SLANG

SWING ERA AND MODERN COLLOQUIALISMS

"Swing", like most fields of endeavor, also has it's own

special lexicon. Once used mostly by the musician's

themselves, the slang has now become a part of the greater

society. And, what is even more remarkable, is the way the

language has prospered. It is still widely used today, AND

growing.

18 Karat�� "Pure Gold"

�� Ex: "He's 18 karat."

Ace�� One dollar; Dollar's worth, one, first rate

�� Ex: "He's 'Ace' with me.

�� Ex: "Slip me an Ace, Gate."� (Let me have a

dollar.)

Air-check�� An actual radio or television performance

�� caught on tape; as opposed to a work done

�� in a recording studio

Alligator�� Originally, a slang term for "Musician".

�� Very early in Jazz history,� musicians referred

�� to themselves as "alligators".� Now it simply

refers

�� to any Swing Devotee (abbrev. 'Gator or Gate)

� ��Note: Louis Armstrong is often called 'Gate Mouth',

�� from the same source.

�� Ex:

�� Cat 1:� See ya later, alligator.

�� Cat 2:� After while, crocodile.

Axe�� ANY musical instrument.

�� Ex: Man, - what do you think of my new Axe?

Ball�� To enjoy

�� Ex: We had a 'Ball' when Tommy Dorsey played.

Big Apple�� New York City.

�� Ex: He's working at Roseland Ballroom in

�� the Apple.

Baby�� A term of endearment. (for either sex.)

�� Ex: Say, "baby," I got us some bread,

�� let's "move" downtown.

Bad�� Good

�� Ex: That dude does some "bad" ass playing.

Bag�� One's own special interest.

�� Ex:� Man, - Tommy Dorsey's "Well Git It" is my "Bag".

Balloon lungs�� A Brass player with good breath control.

�� That cat has "balloon lungs," he held that note

�� for one complete minute!

Barn Burner�� Frank Sinatra's slang for a classy "doll"

�� (woman). Today, it's applied to anything good.

�� Ex: "My 'Doll' is one real "Barn Burner."

Barrelhouse�� Colloquialism describing the 'low' saloons

�� at the turn of the century (19th) that

�� served whiskey straight out of the barrel.

�� Originally, "Barrelhouse Music" was the

�� type of piano music (also called 'Fast

�� Western') played in those cabarets.

Beat�� Adjective:� Exhausted or tired.

�� Ex: I'm "beat". We've been gigging since dawn.

�� Noun:� The time or timing.

�� Ex: The band played with solid beat.

Birdbrain�� Common slang for someone whose thinking was a little muddy.

Blow�� A jazzman's term for playing an(y) instrument.

�� Ex: 'Satchmo' really "blows."

Blow your top�� Expresses both:

�� exasperation

�� Ex: Hey man, I know it's tough, but don't

�� "blow your top." (sometimes: Don't Flip your

wig.)

�� enthusiasm

�� Ex: I "Blew My Top" when Benny Goodman

played.

Blue Notes�� Flatted 3rd and 7th notes are the definition

�� of the "blues scale".

(The) Bomb�� "Real cool".

�� Ex: Kenton's "Peanut Vendor" is "the bomb."

Boogie Man�� A critic. (Dates back to the mid-1930s.)

�� Ex: That "boogie man" knocked Basie's "One

�� O'Clock Jump".

Boogie Woogie�� A piano form (popularized in late-1920s

�� Chicago) that uses a steady eight beat

�� ostinato in the left hand.

�� Today, the expression 'Boogie' has a sexual

�� connotation.

�� Ex: Hey, Baby, let's boogie on down.

Bose Bouncing�� "Blowing" notes low enough to "bounce" a

�� loudspeaker's cone.

� ��Ex:� The Tuba was really "Bose bouncing".

Bounce�� A happy musical Beat (time).

�� (Businessman's Bounce: A fast and nervous

two-beat;

�� it's now an obsolete expression.)

Bread�� Money.

�� Ex: You come up with the "bread"; we'll make the

gig.

Break�� Passage in music with the Rhythm suspended.

Break it down�� In a real groove.

�� Ex: They were "breaking it down" on "One

�� O'Clock Jump"

Bring Down�� As a verb - to depress.

�� Ex: He "brings me down" with all that

�� Blues playing.

�� As an adjective - one who depresses.

