yakety Yak – 127 Votes

   Caro Emerald – live in Holland – 125 Votes

   1. Best Compilation

   ElectroSwing IV – 221 votes WIN

   ElectroSwing Revolution 2 – 208 votes

   Swing Diskoteka -  135 votes

   10. Best hope for 2012

   Swingrowers – 254 Votes WIN

   Electric Swing Circus  – 239 Votes

   Lazlo – 71 Votes

   Thanks for all the voters and to you all, we’re happy to offer a Bart&Baker EP that their new label is giving away for Christmas Only. The link will only operate between today and December 25^th. Be quick to download.

If the download does not work click on : http://www.blogexpert.info/christmasEP.zip

TO VOTE  Click on http://www.enquetefacile.com/RespWeb/Qn.aspx?EID=1150464

There has been a staggering 1524 connection to the quizz but unfortunately many of you have not completed all the question, the software could not then validate all the answers. From 411 fully completed questionnaire emerge.

1. BEST ARTISTS (Active in 2011 using singers or instruments on their recording and live appearances – Mostly recording / excluding DJs)
Parov Stelar
Swing Republic
The Correspondents

2. BEST TRACK (commercially released as a single or EP in 2011)
Caravan Palace – Crash
Parov Stelar – The Paris Swing Box
Swing Republic – Ballroom EP

3. BEST PARTY (Happened in 2011 – has to incorporate exclusively ElectroSwing Bands or DJs)

ElectroSwing Club London
ElectroSwing Club Paris
White Mink (UK)

4. Best ElectroSwing DJ
Bart&Baker
Kiwistar
James Copeland

5. Best remix of Original Song
Dimitri From Paris « Sacré français » (Bart&Baker remix) – soundcloud link
Dirty Honkers – Gingerbread Man ( Tavo remix)
Feeling good – fr33m4n ( Muse Remix)

6. Best Live Act ( in tour in 2011)
Caravan Palace
Parov Stelar Band
Electric Swing Circus

7. Best Video
AlgoRythmiK Andrew’s Break
Bart&Baker feat Kitten on the Keys – Peek a Boo – youtube link
Kitten & The Hip – Don’t you worry

8. Best Album
Swing Republic – ElectroSwing Republic – CD version
The Drapers – Yakety Yak
Caro Emerald – Live in Holland

9 Best Mixtape (only three contestants and not additionnal contenders throught the « other section »
Mr Jennings

10. Best Compilation
ElectroSwing revolution 2 (lola’s world)
Swing Diskoteka
ElectroSwing Vol 4

11. Best Hope For 2012
Lazlo
Swingrowers
ElectroSwing Circus

YOU CAN NOW VOTE FOR THE SECOND ROUND – between Dec 16th & Dec 23rd.

Click on :

http://www.enquetefacile.com/RespWeb/Qn.aspx?EID=1150464

We continue our serie of interviews with artist involved in the Electro Swing Scene and sometimes on Electro Swing IV. Kitten On The Keys, multi talented lady (MC, singer, ukulele & piano player, burlesque performer & actress…) has recorded an electro swing version of the rare Rose Murphy track under the production talent of Bart&Baker. Kitten tells us all !

1. Can you briefly describe who you are and your carreer so far ?

Hi- my name is Kitten on the Keys from SF -I am a singer ,pianist,ukulele,  & accordion squeezer. For many years I have been the  mistress of ceremonies for big Burlesque Festivals like TEASEORAMA, Burlesque Hall of Fame, New Orleans Burlesque Festival etc. I collect  and play vintage music- I love the 1920′s and 1930′s Tin Pan Alley Era-It’s fun to  introduce forgotten gems to a whole new audience and I also write my own cabaret songs. I perform an eclectic mix of songs at several piano bars in San Francisco.  I have some self produced  CD’s available on iTUNES and a one woman show called « Does This Piano Make My Ass Look Big? « . I have a role in the popular touring show Cabaret New Burlesque and Mathieu Amalric’s award winning film TOURNEE. I am excited to be on the latest Bart and Baker ELECTRO SWING IV- I really enjoy our collaboration on Rose Murphy’s « Peek A Boo ». Is it a children’s game or is it something else?  Something more adult? This double entendre  gem is the exact kind of song I love to sing!!

2 What has been your story with ElectroSwing music ? When did you first discover the genre and what has been your thoughts at the time ?

