Swingbooty

Active since: 2010

Swingbooty got its start in 2010 playing for swing dancers, flow performers, and break dancers in clubs and festivals.  Starting out as an instrumental Manouche (gypsy jazz) band they added a vocalist in 2014 and have remained a seven-piece band ever since.  Swingbooty has the driving rhythm and danceable beat that is emblematic of Swing music.  Their shows frequently include various types of visual and performance art including fire and flow. They have released two LPs and several concept videos.  The band is based in Knoxville, Tennessee.

PLAYERS

Swingbooty: Reviving Gypsy Jazz with a Modern Twist

by Kris Smith
January 23, 2025

In the '70s Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) brought classical music to the foreground of the Woodstock generation releasing songs like “Roll Over Beethoven" and blending orchestral elements with rock. Today, Swingbooty, a seven-piece gypsy swing band, is taking a page from the ELO playbook. In their home base of East Tennessee, Swingbooty brings jazz manouche to ...

Tom C. Smith

Born: December, 1962

Tom Smith learned to play bass and guitar in the parks and streets of Brooklyn.  He has been in over two dozen bands and published five self-produced CDs of original material since 2015 under the artist name Merry Jaynz and Lunchtime Tom.  Smith has been Swingbooty’s upright bass player since 2020. Inspired by greats like Berry Oakley and Phil Lesh, Tom’s bass lines blend a solid groove with melodic finesse, weaving harmonically rich lines that add depth and energy to the music.

Adam Friedman

Adam Friedman grew up in Ft. Lauderale and studied music in high school and later attended Berklee.  He has played guitar as a core member of Swingbooty since 2023.  With influences like Julian Lage and George Benson, Friedman brings to the band a blend of melodic mastery and improvisational flair.   Fan Quote: "I could listen to Adam’s guitar solo all night. His knack for reimagining melodies with fresh improvisations is unmatched." –Robert Casper

Sean Mantione

Influenced by legends like Buddy Rich and Big Sid Catlett, Sean Mantione’s drumming blends versatility and finesse. Whether using brushes or sticks, Sean brings texture and vitality to every performance.  He first discovered manouche jazz in his home town (near Scranton, PA) playing with friends at Abbey Road.  Commenting on the Swingbooty experience he remarks: "I love our chemistry as a band both on and off stage. We combine all our influences in and out of jazz and wrap it together like a delicious burrito."
Fan Quote: "Sean’s drumming adds punch and precision while keeping the Swingbooty vibe light and joyful."

Les Cunningham

A former drummer turned gypsy jazz devotee, Les “Doc” Cunningham channels the spirit of Django Reinhardt, Angelo DeBarre, and Slava Tolstoy. Today, he plays guitar with Swingbooty and is a core member of the band since 2020.   He studied with jazz greats Robin Nolan and Slava Tolstoy, perfecting his rhythm guitar style that drives each song and provides the backbone for Swingbooty’s performances.  Fan quote:  “Les has a sixth sense for timing and a rare ability to weave fresh, improvised melodies." –Brad Baker

Mike Benjamin

Mike Benjamin played bassoon for Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra since his 20's.  In recent years his focus shifted to the piano collaborating with numerous jazz groups including Johnson Swingtet, the Brad Walker Orchestra, and Rosewood Trio.  Benjamin has been the pianist and a core member of Swingbooty since 2020.

With Swingbooty, he has appeared in ten video releases and is presently working with the band to produce its third LP release.  Pianist Mike Benjamin draws from influences like Oscar Peterson and Duke Ellington to bring playfulness and precision to Swingbooty’s sound

More Hot Peanuts

By Swingbooty

Label: Self Produced
Released: 2020
Track listing: It Don't Mean a Thing if It Ain't Got That Swing; Swingbooty - Shine; Tchavolo Swing.

Christian Lange

Born in Santiago, Chile, and raised in Miami, Christian Lange's musical journey began with Rock and Latin rhythms before he discovered the captivating world of Hot Jazz in 2010 during a music camp-out along the French Broad River in Tennessee. This pivotal moment inspired the creation of Swingbooty, a band deeply influenced by the sounds of Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli, and the Swing music of the 1930s.

Lange's musical influences are as diverse as his background: “I’ve explored multiple genres, including a very unique Bluegrass-Punk project called Blackgrass. But once I caught the Gypsy Jazz bug, it became my musical home.”

Hot Damn Them Peanuts

By Swingbooty

Label: Self Produced
Released: 2012
Track listing: All of Me; Sweet Sue; It Had to Be You; Swing Gitan; I Can't Give You Anything But Love; Bossa Dorado; Mack the Knife; Dinah.