Featuring the Jennifer Keith Band
FREE EVENT Saturday, February 6 from Noon – 4pm
By Lisa Morgan and Joni Wright
Palm Desert kicks up its heels and swings into full gear this Saturday, when the City presents the exciting debut of “Swing N’ Hops Street Party,” an outdoor extravaganza celebrating swing dance, craft beer, and more in the heart of Palm Desert’s upscale shopping and dining district, El Paseo. Beginning at noon on Saturday, February 6, on the street between San Pablo Avenue and Larkspur Lane, the free, four-hour dance party transports guests to a time when swing was king and everybody danced.
Jennifer Keith:
Center stage at the Swing ‘N Hops Street Party, audiences will be treated to nothing but the best – Las Vegas headliner, Jennifer Keith, and her brilliant ensemble of top shelf players. Keith’s fabulous quintet is led by Mando Dorame, tenor saxophonist and Co-founder of world renowned Royal Crown Revue, credited for reviving the swing movement in the 1990’s, toured with Bette Midler, and was featured in “Gene Simmons Family Jewels” as well as “The Mask” with Jim Carrey. With special consideration for this first time event, the traditionally 5 piece band will be joined by a sixth member – a vibraphone player, adding to the already authentic look, feel and sound of this energetic and beautifully vintage crew of minstrels. “We are so excited to be part of this inaugural event, I just wanted to make it special,” shared Keith.
Beyond Keith’s pin up doll good looks and the pure gold, vocal ability to channel classic artists the likes of Peggy Lee and Julie London, Keith’s love for the era is deeply and genetically rooted. Keith comes from a long line of storied entertainers, beginning with her Great Great Great Grandfather, B.F. Keith, the “K” in RKO Pictures, one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood’s Golden Age. B.F. Keith, a theater owner, was partner in the Keith-Albee east coast vaudeville circuit. In the late 1920s, when the once hugely successful vaudeville circuit box office revenues began to fall and profits stuttered due to competition from movie palaces and production houses, the Keith-Albee Circuit and the west coast Orpheus Circuit merged into the Keith-Albee-Orpheum circuit (KAO). In 1928 KAO was merged with Joseph P. Kennedy’s FBO film company under the aegis of RCA. The result was Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) which consisted of the former KAO theater chain and a new film studio, Radio Pictures (later called RKO-Radio), one of the major Hollywood studios of the 1930s and 1940s. More recently, to the credit of the family’s legacy, Keith’s father, television director, editor and writer, married her mother, an actress.
“It’s just in my blood. I have always liked old music,” shared Jennifer Keith. “Even when I was really young and all my friends were into pop music, I would be listening to the oldies station. I eventually went into musical theater in high school where a lot of the songs we performed were written by Gershwin, Cole Porter or Rogers and Hart, some of which were made popular by Ella Fitzgerald or Frank Sinatra. In a way, that music was kind of a cousin to jazz standards and swing.”
“Keeping this classic music alive is an inspiration to me,” Keith continued. “Knowing that I can introduce a new person, adult or child, to this kind of music, is all the motivation I need. I remember I was playing in Vegas the day Eydie Gorme passed away; I was able to dedicate the entire night to her. I wore my eyeliner like she did, and a yellow dress…it was just an honor and very humbling to be in a position to pay tribute to such a great artist. It is amazing to see how many people still dig this kind of music; it’s just part of our blood in American music history.”
To listen to and follow Jennifer Keith and her band, go to www.jenniferkeith.com
EVENT DETAILS:
The City of Palm Desert gets hoppin’ with the outdoor Swing ‘N Hops Street Party on El Paseo, complete with a large dance floor so that everyone can boogie woogie from 12:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. Adult attendees can also enjoying a variety of microbrews in the craft beer garden hosted by the Coachella Valley Brewing Co. Honoring the timeless marriage between jazz dance and live music, the swing party goers can get their groove on with free dance instruction at the event. From West Coast swing to the collection of vintage swing dances – such as Lindy Hop, Shag, Balboa, Jitterbug and the Charleston – those with their dancing shoes on will learn a variety of popular moves and won’t miss a beat. There will also be a swing performance during the event and attendees are encouraged to revive the glamour of the swing era by wearing fun fashion representative of the 1920’s through 1940’s!
A number of retail vendors and pop-up shops will be located along the north side of the block including era-specific hair stylings and simple make-up applications by J. Russell! The Salon, fashion modeling by Grayse, yoga pose tutorials by Bikram Yoga of Palm Desert, HipSister showcasing fashionable, functional, and flattering waist cases that replace the bulky fanny pack, and a fun photo booth provided from the Shops on El Paseo. Musician’s Outlet will also have a booth to assist those inspired to make their own music! Party goers can also purchase gourmet food from Koutouki Greek, II Corso, Wolfgang Puck, and Rita’s Italian Ice.
There will be three art stations provided by Coachella Valley Art Scene for family fun and crafts. These include a felt bow-tie making station, a hair wrap station for women, and a local artist painting a swing era scene on canvas. In addition, El Paseo Cruise Night will be showcasing classic autos from the swing era.
“We were really surprised during our initial research, just how popular and far reaching the vintage culture of Swing music is in Southern California,” shared FG Creative, coordinators and marketing lead for the event. “Based on the response we’ve received through social media and word of mouth, we have tapped into something that has created a whole lot of excitement and fun for the city of Palm Desert and the El Paseo community.”
Event Sponsors to date include: Presenting Sponsor City of Palm Desert, El Paseo Cruise Night, The Gardens on El Paseo, Coachella Valley Brewing Co, Liquid Catering, Coachella Valley Art Scene, CV Weekly, Lamar, Alpha Media Group (Mix 100.5 & The Bull 98.5).
Swing N’ Hops Street Party is a featured event of First Weekend, the city’s monthly art and culture program taking place every first weekend November through May. Other First Weekend events include art shows and auctions, jazz concerts, delectable dining, performances at The McCallum Theater and at CSU San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus, and much more. For more information about Swing ‘N Hops Street Party or First Weekend please visit www.palm-desert.org/events/first-weekend.