�� Ex: Let's cut out of here. This is a

�� real "bring down."

�� Note: also used as one word:� bringdown.

Bug�� Annoy.

�� Ex: He "bug's" me.

Burning�� Verb describing a sideman's technically

�� excellent - and emotional - solo.

�� Ex:� Ziggy Elman's solo was "burning."

Bust Your Conk� To be carefree

�� Ex: "Check out Charlie Barnet's gig tonight.

�� You'll really 'bust your conk'."

Canary�� A Female Vocalist.

Cans ��A Radio man's expression for Earphones.

�� Dates back to the early 1920s when

�� earphones were as large as small cans.

�� Ex:� Put these cans on and listen to this

�� tape track.

Cats� ��Jazzmen, or people who love Jazz.

�� Ex: Man, them "cats" are really blowin' up

�� a storm.

Changes�� Originally a Black musician's term for

�� Chord progressions.

�� Ex: Say Man, do you have the "changes" for

�� "Stardust".

Character�� Someone with an unusual personality.

�� Ex:� He certainly is a "character."

Chase�� Two sidemen with alternating Solos.

Chick�� A young, pretty girl

�� (See "Frail", "Fly Chick"; "Barn Burner").

�� Ex: Man, that "chick" is a real Barn-Burner.

Chills�� A real thrill.

�� Ex: Listening to Benny Goodman "chills" me.

Chirp�� To sing.

�� Ex:� That 'Canary' knew how to "chirp".

Chops�� Originally, used by Black Hornplayers to

�� describe the state of their false teeth or

�� Lips. Generally speaking, it refers to the

�� musician's technical skill.

�� Ex: Wow. That Ziggy Elman has great "chops".

�� Ex: My Chops is "beat" from all those high

�� C's tonight.

Clams�� Goofs by a sideman.

�� Ex: Man did you hear all his "clams" on

�� that tune.

Clambake�� A Jazz "Jam" session.

�� Ex: Man, them Cats had a real Clambake at

�� the gig last night.

Clinker�� A wrong note.� (Also called a "fluff".)

�� Ex:

�� Cat 1: That was some "clinker" he had in the 2nd

chorus.

�� Cat 2: Yeah man, he really 'fluffed' it.

Collar all jive�� Understand the subleties

�� Ex: Man, I dug Claude Thornhill last night, and

�� 'collared all his jive'."

Comes On�� Par Excellence!

�� Ex: The show "comes on" like gangbusters!

Cop a Deuceways�� Buy two dollar's worth (of marijuana)

�� Ex: That's when he left to 'cop a deuceways'."

Cop a Slave�� Get a job

�� Ex: That cat's 'copped a slave'."

Combo�� The diminutive for "Combination";� a small

�� group.

�� Ex: Goodman's small "combos" are sensational.

Cool�� Originated (1950s) West Coast. Describes a

�� restrained intellectual, rather than�

emotional,

�� approach to music.

�� Ex: Stan Getz plays some real "cool" jazz.

�� Now a widely used superlative.

�� Ex: He's one "cool" cat.

Copacetic�� Agreeable

�� Ex: Things are really copacetic here.

Crazy�� Another jazz superlative.

�� Ex: Listen to that "crazy" beat the band's

�� 'laying down'.

Crib�� Very Sparsely appointed Apartment. (See "pad")

�� Ex: Come on up to my "crib" and relax.

�� ("Cheap" whore houses often had just very

small

�� cubicles, furnished only with a cot. In the

�� vernacular of the day, they were referred to

�� 'cribs' and the establishment as a 'crib

house'.)

Cut�� To leave or depart. (aka: "cut out")

�� Ex: Let's "cut out".

�� To outdo another person

�� Ex: Charlie's solo really "cut" that cat last

night.

�� A battle of the bands.

�� Ex: Basie and Lunceford's band had a real

�� 'cuttin'contest' last night.

Daddy-o�� One hipster's way of addressing another hipster.

�� Ex: Hey, "daddy-o", what's cookin'?

Dark�� Angry or upset (used in the Midwest).

�� Ex: They were in a "dark" mood when he was

�� late for the gig.

Dig�� To understand - to get the point - to like.

�� Ex: Hey, 'daddy-o', "dig"� this crazy music.

Dog (around)�� Follow

�� Ex: "That cats was 'doggin' me all night long."

