Gordon Webster

Pianist Gordon Webster is one of the most sought-after musicians in the lindy hop world.  His tremendous musicianship and passion, supported by his first-hand knowledge of social dancing, have inspired Lindy Hoppers at hundreds of dance events worldwide.  Drawing on influences as diverse as Fats Waller, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson and Gene Harris, Webster serves up a smorgasbord of styles unified by one characteristic: irresistible danceability.

Born in Ottawa, Canada, Mr. Webster began playing the piano at age 4. He moved to Toronto in 1993 to study jazz piano at the University of Toronto. In 2001, while still living in Toronto, he became obsessed with Lindy Hop and began traveling to exchanges and camps as both a musician and a dancer. In fact, Gordon attended our very first PittStop in 2001 as a dancer. In 2002, Gordon met his wife Katie, a Lindy Hopper, at Swing Out New Hampshire. In 2004, he moved to New York City to pursue his Masters of Music degree at Manhattan School of Music, where he graduated in 2006.

One of the most active and versatile musicians on the scene, Webster maintains ongoing collaborative relationships with a diverse array of jazz/blues and lindy hop luminaries. Gordon’s band has played around the world, and this will be his eighth time at PittStop due to his popularity among our dancers as one of the best Lindy Hop and Swing bands in the world. Gordon will be playing twice for us: on Friday night evening dance (swing sets) and late-night blues Friday night (actually Saturday morning).

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Paul Cosentino’s Swing Orchestra

Paul Cosentino Swing Orchestra is a full 14-piece big band featuring music from the “Big 4 Big Bands”: Basie, Ellington, Shaw, and Goodman – as well as Lunceford, Webb, Dorsey and more. The Orchestra is stocked with great arrangements that will keep you dancing and put you in THAT time and place – The Swing Era. You’ll hear great riffs that you know and love, as well as some arrangements of classics you may have never heard performed live! All the transcriptions are correct and period appropriate – from early 1930’s swingers heard at the Savoy Ballroom, to New Testament jazzers. Elegant, timeless, and a whole lot of fun!

The Orchestra features Paul Cosentino on clarinet and alto sax – bringing the Goodman and Shaw classics back to life, leading the saxes, and directing. You’ll thrill to full brass, reeds, and rhythm sections – nothing can replace that big band sound!

Featured vocalist for PittStop Lindy Hop ’25 is Naomi Uyama! World renowned lindy hopper, singer, and bandleader, Naomi will bring you classics made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Helen Forrest, Ivie Anderson, and more!!

Paul Cosentino’s Swing Orchestra will be featured on Saturday evening.

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Chelsea Reed & the Fair Weather Band

“She’s a true extrovert…even when you watch her sing, she engages you when she sings and makes you feel like you’re part of the story–which is very important.”
~Jazz trumpet player, Terell Stafford

“Chelsea Reed is my favorite kind of singer. She sings the songs as they are intended: beautifully, candidly, with excellent pitch and swagger and very few frills. The Fair Weather Band have the taste and good judgment to back her up without getting in her way, and to swing while they’re at it.”
~Singer/songwriter, Carsie Blanton

In October 2012, vocalist Chelsea Reed brought five of her friends together to play some tunes in a South Philly dining room. Her plan was to form a band that played for swing dancers, so she could finally have the chance to sing her favorite songs for an audience that loved the music of Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday as much as she did. Since that fateful day, she’s been living that dream and couldn’t be happier about it.  

Now, Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Band are at home at swing dances, jazz clubs and concert halls alike. They have played renowned Philadelphia venues and traveled the country year round to perform at music festivals and Lindy and Blues exchanges and workshops. They have had the honor of sharing the stage with trumpeter Terell Stafford and trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, who is featured on their 2017 release Spreadin’ Rhythm Around. Their 2020 release, Carolina Lullaby
showcases original songs steeped in jazz, blues, and folk traditions where Reed’s vocals and swing musicality shine.

When not composing, the band loves exploring the roots of jazz and finding creative ways to interpret forgotten songs. Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Band draw upon the intensity of powerhouse vocalists, the ingenuity of 20th century composers, and the soul of the dance floor.

They are silly, passionate people who love playing this music. And that’s all there is to it. 

Her seven-member band are as follows:
Chelsea Reed – vocals 
St. Clair Simmons – trombone
Chris Oatts – saxophone 
Elijah Cole – guitar
Silas Irvine – piano
Joe Plowman – bass
Austin Wagner – drums

Chelsea will be playing twice: Saturday late night blues and Sunday evening swing.
http://www.thefairweatherfive.com/

Here’s a couple of videos including one from PittStop 16!
PittStop 16 Jam Circle
“Bill Bailey”

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Paul Cosentino’s Boilermaker Jazz Band

PAUL COSENTINO
Paul Cosentino has been a full-time musician and bandleader for over 30 years, specializing in classic jazz and popular music from the 1920s to the 1940s. Paul plays an antique Albert System clarinet, which gives him a wonderfully distinctive sound not often heard on today’s bandstands. In addition to providing vocals, Paul also splits time on the alto and tenor saxophones. Paul has an extensive repertoire of tunes encompassing the Great American Songbook- written by some of the best-known composers of American popular song. He is also well versed in early New Orleans jazz, the Swing Era, big band riffs, and everything in between. Paul is known globally for his enthusiastic, energetic, and powerful performances.

Paul Cosentino founded the Boilermaker Jazz Band in 1988. Paul has also been featured as a soloist with many of the top bands in the swing world today, including a special appearance with the Jonathan Stout All-Star Big Band during an Artie Shaw tribute set. Paul has also been featured with Glen Crytzer’s Rhythm Makers, Michael Gambles Rhythm Serenaders, the Gordon Webster Band, Naomi and Her Handsome Devils, the Russ Wilson Swingtet, Clint Baker’s Golden Gate Swing Band, and many more. He has also led a number of All-Star groups. Once again, joining Paul will be Naomi Uyama: musician, instructor and performer who has worked with every great swing band in this country, and has her own great band. She has worked with Paul many times. Not to mention she has won every major dance Lindy competition and then some! Cannot wait!

PAUL COSENTINO’S BOILERMAKER JAZZ BAND
Since 1988, Paul Cosentino’s Boilermaker Jazz Band has been bringing the sounds of the Jazz Age and the Swing Era back to life. You’ll hear familiar tunes and rarities performed by superb instrumentalists and heartfelt vocalists as the band interprets jazz classics and the Great American Songbook in their own unique fashion. From concert halls, festivals, and stages to elegant soirees, weddings, and corporate events, listeners and dancers agree that the Boilermaker Jazz Band can make any crowd move with their infectious beat and enthusiasm.

The Boilermaker Jazz Band has performed at major venues coast- to- coast and around the world, including Lincoln Center, the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and the Smithsonian. The band also boasts an impressive list of appearances at Festivals, Concert Series, and Swing Dance Events, including (but certainly not limited to) the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the International Lindy Hop Championships- Washington DC, Catalina Island Swing Festival- California, Canadian Swing Dance Championships- Montreal, the Edinburgh International Festival- Scotland, and the Jeju Island Swing Festival- South Korea. They have performed at every PittStop event, even our 2021 virtual event!

Paul and the Boilermakers have recorded 14 critically acclaimed albums and have received rave reviews for their live performances. The Boilermakers have also appeared on radio shows across the country and overseas, including an NPR jazz series. The band’s music was also featured on the hit Fox TV show “So You Think You Can Dance”.

Paul and his band will be featured Sunday afternoon.

http://www.boilermakerjazzband.com/
DCLX 2012
PittStop 2016