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The Solomon Douglas Swingtet

Solomon Douglas is a jazz pianist and bandleader, whose various bands have played at more than fifty exchanges, camps, workshops, and other dance events in North America, Asia, and Australia in the past seven years. His experience as a swing dancer and dance instructor gives him an understanding unique among musicians of the music that swing dancers and blues dancers like to dance to!

The Solomon Douglas Swingtet is an eight-piece dance band whose repertoire is rooted in that of the Basie band (One O'Clock Jump, Jive at Five, Splanky) and that of the Ellington band (Cottontail, C-Jam Blues, Take The A-Train), with other big-band standards and classic jazz tunes thrown in as well. They play up-tempo classic swing, slower groovier jazz, and everything in between. Past dance events that featured the Solomon Douglas Swingtet include the Canada Day Exchange (Ottawa, ON), June 2007; Swing Out Nowhere (Moscow, ID), Apr. 2007; the Sacramento Swing Jam, Aug. 2006; Philadelphia Lindy Love, June 2006; the Portland Lindy Exchange, Mar. 2006; Swing Out Northwest (near Seattle), Dec. 2002, Dec. 2004, and Dec. 2006.

Rollanda Lee &
Her Gentlemen of Swing

ROLLANDA LEE sings in a wide variety of styles - whether it's big band, Traditional/Dixieland jazz, standards, latin jazz, ballads, she instills special meaning to each song she sings. More than just an entertainer, she has the special gift of leaving her audiences with the same bright, happy, optimistic outlook she herself has. She has sung at various Jazz Festivals from Victoria, Medford, Helena, Great Falls, Sacramento and Edmonton and Hawaii. ROLLANDA LEE AND HER GENTLEMEN OF SWING also performed for Calgary's 5-Plex in 2007 and they were a hit.

THE GENTLEMEN OF SWING have been playing with Rollanda Lee for over 10 years now and the talent is outstanding with Andrew Glover on piano, who is one of the busiest musicians in Edmonton. Wes Yaciuk is in great demand for recording sessions and concerts and teaches guitar/banjo. Doug Innes who is a veteran saxophone/clarinet player can play in all styles and can swing with the best of them. John Taylor on bass has played with the E.S.O. for many years and is in great demand with various bands. Dean Pierno on drums, has been busy with jazz clinics, and teaches music when not playing with the bands.

So all in all, this band will provide some great swing music and with an extensive repertoire from the 1920's through the '40s and big band era... and even some rock 'n roll. Rollanda and her group are in big demand for various types of dances, conventions and jazz concerts.

DJ Toon Town Dave

Dave (aka Toon Town Dave) discovered Lindy Hop in the Spring of 2000 and a year later was helping with DJ duties at what was then Saskatoon's weekly swing night. Dave's taste in music ranges from Traditional Jazz and early Blues to early Soul and R&B with loads of Big Band Swing in between. Dave has been a guest DJ at swing dance events across Western Canada and as far away as Seattle, WA and the Yehoodi radio show.

Dave will be both DJing and coordinating who DJs for 7PLEX. Look forward to not only great music from Dave, but also that of several more swing DJs coming to this event!

DJ Contest - Lindybout Prelims

7PLEX will feature the best swing DJs in the prairies! Taking on sets for the late nights, band breaks, and day activities, these DJs will be trying to win your hearts with the music they spin. Lindybout is a dance event and competition in Vancouver in April, and 7PLEX is the prelims for this event. If you want your shot at Lindybout, please contact Dave: 7plex-djs(at)toontownswing.com

PLEX DJs