Drape/Dry Goods Clothes (Also: Threads)

�� Ex: Man, I did that Cat's Drape.

�� Ex: Man, dig these Dry Goods. How do you

�� like the Drape?

Dukes�� Not strickly a Jazz expression, - hands.

�� Ex: He had his Dukes full. -handling the

�� crowd.

DJ, DeeJay�� Short for Disk Jockey.� Originally, a

�� radio announcer who hosted record playing

�� show. Now also a party host who has no

�� band, just plays records.

�� Ex: That "DJ" spins some cool Cookies (disks).

Down by Law�� The earned respect for talent or ability to

�� "get down."

�� Ex: After all those years of work, his

�� success was "down by law."

Drag�� Depressing a person's spirits.

�� Ex: He's a real "drag."

Drive�� To play with real concentrated emotion.

End�� Still another Superlative.

�� (See "Cool"; "too much" or "crazy.")

�� Ex: The way Benny blows his licorice stick

�� (clarinet) is the living, breathing "end."

Fall In�� Arrive on the scene

�� Ex: "I 'fell in' with 'Duke' at

�� the Apollo Theater last night."

Fall Out�� Exiting

�� Ex: "Man, when they brought on the

�� Musical Saw, I 'fell out'."

Fay�� A white person� (See: "Ofay" below)

Finger Zinger�� Playing very fast, or music written to be

�� played fast.

�� Ex: The "Minute Waltz" is a real "Finger

�� Zinger".

Flip�� To Act or think in a crazy (eccentric) manner.

�� Ex: I really "flipped" listening to all

�� that Jazz.

Flip your lid�� See "Blow your top."

�� Ex: I "flipped my lid" listening to Benny

�� Goodman."

Fly�� Smooth or slick.

�� Ex: Man, that was a "fly" solo.

Fly Chick�� Attractive female

�� Ex: Man, dig that Fly Chick over there.

Fracture�� To deeply affect (usually humorously)

�� someone.

�� Ex:� Man, your jokes "fracture" me.

Frail�� A Lady;� A "Chick".

�� (Also see: "Main Squeeze" )

�� Ex: Man, dig that frail.

Freak Lip�� Describing a musician who can play endlessly.

�� Ex: Man, he 'balled' all night, and 'blew'

�� them away at the next day's concert. What

�� a pair of "freak Lips".

Frisking the Whiskers� Warming up prior to a session.

�� Ex: He arrived early and started "frisking the

whiskers".

Four Beat�� Four even Beats Per bar of music.

�� "Two Beats" is also four beat time, but with

the

�� 1st and 3rd (or 2nd and 4th) beats accentuated.

(Some Marihuana Slang: Weed and stash are more modern

expressions.)

gage�� Marihuana

golden-leaf�� The best marihuana

grefa�� Marihuana

gunja�� Marihuana

hard-cutting mez� The best marihuana

Gangbusters�� Powerful

�� Ex: Man, did you dig Benny wailing last night,

�� - He came on like 'Gangbusters'."

Gas�� A performance that moves you.

�� Ex: The way he 'wails' is a real "gas." (or

Gasser)

Gate or Gator�� Jazz musician.� Originally used as a

�� loving and warm description of Louis Armstrong.

�� Folks said his mouth was as large as a

"Satchel",

�� from which came one of his nick-names

-"Satchmo".

�� He was also called "Gate Mouth", referring to

�� 'Alligator's mouth' (see Alligator definition

above)

�� above) from which we get the expression "Gate"

�� "Gator" - originally denoting a person as a

musician,

�� but today it denotes anyone.

�� Ex: 'Skin me' "Gate".� (Shake hands)

Get Down�� Musically:

� ��Superlative playing. He really "gets

�� down" on that horn.

�� Sexually:

�� Baby, let's amble on over to my pad and

�� we'll "get down".

Gig�� May be used as a :

� ��Noun:� A paying job.

�� Ex: I've got a "gig" next Monday night.

�� Verb:� To Play a job.

�� Ex: I'll be gigging at the club saturday

night.

Gimme some skin Shake hands. (aka:� Skin me!)

Glims�� The Eyes. Also 'to look' (aka: Glom)

�� ex:� Glim this sheet of music.

�� ex:� That frail has great glimmers

Gone�� Another Jazz superlative.

�� Ex: He's one "gone" cat.

