Pianist Gordon Webster is quickly becoming 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 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 dancer. In 2002, Gordon met his wife Katie, a lindy hopper, at Swing Out New Hampshire, and in 2004, he moved to New York City to pursue his Masters of Music degree at Manhattan School of Music, graduating in 2006. He now lives in New York where he is perpetually inspired by the city's incomparable music scene, and enjoys a successful career as a jazz musician.

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. He has appeared as a sideman to Wycliffe Gordon and has collaborated on multiple occasions with Barbara Morrison, and is a regular featured guest with New York's Cangelosi Cards. He performed for Frankie Manning's book release after-party in 2007 with Steven Mitchell on vocals. Mitchell and Webster will be releasing a collaborative album of lindy hop music in the near future. Webster's own releases include Blues Till Dawn, an album of music for blues dancing, as well as an upcoming lindy hop album to be released this spring.

Webster's late-night performance at DCLX 2008 will feature vocalist Brianna Thomas.

The New Orleans Jazz Vipers are a seven-piece swing band playing regularly to enthusiastic audiences in New Orleans and all over the world. The band's repertoire comes from the likes of Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Dicky Wells, Benny Carter, and Count Basie, including well-known favorites and more obscure treasures.

Founding members Joe Braun (saxophone), John Rodli (acoustic guitar) and Robert Snow (acoustic bass) first met in 1995 when they were part of the vibrant street music scene in Jackson Square. Gradually the band evolved to its present formation. Trumpeter extraordinaire Charlie Fardella joined in the summer of 2002 and Bass saxophonist Tom Saunders joined the band soon after. The most recent and very welcome additions to the band are Bruce Brackman on clarinet and Matt Rhody on violin. Lead vocals are handled by Joe, John, Tom and Charlie, and —special for DCLX—Ms. Linnzi Zaorski.

The sound of the band is at the same time retro, full of energy, and unpretentious, with both up-tempo numbers and well-chosen ballads; it has been aptly described as neo-trad-jazz. The Vipers are popular with swing dancers and the music appeals to audiences of all ages. To quote the review of their latest CD in offbeat Magazine: "Above all else, these are cool musicians, fully cognizant that less is more and that jazz...is dance music."

The Viper’s newest CD, “Hope You’re Comin’ Back”, has been featured on CBS Evening News, an episode of Emeril Live, and includes the heartfelt original song, “Hope You’re Comin’ Back to New Orleans”.

Linnzi’s singing can be heard on her MySpace page:

http://www.myspace.com/linnzizaorski

The Boilermaker Jazz Band has performed at major festivals, concert halls, colleges, and clubs throughout the world. Though they hail from Pittsburgh, PA — the group has become a fixture in the DC lindy scene, routinely packing Glen Echo Park's Spanish Ballroom with dancers, there to swing out to the Boilermakers killer diller tunes.

Leading the Boilermaker Jazz Band on clarinet and vocals is Paul Cosentino, a full time bandleader/performer who founded the band in 1988 at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Paul plays an antique Albert system clarinet, giving him a wonderfully distinctive sound.

The band also features fabulous singer Jennie Luvv who will thrill you with her smooth and sultry vocal stylings. From bar room ballads and not-so-standard standards to hot and bubblin' swing, Jennie's performances add a touch of sophistication to the Boilermaker ensemble.

The Boilermaker Jazz Band has performed at major festivals, concert halls, colleges, and clubs throughout the world. The energy created by this group is out of this world, and they routinely pack Glen Echo Park's Spanish Ballroom with dancers, there to swing out to the Boilermakers killer diller tunes. pack Glen Echo Park's Spanish Ballroom with dancers there to swing out to their killer diller tunes.

Below you will find some clips from a few of the Boilermaker's CDs!

The Blue Crescent Septet and Friends is a project of Craig Gildner (piano, guitar, vox), David Sager (trombone, vox), Pete Ostle (bass), Howard Kadison (drums) and Gary Gregg (tenor sax, vox).

In 2003, bandleader Craig Gildner sat in with the New Orleans Jazz Vipers during Lindy Gras at a joint called the Spotted Cat. Nearly all of the tunes he played with them were for the first time. He had heard them, but never written out changes or played them in other bands. They just called the key, counted the tempo and went. Afterward, he thought, "Man, that's exciting... Music on the spot... No net... No rehearsal... Make it sound wonderful."

Blue Crescent is an extension of that experience. No complex arrangements, no painstaking rehearsals-just five guys with an extensive knowledge of classic jazz and their own unique musical fingerprint. Dave and Howard are ex-New Orleans musicians, having lived and played there for quite some time. Gary and Pete can pick up tunes they've never heard while onstage. Tunes are called from the stand, and are never played the same way twice.

The five together equal energy, excitement and spontaneity.

Swing in the raw.

Hailing from New York City, the Cangelosi Cards are one of the most talked-about bands in the today’s lindy hop scene. Never stuck in a rut, the Cards play hot New Orleans-influenced jazz, smoldering blues, and everything in between. Their unique sound, with blazing harmonica and singer Tamar Korn — who can not only belt out a tune, but imitate the sounds of other instruments with her voice. It’s a show you’ll never forget, and DCLX is pleased to welcome them back to the District.

Words don’t do this group justice, so check out some videos from teh last time they came down to visit: