Rent Party

Online Events in May – Rent Party and Rhythm Relief: The Swingtacular Show

While all of my in-person events are slowly being canceled amidst the pandemic, I am excited to report that there are two upcoming virtual events you can watch, enjoy, and interact with!

On May 9, 2020, I’ll be making a cameo in a virtual Rent Party, which you can find on Facebook under the event An Old-School Fundraiser for Swing Artists. The idea is that we will create a virtual Rent Party, with dancing, live music, shenanigans, and we hope that you’ll contribute to the “rent” with donations that will go to the Pacific Swing Dance Foundation’s relief fund. Our cast includes Jonathan Stout, Gordon Au, Keenan McKenzie, Nick Williams, Lauren Smith, and Peter Flahiff. Thanks to our hosts, dancer and author Jodi Daynard, who conceived this event and will emcee, and the Pacific Swing Dance Foundation. Tune in from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.!

On May 23, 2020, I will be a part of Rhythm Relief: The Swingtacular Show, a large scale virtual swing dance and swing music live show, featuring a cast of some of my favorite musicians from the US and dancers from around the world. My fellow virtual band-mates for this show are Keenan McKenzie, Josh Collazo, Jonathan Stout, Paul Cosentino, Gordon Au, and Marquis Howell. The show will run from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT. Rhythm Relief is spearheaded by Nick Williams and hosted by the Pacific Swing Dance Foundation. For information about the relief fund, how to donate, and how to apply, visit the Pacific Swing Dance Foundation’s website.

The State of Things November 22 and Rent Party November 23

The Mint Julep Jazz Band is performing at Housing for New Hope‘s inaugural Rent Party on November 23, 2013 at The Cookery in Durham – this is a fundraiser for an organization that actually helps people pay their rent to help prevent homelessness, among other services to help people in need of housing and prevent homelessness in Durham. There will be dancing, food, an open bar, and the chance to help people in our community, all with a rent party/jazz age theme. Come help us raise the rent for the fine people of Durham!

Tickets and information available at http://durhamcookery.com/rent-party.

Live from American Tobacco!

To sweeten the deal, the Mint Julep Jazz Band has been invited to appear on WUNC’s The State of Things, hosted by Frank Stasio, on November 22, 2013 to help promote Housing for New Hope‘s inaugural Rent Party on November 23, 2013 at The Cookery in Durham (see post below). Tune in from noon to 1:00 p.m. to hear an interview and live music from the band!

October 24, 2013 – RDU Rent Party: Philly Invasion Edition featuring Perseverance Jazz Band

On October 24th, the City of Brotherly Love is sending some love our way. No, we are not erecting a statue of Rocky (or Jason posing as Rocky) at TDS, but we will be getting some swing love in the form of the Perseverance Jazz Band.

This New Orleans inspired band has been keeping Philly dance floors hopping for some time now and is making a pilgrimage south which naturally has to include a stop at RDU Rent Party. They will also be christening the first Rent Party dance in the new Lindy Lab studio at TDS, meaning this is the first band that gets to start at 8 and not have to work their way around Salsa classes to setup. So they’ll be fresh and ready to come out swingin’ for a knockout of a dance.

In addition, Ms. Breanna Perry, also of Philadelphia, will be accompanying the band, spinning tunes for the night and teaching a solo Charleston workshop from 7-8. So we’ll be forgoing the normal beginner lesson to give everyone a shot at picking up some of Breanna’s hot moves and we imagine there will be a multitude of Charleston jams accompanying the band at this dance.

Suggested price for the dance is $10 and a suggested additional $5 for the workshop which will be collected in a separate hat. As always, all money collected goes directly to the entertainers.

Triangle Dance Studio – Lindy Lab Studio (look for the orange door frame)
2603 S. Miami Blvd.
Durham, NC

Beginner solo Charleston lesson from 7-8 p.m.

Dance from 8-11 p.m.

August 15, 2013 – Rent Party: Oregon Trail Edition featuring Bumper Jacksons

August brings a new band to the RDU Rent Party lineup, the incredibly fun Bumper Jacksons. This five piece band from the DC/Baltimore region is a relative newcomer to the dance scene but is already making impressions and drawing attention for their versatility and showmanship. They’ll be playing two Triangle dances on their trip down south, one at TSDS focusing more on trad jazz while their Rent Party debut will trade out a band member and bring pedal steel to the mix giving the RP night a Western swing and country blues flavor.

And, of course, we can’t think about going out West without immediately jumping to that penultimate game of river fording and buffalo slaughter, Oregon Trail. Nothing quite rings in our childhood quite like the frustration of that 200lbs weight limit on carrying meat back from a 5 buffalo hunting excursion. Or pushing the party hard when someone got dysentery just so you could scrawl inappropriate messages on a digital headstone. And of course you’d choose to be a banker and load up on bullets because who cared about the points bonus when you could be rolling 20 oxen deep like a stretch limo of the open plains? This Rent Party will help you relive all those memories without the 2000 mile journey and you won’t have to change disks at Fort Laramie.

To check out why we are so excited for this band go to www.bumperjacksons.com

Rent Party dances are pay-what-you-can with a suggested $10 donation and all money collected going directly to the band.

Triangle Dance Studio
2603 S Miami Blvd Durham

Beginner lesson at 8
Band plays 9-midnight

NOTICE: Please be aware that street parking is NOT allowed. Please park at the dentist’s office or veterinary office across the street. Last Rent Party we got complaints about people parking on Rolling Pines in front of houses. Your cooperation in respecting the neighbors’ space is integral to us keeping Rent Party going. Thank you for your cooperation.

Rent Party: Sweet Sixteen Bars Edition featuring Ethan Uslan and Silent Film Night! July 18 & 19, 2013

July 18th will mark the return of a fine gentleman pianist, Mr. Ethan Uslan to the RDU Rent Party stage. This unassuming 2-time world champion hammered out some amazing tunes the last time he was here, so we are bringing him back, this time for a double header. First on July 18th, he’ll play the Thursday night dance and then on July 19th, we will be hosting a silent movie night at Triangle Dance Studio with Ethan playing the soundtrack live as would have happened in the original silent film days.

In addition, the 18th happens to be the 16th birthday of one Ms. Nicole Dove who you may know from her work on the dance floor or that math test she just aced. Nicole will be partying down in South Carolina for the weekend, but before she does that, we will get a chance to celebrate her birthday in style with cake, dancing, and even some late night dancing if folks stick around for it. For more information on the full celebration, check out the NiBBLS Facebook event.

DJ Matty V will be spinning tunes on the band breaks (well, the Ethan breaks) and we may see some other musicians sit in.

Triangle Dance Studio
2603 S Miami Blvd.
Durham, NC

Live music from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. in the back studio

Free beginner class at 8:00 p.m. in the TDS Guest House

We’ll also be featuring Ethan on July 19 at Triangle Dance Studio for a silent film screening of Charlie Chaplin’s “The Kid,” featuring live soundtrack by Ethan Uslan! Movie night starts at 8:00 p.m., admission is pay-what-you-can with a suggested donation of $7.00.

Check out some of Ethan’s most excellent tunes in the YouTube videos below:

RDU Rent Party: Glenn Crytzer Takes the Cake Edition, October 13, 2011

Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators played for the Gatsby Edition Rent Party last year and burned it down, so RDU Rent Party is honored to be hosting Glenn on his birthday and would like to cordially invite you to attend and help us celebrate in style.

We will be providing a cookie cake and beverages, you provide the energy. Feel free to bring other refreshments and let’s make sure and give Glenn an unforgettable birthday!

In preparation for the Eastern Balboa Championships, Chris & Holly Owens will be teaching Balboa for the Intermediate and Beginner lessons. Bring your slick shoes and canning wax.

This Rent Party will be held at the Trotter Building in lieu of/collaboration with the normal Thursday night Hot Club of Durham festivities.

The Trotter Building
410 W. Geer St.
Durham, NC

Admission is pay-what-you-can with a suggested $10 donation.

7:00 p.m. – Intermediate Balboa lesson
8:00 p.m. – Beginner Balboa lesson
9:00 p.m. – Birthday boy takes the stage and plays until midnight

RDU Rent Party: Some Like it Hot Edition featuring the Solomon Douglas Sextet

On September 1, 2011, RDU Rent Party is partnering with Hot Club of Durham to bring you a special Thursday edition swing dance at the Trotter Building in Durham, featuring Seattle bandleader Solomon Douglas and his sextet. A special 7:00 p.m. intermediate Role Reversal class will be offered as well as the usual 8:00 p.m. beginner class. The Solomon Douglas Sextet goes on at 9:00 p.m. and plays until midnight. We will also be hosting a J&J (that’s Joe & Jerry) role reversal dance contest!

The Trotter Building
410 W. Geer St.
Durham, NC

As always, Rent Party is pay what you can with a suggested $10 minimum donation to the band. For more information about the event, see http://www.rdurentparty.com.

Rent Party: Piedmont Blues Edition featuring th’ Bullfrog Willard McGhee and Tad Walters, August 12, 2011

On Friday, August 12, 2011, RDU Rent Party is playing host to the swing dance debut of Bullfrog Willard McGhee. Simply known as th’ Bullfrog to many of his fans, his bio describes him as “A multi-instrumentally talented, rambling-shaggy-dog-story-telling, torch-song-sentimental-beer-hall-bawdy-songwriting genius.” He is every part a serious blues man, storyteller and historian of Piedmont and Mountain blues. If you have any interest in blues, southern culture, or serious dance music, you owe it to yourself to be here.

And if you are not blues dance inclined, never fear! There will still be plenty of danceable music for at a variety of tempos and a beginner blues dance lesson before the dance.

Triangle Dance Studio – upstairs studio
2603 S. Miami Blvd.
Durham, NC

Beginner blues dance lesson from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., band plays from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Admission is pay what you can with a $10 suggested donation.

Rent Party: Bad Mofo Edition Featuring The New King Rippers and TCF Bake Sale, July 23, 2011

It’s time for another edition of RDU Rent Party, featuring Triangle trad jazz superstars The New King Rippers. Jason Sager and I will be teaching an intermediate swing dance lesson that will focus on enhancing your performance and inspirational skills on the dance floor. Come as your favorite Bad Mofo and throw down in the World Famous Jack Rabbit Slim’s Twist Contest. Can you dig it? Lesson from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Triangle Dance Studio, band plays from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Also, The Carolina Fascinators will be having one of their famous bake sales at the July 23 RDU Rent Party – come dance, buy some goodies, and support this local jazz dance performance troupe!

Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns at RDU Rent Party: Unbirthday Edition, June 3, 2011

This coming Friday, Jason Sager and I will play host to New Orleans’ female performer of the year, Meschiya Lake and her Little Big Horns for another fabulous edition of RDU Rent Party. We’ll also be having Andy Reid and Amy Johnson from New Orleans to teach an intermediate special topic lesson at 8:00, following by dancing to Meschiya Lake from 9:00 p.m. to midnight at Triangle Dance Studio, 2603 S. Miami Blvd, Durham, NC.

Tea, cakes, and frippery will also be served. For more information visit www.rdurentparty.com.

Laura Windley

Hot jazz and swing vocalist