Have one's boots on�� Hip; wise; know what's� happening

�� Ex: That cat has his boots on.

Groovy�� Denotes music that really swings.

�� ('Groove' is a Musician's term for Rhythm)

�� Ex: Man, dig that "groovy" beat.

Gutbucket�� Two meanings.

�� 1. Barrelhouse

�� 2. Crude Bass made with upturned washtub

�� using a stick, with one string,

�� attached to the bottom end.

�� A. A Barrelhouse was a low type saloon

�� used where drinking and dancing were

�� the main attactions.

�� B. A rhythmic style of Jazz or Blues.

�� (Listen to the early Dixieland tune

�� "Gutbucket Blues".)

�� Ergo: A style of music associated with

�� saloons and other low

�� establishments.

Hame�� A Job not in the Music Business.

Hand me some skin� To Shake Hands

�� Ex: "Skin" me Gate.

�� Ex: "Hand me some skin", gate.

Head Arrangement�� An unwritten "arrangement". The band's

�� sidemen just agree on the Chordal

�� progression (Changes) and order of music

�� and solos.

�� Ex: The band sounded choppy because it was

�� a "Head".

Heat�� Solo space.

�� Ex: Hey, gate, give me some "heat" on

�� 'Jersey Bounce'!

Hepcat�� Originally a musician in a Swing Band.

�� Ex: Satchmo is one hep cat!

�� Now, anyone who likes Swing music.

�� Ex: That "hepcat" loves to jive.

Hip�� To know; to understand.

�� Ex: Man, he's one "Hip" cat. (Understands the

music)

�� Ex: I'm hip to your bluff. (understands a

ploy.)

Hipster�� Someone who knows and loves Swing Music.

�� Ex: The "Hipsters" really packed that

�� concert hall.

Hop�� Opium

�� Ex: I knew that cat was a real 'hop head'.

Horn�� Usually a brass or reed instrument.

�� Ex: Man, he blows a mean "horn".

Hot�� Originally, the "Chicago" style of

� ��Dixieland Jazz was called 'Hot Jazz' due

�� to it's driving character vs the easy

�� going ensemble New Orleans style. In the

�� 1950s, the term "Cool" Jazz came into

�� common use to denote music that was more

�� intellectual, rather than emotional.

�� Ex: That cat blew one "Hot" solo on his

�� break.

A Hot Plate�� A "Hit" recording.

�� Ex: RCA has a real "hot plate" with that

�� record.

I'm Booted�� Hip; Understand.

�� Ex:� Gotcha, daddy-o, "I'm booted."

In the Groove�� Really Good!

�� Ex: Benny's solo was really "in the groove!"

In the Mix�� The group; The happening.

�� Ex: With that cat "in the mix", we can't

�� fail.

In The Pocket�� When a band's rhythm section really grooves.

�� Ex: They were really "in the pocket",

�� tonight.

Ivories�� Piano Keys. (They were originally made of

�� Ivory.)

�� Ex: Listen to that cat tickling the Ivories.

Jack�� The Diminutive of "Jackson". A person. The

�� Jazz equivalent of "Mac" or of "Bud".

�� (Sometimes used in a negative manner.)

�� Ex: Hey "Jack", don't dominate this gig.

�� Ex: Hit the road, "Jack."

Jackson�� A Male friend

�� Ex:� I Dig Ya Jackson.

Jake�� Okay.

�� Ex: That's "Jake" with me.

�� Ex: He's "Jake" with me.

Jam�� Playing (hot). (Usually: to Improvise.)

�� Ex: That band was "jamming" tonight.

Jam Session�� A spontaneous get together (often after

�� hours) of sidemen freely improvising on

�� pop tunes - just soloing on "head"

�� arrangements.

�� Ex: There's always an after hours "Jam

�� Session" there.

Jazz�� A very little understood term.

�� Originally, Black man's slang for sexual

�� intercourse. Then, expressing the

�� "Jazzing" (improvisation) of any music.

�� Strictly applied to the "Dixieland"

�� music of, first, "New Orleans", and

�� then "Chicago".

�� Now applied to almost any contemporary

�� "Popular" music.

Jazz Box�� A "Jazz guitar".

�� Ex: Les Paul's "Jazz Box" is usually a

�� Fender.

Jitterbug�� A 1940s description of "jittery", Swing

�� dancers.