My Dad was a HUGE Jazz and Swing enthusiast- it was the earliest form of music I listened to all the time as a child My Dad was a Big Band leader in the Bay Area I did not see him much as a child because he was always touring as a drummer.I just inherited my late father’s swing and jazz vinyl collection that has many collectors drooling. I first heard some early « swing w/ beats » as I first thought of « electro swing » at TEASEORAMA- one of the dancers, Michelle L’Amour from Chicago had a husband who reworked old tunes like « Take it Off The E String (Play it on the G String) for her stage show.

His name was Frankie Vivid. At first I was a little taken aback- should I be a purist? Do I only want to hear this song in one form? The  answer is NO- I love Electro Swing- I think it is sensational to remix and reinvent this great music for a whole new audience to enjoy- I find it joyous and playful-fabulous to move to! I was on the same bill playing live at the Alcazar in Paris with Bart and Baker – I danced until the place closed- not a care in the world-every photo shows a HUGE gleaming smile on my face. I am truly having a tremendous time with my friends and show buddies-dancing to Bart and Baker’s delightful mix of tunes.  The songs are familiar yet completely different! I enjoy hearing what inspires the DJ from the past and what they will make for the  future- I love the quest for music. I go to the library and befriend music collectors-best way to learn new music!

3. Tell us more about the track and the story behind the track ?

Bart of Bart and Baker was sure I was familiar with 1940′s singer /songwriter /pianist Rose Murphy. I said WHO?

How could I miss the Chi Chi Girl? Her unique vocal stylings were infectious,  daring, silly and fun- Bart and Baker  heard a lot of my playful style in her and so did I! A chance to do our own version of Rose Murphy’s  Peek a Boo in the studio in Paris? Why yes please! My boyfriend who is a sax and flute player helped me figure out Rose’s chord changes on the ukulele. We could not stop singing Peek A Boo!

4. what are your main influences in the electroswing scene ? DJ ? Track ? Band ?

I did not even realize that this Circus Troupe I perform with regularly in San Francisco had been using DJ Dmitri From Paris  songs for a few years. Besides Bart and Baker , I am most familiar w/DJ Dmitri From Paris as the epi center of the Electro Swing movement. I even heard DJ Neon Bunny in San Jose spinning some great electroswing-when I mentioned Bart and Baker he went bunny batty that I knew them personally!

5. What are you preparing for 2012 ? I have a lot of touring with Cabaret New Burlesque though out France and other awesome cities in Europe.

I am hosting Teaseorama 2012 at famed Supper Club BIMBOS  in San Francisco in April,  I have some studio work lined up with 2 different bands-I can name drop later! I hope to do more solo piano and vocal work while in France.

Between touring and recording- I have to move in 2012 which is terrifying  but that also gives me a chance to go through my collections of 78′s,vintage sheet music, and vinyl to prepare a new batch of forgotten gems! Lots of selling, sorting and organizing but half the fun is finding new vintage songs to rework in my own style for a whole new audience.

Jazz Reconstructions is a DJ/Producer team from Japan, responsible for the great remix of « It don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that swing » included on Electro Swing IV and originally released on RAMBLING RECORDS, Japan’s first distributor for the Electro Swing genre. Very discreet on the electro swing scene, we have been able to learn more about them.

1. Can you tell us a bit more about you ?

I’ve been DJing since 1990′s in Tokyo, playing house music, disco, soul and jazz. Generally speaking I play all genre of music if it fits my style.

2.How did you discover Electro Swing ?

I first discovered Electro Swing in the 90′s when I first listened to Endangered Species « Ping Pong ».
Pal Joey is also a pioneer who first mixed house music with jazz. We didn’t have a genre called « Electro » back then. I think his track is one of the first hit which tried to unite swing jazz and house music. If we refer further to its origin, Larry Levan and Ron Hardy played The Charlie Calello Orchestra « Sing Sing Sing ». We can say this track traces roots of this genre. There is unchanging truths crossing today and in the old days. Everybody dances with big smile when this style of music is played.

3. Tell us about the remix !!!

I was happy but careful to remix this track ’cause it is a great work by a great artist. Technical skill of remix is based on similar idea to sampling, so it’s not that difficult. In a way, it all depends on ideas. I tried to be faithful to the original track adding interesting construction and development. Inserting sound effect which projects black and white movie, anyhow I tried to make it a visual piece.

4. Any plans for the future ?

In this scene, I work under Jazz Reconstructions name. It means rebirth of jazz for me. In the future, I may produce more electro swing remixes and also wish to make original tracks in this style. If Electro Swing party is organised in Japan, that will be more fun!