Solomon Douglas is a jazz pianist and bandleader, whose various bands have played at countless events in North America, Asia, and Australia in the past nine years.
Solomon toured with the world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra as their pianist in 2006, and is now working as a full-time musician, bandleader, and dance instructor.
The Solomon Douglas Swingtet is a ten-piece dance band whose repertoire is rooted in that of the Basie band (Shiny Stockings, Cherry Point, One O’Clock Jump, Jive at Five, Splanky, Shorty George) and that of the Ellington band (Mood Indigo, Johnny Come Lately, Take The “A” Train, Cottontail, “C” Jam Blues), with other big-band standards and classic jazz tunes thrown in as well.
“A very good album! Very danceable, mixed tempos, and a variety of songs. I like it. I’m not just saying that, either. The band plays together very, very well.” —Frankie Manning (1914-2009), originator of the Lindy Hop (New York, NY)
“Good band. They play for dancers. That’s important.” —Dawn Hampton, dancer and musician (New York, NY)
“‘Swingmatism’ highlights Solomon’s expansive knowledge and passion as dancer, musician and arranger. I will be spinning this CD often!” —Jesse Miner, Swing DJ (San Francisco, CA)
“Very impressive, very professional and tight. I am blown away by the work and by the musicians picked. It is nice to have a swing CD made by a dancer.” —Virginie Jensen, Lindy Hop instructor (San Francisco, CA)
“This CD hits the mark for dancers. Swings hard, and hits you in the gut, especially when Solomon is on the keyboard. Get it, listen to it, dance to it!!” —Bill Borgida, Lindy Hop instructor and Swing DJ (Austin, TX)
“Really fantastic. Vastly superior to 99% of big band stuff produced in the last 20 or 30 years. Good to dance to and great to listen to.” —David Mortensen, Swing DJ (Seattle, WA)
“Great tunes, great musicians, great arrangements—a very stimulating and enjoyable listening experience, and swinging!” —Larry O’Brien, musical director of the Glenn Miller Orchestra
“I’ve danced to Junior Mance, Ray Bryant, Clark Terry, Barbara Morrison and more, and Solomon’s swingin’ group ranks right up there with the best of them for dancers.” —David Jacoby, Swing DJ (New York, NY)
“Not every day you find a band that can play traditional as well as modern jazz. The Solomon Douglas Swingtet has all those ingredients. And all I can say is that they are really solid.” —Chester Whitmore, jazz historian and choreographer (Los Angeles, CA)
“This band is one of the best swing bands in the country right now. We are so lucky to have someone who is truly recreating the side of jazz that makes us want to swing out within the true essence of Lindy Hop.” —Tonya Morris, Lindy Hop instructor and event planner (Los Angeles, CA)
“One of the best new recordings I’ve heard in a while... I love dancing to these guys, they have an authentic style and great energy.” —Nina Gilkenson, Lindy Hop instructor (Washington, DC)
“‘Swingmatism’ sounds great! Nicely recorded, clean, right, bright, swinging. In the words of Cheong Liu, ‘right on!’” —Alex Pangman, musician (Toronto, ON)
“If you are looking for a CD with some very good vintage-sounding swinging music, this is one to get!” —Mary Ann Devries, Swing DJ and organizer (Cleveland, OH)
“These are some of the best renditions of some of my favorite songs. I still can’t decide what is better: the fidelity and tone of the CD and band itself; or the fact that a modern swing band has so much obvious soul.” —Andrew Slac, Swing DJ, Lindy Hop instructor, and organizer (Portland, OR)
“This is one of the best CDs in my collection. From a modern-day artist, it’s tops. This CD is completely filled with songs that fill the dance floor, night after night. Buy it because the CD freaking rocks!” —Joshua Keroes, Blues and Swing DJ (Portland, OR)
“You’ve got the best swing band in the nation! You’re true to the roots of Jazz... which is to... SWING!” —Clark Goodloe, musician (Sacramento, CA)
“I have to say you did a great job and your guys are really tight! I’ll definitely be playing tracks from it on Tuesdays on a regular basis. Really nice job!” —Mike Ringer, Swing DJ (Sacramento, CA)
“I often tell people that if they want a CD that combines great musicianship with a variety of styles and tempos, Solomon’s latest CD is a great choice, especially if you’re just starting to build your swing music collection.” —Byron Alley, dancer, Swing DJ, and organizer (Ottawa, ON)
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