The Singapore Slingers are an American 18-member orchestra based in Dallas, Texas that specializes in performing pre-swing American dance music, with a particular focus on popular songs of the 1920s and early 1930s. They have been called the "coolest, quirkiest, retro jazz group" in Dallas by the local press.[1] They are the only group of their kind in Dallas,[2] with a repertoire that regularly features fox trots, waltzes, marches, one-steps, two-steps, rags, tangos, and rumbas. The band was formed in late 2007 by Dallas native Matt Tolentino, and continues under his direction, normally consisting of four reeds, three brass, five rhythm players,[1] and a string section including three violins, a viola, a cello, and a string bass.[2] The Singapore Slingers were nominated in the category "Best Jazz Act" for the 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards,[3] and were named Best Pre-Swing Jazz Orchestra by the Dallas Observer in 2011.[1]
The Singapore Slingers | |
|---|---|
 Album cover for When Summer Is Gone | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Dallas, Texas |
| Genres | Jazz, Dance |
| Years active | 2007–Present |
| Labels | Jazzador Records |
| Members | Matt Tolentino - bandleader Linda Proch - violin Kevin Yu - violin Jim Herrera - violin Cynthia Dashiell - viola Gretchen Nichols - cello Evan Wennerberg - flute Jon Stutler - clarinet Cassie Conway - saxophone David Lovrien - saxophone Marc Dunbar - saxophone Matt Seppeler - trumpet Phil West - trumpet Eugene LeBeaux - trombone Charlie Horwitz - string bass Irwin Arnstein - tuba Robert Edwards - piano George Gagliardi - banjo Michael Plotkin - drums/xylophone/Lord high master of percussion |
| Website | The Singapore Slingers |
The Singapore Slingers perform regularly at venues all over Dallas.[4] Bandleader Tolentino plays many instruments, including clarinet, tuba, bass saxophone, ukulele, banjo, piano, and accordion.[5] Much of the band’s repertoire utilizes orchestrations of Tin Pan Alley tunes popularized by the likes of the Mills Brothers, Duke Ellington, the Club Royal Orchestra, Paul Whiteman, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Marx Brothers films, and other sources,[6] and stays true to vintage arrangements from America's finest composers of the first three decades of the 20th century.
Discography
edit- When Summer Is Gone (CD) (2010)
- Midnight, The Stars, And You (CD) (Matt Tolentino solo project) (2011)
- The Frank Skinner Project (CD) (2014)
- Light My Way To Love (CD) (2020)
References
edit- ^ a b c "Best Of 2011". Dallas Observer.
- ^ a b "Matt Tolentino - Singapore Slingers". Matttolentino.com.
- ^ "DOMAXXIII: Schedule of Performers For The Music Awards Showcase in Deep Ellum - Dallas Music - DC9 At Night". blogs.dallasobserver.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-10.
- ^ "Musician Matt Tolentino is so far out, he's in » Lakewood". Archived from the original on 2014-08-09. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
- ^ "The Singapore Slingers » Lakewood". Archived from the original on 2014-08-09. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
- ^ [1] [dead link]