Akbank Jazz hosts electro swing night

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Electro-swing dance group, Swing Zazou will perform as part of the Akbank Jazz Fest at Babylon on Oct. 13 with the electronica duo Smokey Joe & The Kid for a night that is sure to be a swinging good time.

French electronic artists Smokey Joe and The Kid merged their musical talent into an electro swing band, aptly named Smokey Joe & The Kid. Through electronic base beats and a hint of old-time swing, Smokey Joe & The Kid take their audience back to Chicago in the 1930s. The duo, who hails from Bordeaux and Paris, fuses hip-hop music with classical swing. The two began to collaborate on musical projects together in 2010 and have since performed at many international festivals. They have shared the stage with the likes of sof Wax Tailor, Bonobo, Caravan Place, Chinese Man and DJ Krush. Their performance is expected to be one of the energetic peaks of this year’s 22nd Akbank Jazz Festival.

Taking inspiration from big band and gypsy swing music of the 1930s and 1940s, Swing Zazou brings a vibrant, energetic rhythm to venues they play. With a violin, helicone, guitar, contrabass and drums they create energetic stage performances.

Swing Zazou have also transformed some of the greatest swing hits such as “It Ain’t Right,” “Don’t Fall Asleep” and “Diga Diga Doo” into contemporary electro beats. They are well-known for their covers as much as for their live shows. After their first official concert at London’s Lovebox Festival in 2009 they became one of the most wanted names in similar festivals worldwide.