�� Ex: Watch those "Jitterbugs" doing a mean

�� Lindy Hop.

Jittersauce�� Alcohol (drinking -not rubbing- variety)

Jive�� May be used as a:

�� Noun - an odd form of speech.

�� Ex:� That "Jive" doesn't fool me.

�� Verb - to fool someone.

�� Ex: Stop "Jiving" me, will you.

�� Adjective - phoney or fake.

�� Ex: He's one "Jive" dude.

�� Perjorative. Someone not well liked.

�� JAMF - Jive A-- Mother F----R.

Joe Below�� A musician who plays for less than Union

�� scale pay.

�� Ex: How can you 'turn a buck' when "Joe

�� Below" plays almost for free?

Jump�� To have a good time.

�� Ex: The 'joint' was really "jumping" last

�� night.

Junk�� Heroin (or any other debilitating drug).

�� (Also see:� "Muggles")

�� Ex: He's looking for some "Junk".

�� Ex: Here comes the "Junkman" (drug peddler).

Kicking the Gong�� Using drugs (usually opium).

�� Ex:� Cab Calloway's hit - "Minnie the

�� Moocher" lyric.

�� "There was Minnie, - "kickin' the gong around."

Kicks�� Pleasure.

�� Ex: I get my "Kicks" listening to Goodman.

Kill�� Sheer delight.

�� Ex: You "kill" me, man.

�� (Also, You "Slay" me man.)

Kill it�� stop (doing something)

�� Ex: That sounds terrible, "kill it".

Killer�� 'Red Hot' musician, dancer, or music fan.

�� Ex: Man, Dig "Killer" Joe's dancing.

�� Ex: He's a 'Killer'.

King Kong�� Cheap Moonshine (whiskey)

�� Ex: Slip me 3 fingers of that 'King Kong'.

kopasetic�� Nice.� Good.

�� Ex: The Count's solo was Kopasetic.

Lame or Lamer�� Something, or someone. that doesn't quite

�� 'cut' it.

�� Ex: Those cats were layin' down some

�� "lame" music.

�� Ex: That "Lamer" just can't cut it.

Latch On�� To "Dig". Catch On. Join in.

�� Ex: He "latched on" when Benny started wailing.

Laying Down�� Playing music (or sincere talk).

�� Ex: I was listening to Benny 'laying down'

�� some 'hot licks' on "Jersey Bounce".

Licks, hot licks�� A musical phrase or solo.

�� Ex: That cat can 'lay down' some "hot

�� licks."

�� Ex: I really got my "Licks" in on that

�� tune.

Licorice Stick� A Clarinet

�� Ex: Benny Goodman knew what to do with his

�� "licorice stick"?

Light Up�� Smoke marihuana

�� Ex: Here's something you can 'light up' on.

Lindy Hop�� THE dance of the Swing Era, and of the new

�� Millennium also. Originally, the dancers

�� did "hop" to the music, but later, it was

�� refined somewhat. Some very wild gyrations

�� were added, including precision pairs

�� dancing; "splits"; throwing one's partner

�� in the air; and others. The dancers were

�� later nicknamed "Jitterbugs".

Long Hair�� Lover of Classical Music.

�� Ex: He doesn't dig Benny. He's a "long hair."

Main Squeeze�� A favorite girl-friend

�� Ex: Linda's my 'main squeeze'.

Mellow�� Feeling from Smoking Marihuana

�� Ex: He 'light up' and got real 'mellow'.

Mezz�� The Best (Marijuana)

�� Ex: His stash was 'the mezz'.

Mezzroll�� Fat Sticks of handrolled Marihuana

�� Ex: He passed the 'mezzroll' to the cat.

Mickey Mouse�� Term to describe an Orchestra that uses some

�� sort of gimmick to attract listeners. Also used

�� the music played by such an orchestra.

�� Ex: The band didn't 'Jump', they played Mickey

Mouse.

Muggin(g)�� Playing around. Having fun.

Muggles�� Marijuana cigarettes.

�� (Armstrong has a song entitled "Muggles".)

�� Ex: Man, my nerves are shattered; got any

�� "muggles?"

Murder�� Superdooper. Excellent,

�� Ex: She said 'Let's dance.' I said "Murder!"

�� Ex: His solo was "solid Murder!"

Nicksieland�� A New York City Colloquialism, - now totally

�� obsolete. It was used in reference to the music

played

�� by the small groups at a club called "Nick's" (in

the

�� Greenwich Village are of New York city.

Noodlin'�� Just playing notes and phrases with no

�� particular meaning

�� Ex: Stop "noodlin" around man. Let's get

�� working.

Ofay�� A White Person (a Black man's terminolgy)

� ��(from pig latin for "foe")

Off-Beat�� Originally, a weak or un-accented beat. Now also

�� used to describe something out of the normal.

�� ex: His playing of the song was really

"off-beat".

Off-time Jive�� Incorrect

�� Ex: That story sounds like "off-time Jive" to

me.

Out to Lunch�� Absent Minded; Not paying attention.

�� Ex: He's was "out to lunch" that night and

�� played poorly.

Pad�� Usually just a sparsely furnished

�� apartment. The expression was coined not

�� by musicians, but by the "Hippie"

�� generation. The early 'hippies' would rent

�� a room with no furniture; throw a Futon -

�� a "pad" -� on the floor, where they would

�� sit and sleep and eat on it. (See also "Crib"

�� above.)

�� Ex: Some of the cats will be jamming at my

�� "Pad" tonight.

Peck Horn ��Tuba

Plant you now and dig you later "Gotta" Go

�� Ex: Plant you now and dig you later, Gator!

Popsicle Stick� A sax player's reed.

�� Ex: I used a great "popsicle stick" at

�� that gig.

Queen�� A Pretty lady.

Reeds�� Saxophones and Clarinets and other

�� instruments that use a bamboo 'reed' to make

�� sound.

Reefer�� Marihuana cigarette

�� Ex: That cat brought the 'Reefers' with him.

Ride�� A Hot Solo part.

�� Ex: Joe, - you take the 2nd chorus ride.

�� Ex: Did you hear Joe Riding during the chorus?

Riff�� A 2 or 4� bar musical phrase.

�� (Riffs really define Swing.)

Righteous�� A 'real' Jazzman. A very good musician.

�� Ex: Benny Goodman - the 'Righteous' King of

Swing.

�� Ex: Bix Beidebecke: a righteous Cornetist.

Rock�� Another superlative.

�� Ex: Basie "rocked" on One O'Clock Jump.

�� Ex: "Rock Me" with the old time rhythm.

Rock and Roll�� Describes the old 1950's music, but

�� originally slang for sex.

�� Ex: Baby, stop jivin' me, -let's "rock and

�� roll."

Rug Cutter�� Swing dancers - Jitterbug.

�� Ex: That cat is one cool Rugcutter.

Sackbutt�� A trombone. Actually very early (Middle

�� Ages) instrument from which the modern

�� trombone derives.� (Sackbutt, Psaltery and

�� Dulcimer) The expression was still used in

�� New Orleans (1900s) where "A New Orleans

�� funeral procession ain't nothin' without a

�� "sackbutt."

Salty�� Angry.

Scat�� Nonsense syllables used in place of Lyrics.

�� Ex: Ella Fitgerald was the "Scat" singing

queen.

Scene�� A place.

�� Ex: Let's make the "Scene" at Birdland tonight.

Schmaltz�� (Actually the Jewish word for Chicken fat.)

�� In Jazz, a term denoting sweet -not hot -

music.

�� Ex: That band doesn't jump, they're into

"Schmaltz".

Screwin' the Pooch�� A series of bad mistakes while playing.

�� Ex: He was really "screwin' the pooch" on

�� "Stardust" last night.

Send�� to stimulate. (a good feeling)

�� Ex: Man, that cat really "sends" me.

Sharp�� High Fashion.

�� Ex: He's one "sharp" looking cat in his Zoot

suit.

Shroud-Tailor�� Undertaker

�� Ex: The family called the local

'Shroud-tailor'.

Shuzzit�� Yet another expression for Marijuana.

�� Ex:� Hey Man, -Shuzzit was that Cat's Bag.

shying�� A technique for 'cooking' opium

�� Ex: The cats were 'shying' in the back room.

sideman�� One of the musicians in the band.

Simpy�� Doped, Imbecelic

�� Ex: After the Muggles, he was kind of 'simpy'.

Skins�� The drums.

�� An animal's pelt was the original drum head.

Slip Me Some Skin�� Handshake.

�� Ex: "Slip me some skin" Jack.

�� Ex:� Skin me, Jackson.

Slide�� Give or Hand one something or some information.

�� Ex: "Slide" me the score of that tune, Jack.

Sliphorn�� Musical slang for the Trombone

�� (aka: tailgate horn due to the sideman's position

�� the early horse drawn wagons. aka: Slide horn)

Smokin'�� To Put one's heart and soul into playing.

�� Ex: Ziggy Elman was really "smokin'" that

night.

Snap your cap�� Same as "Blow your top."

�� Ex: Calm down. Don't "snap your cap".

Solid�� Another swing-era superlative meaning

�� Good or great.

�� Ex: "Solid", jackson!� (Good work.)

�� Ex: "Some of you cats

�� are not on the beam.

�� I know what's wrong, you've

�� been cooking with cream.

�� Now if you want a beat

�� that's "Solid" and hard, Then

�� Fry me mama with a can of Lard"

�� --(Bradley Orch. Tune Lyric)

Squeak Box�� Violin

Squeeze Box�� Accordion

Square�� An "Unhip" person. (One who does not "Dig")

�� Ex: That cat is real "square."

Sick of Tea�� Marihuana cigarette

�� Ex: Later, he gave him a 'stick of tea'.

Standard�� A Song that has become a "classic".

Sugar Band�� A "Sweet" music band, - with vibrato and

�� glissando galore.

Sweet Music�� Music which never deviates from the melody.

Swing�� The great music of the 1930s to 1940s, and

�� again in late 1998 and into the 2000 millenium.

�� is symbolized by a sensational beat with the

melody

�� usually played against a background 'Riff'.

Tag�� A tune ending; repeating the last phrase

�� three times.

Take Five�� Originally, a short five minute break.

�� Ex: OK everyone. Let's "take five."

Tea�� Marihuana

�� Ex: That cat had the 'tea' with him.

Teapad�� Place for smoking marihuana

�� Ex: His shack was a real 'tea pad'.

�� (Stash Records once released two disks:

�� Tea Pad Songs Vols 1 and 2)

The End�� A Superlative - (also see:� 'crazy'.)

�� Ex: Man, that cat's the living, breathing

"end".

Threads�� Clothing� (Also see Drape/Dry Goods)

�� Ex:

�� Cat 1.� Man, dig that cat's new Threads.

�� Cat 2.� I dig the Drape.

Too much�� Another Jazz superlative.

�� Ex: Lee Wiley's singing is "too much."

Torch�� A song, or singer, expressing unrequited love.

�� Ex: "My Man" is a real "torch" song.

�� Ex:� Peggy Lee was a real "Torch".

Train Wreck�� The moment when one of the sidemen gets

�� "lost" in the middle of a tune.

Truck�� A 'walking' figure in the Lindy Hop dance.

�� Ex: Let's "truck" on down to the ballroom.

�� Ex: Man! See that couple "truckin'" on the

dancefloor.

Tubs�� The drum set.

�� Ex: Listen to Krupa pounding those "tubs.".

Two's and Fews� Small Change,� Very little money

�� Ex: Man, I only had some 'Two's and fews' on

me.

Two Beat�� Four-four time played with a steady two

�� ground beats on the bass drum.

Viper�� Marihuana smoker

�� Ex: That cat was a real 'Viper'.

Wail�� Playing extremely well.

�� Ex: Benny really "Wailed" on 'Sing, Sing,

Sing'.

Walking bass or walking rhythm�� A four-beat Bass rhythm

�� pattern. Often called "Kansas City Walking

Bass".

Wax a disc�� Record a tune(s).

Wig, Wig out�� To flip

�� Ex: There was no reason;� he just "wigged out."

Wild�� Astonishing or amazing. (also see: Too Much)

�� Ex: He plays a really "wild" trumpet.

Witch Doctor�� A member of the clergy. (A Truly Apt

description.)

Wooden Kimono�� Coffin

�� Ex: We all chipped in to buy the 'wooden

kimono'.

Woodshed (or Shed)� To practice.

�� Ex: He was in the "Wood Shed" all night.

Wrong Riff�� Doing the wrong thing.

�� Ex: Man, - you're coming on with the "wrong

riff".

Zoot�� A true Swing era expression describing

�� exaggerated clothing, - especially the

�� "Zoot" suit.