Bands and DJs
Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators
Dedicated to the popular music of the 1920′s, 1930′s and early 1940′s,
Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators have become a premiere swing-era band, winning over hearts and feet of dancers across the nation. Their musical influences include Benny Goodman, Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong and more. In addition to classic tunes, the Syncopators perform new songs composed in vintage style by bandleader Glenn Crytzer.
The Syncopators are the house band for swing nights at Seattle’s historic Century Ballroom and have been featured at popular dance events including the Seattle Lindy Exchange, the Emerald City Blues Festival, Camp Balboa, Savoy Swing Jam, The Washington DC Lindy Exchange, Midwest Lindy Fest and many more!
The Solomon Douglas Swingtet
From Seattle, Solomon Douglas performs at numerous dance exchanges around the world. His experience as a dance instructor lends unique insight into the music that motivates swing and blues dancers! His musical styles include blues, old-school swing, modern swing, bop and soul. Solomon's swing grooves and jazz chops will lead his band on tunes that inspire your feet to be happy! Solomon will be playing for our Late Night Friday dance and will primarily be playing the Blues.
Gordon Webster
A musician inspired by dance, Gordon Webster has in turn inspired lindy hoppers at hundreds of dance events worldwide. Drawing on diverse influences like Fats Waller, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson and Gene Harris, he is of the most active and versatile musicians on the scene, Webster maintains collaborative relationships with many jazz, blues and lindy hop enthusiasts, and is an associate member of one of the most popular traditional jazz bands on the U.S. lindy hop scene, the Cangelosi Cards. Gordon’s band has played around the world. Gordon will be playing twice for us. For Saturday night he will have his 8-piece band and will be playing his Lindy sets. Gordon will also play for our Saturday late night and will play his Blues sets.
The Boilermaker Jazz Band
The Boilermakers perform at great swing events the world over! Known for their authentic hot jazz and swing style, they bring dancers to their feet wherever they go. Pittsburgh is proud to call them our own. Led by Paul Cosentino and featuring the dulcet vocals of the dazzling Jennie Luvv, the BMJB will swing you out like never before. This band performs at every PittStop by popular demand!
Rick Matt's Little Big Band
Rick Matt is one of the most sought after saxophonist’s in the Pittsburgh Area, performing regularly as a freelance musician. He has also toured and performed with legendary artists like Maynard Ferguson, Tony Bennett and Johnny Mathis. Rick Matt has pleased PittStop crowds for many years with the Rick Matt Project, but this time he’s back by popular demand and his nine-piece band featuring many of Pittsburgh’s finest young musicians. With classic jazz chops and a big band sound, they’ll bring a fresh and lively interpretation to our favorite swing standards!
Deejays (in alphabetic order)
Jeff Altman
Jeffy “Cupcake” Altman has been dancing lindy hop since 2004. Known for his famous tagline “Oh my God, we’re all gonna die,” Jeffy’s passion for the dance and music fueled his desire to become a DJ. He’s certainly one of Pittsburgh’s favorites, playing regularly at the Steel Town Stomp Dance. He also spins music at local dances like Swing City and Chicken Swing. Jeffy made his PittStop debut as a DJ in 2008 and we’re looking forward to having him back!
Greg Avakian
Greg Avakian is a popular DJ nationwide, having spun music for dancers at exchanges, competitions and other events across the USA and in Canada and Europe since 1998. For a long list of teaching/DJing events, see Greg's website. Locally, Greg hosts Philadelphia's Kaffa Cafe Blues dances and is a house DJ at Philadelphia's most popular weekly dance: Lindy and Blues (LaB). Greg's DJ style mixes classic swing & blues with other sweet, funky stuff.
Elizabeth Farrington
"Queen" Elizabeth, weaned on Soul Train and the NYC Club Scene, performed as a guitar player and vocalist for decades before stumbling upon swing dancing in 2004, at which time life was officially divided into either "Before" or "After" dancing. She began DJing in 2006 at the York Swing Dance Club and later at events like Steel City Blues, Philadelphia DJXperiment, Blues in the Back Room at Glen Echo, Baltimore Blues Summit and White Rose City Lindy Exchange/New Year's Eve. Specializing in Traditional//Vintage Revival Jazz and Blues, with a soft spot for female vocalists and popular music of the 1920's-30's, she's a sucker for a great groove no matter what the style. Elizabeth now calls Central PA home and when she's not out dancing or DJing, she can be found most days up on Dove Hill Farm. Contact her at .
Mike Marcotte
Spinning out of control from Washington D.C., Mike Marcotte began triple-stepping back in 1998. Thanks to some breaks from Nancy at Zoot's, Rayned at k2, the organizers of every DCLX, and Donna and Craig with Virginia State Open, Mike started spin’n and there was no turning back. Along the way he collaborated with Glenn Scales and Jerry Almonte at ALHC preparing himself for the rewarding challenge of DJ Coordinator for ILHC. If that isn’t enough Mike developed interest for blues dancing with his partner and first instructor Donna Barker. Mike does his best to read the crowd and ride the collective wave of dancers all around the floor. Mike feels honored to be asked back to many events including ILHC, Lindy Focus, DCLX, Philly Lindy Love, Blues Muse. We are happy to have him back to Pitt Stop.
Breanna Perry
Breanna loves to swing dance to good, swingin' music. That's why she started DJing in 2006 and continues playing at regular venues in her local scene and national events from Atlanta, Georgia to Rochester, NY. If you like the music of the swing era whether it's the Count, the Duke, or old favorites from Louis Armstrong and Jimmie Lunceford, or even more contemporary artists like Tuba Skinny and the Boilermaker Jazz Band, you'll enjoy Beanna's sets. Big bands, small groups, New Orleans jazz, even some of the stuff from the late 40's and 50's with that bop tint to it--if it will get a dancer’s feet moving, she’s play’n it!
Dan Repsch
Dan is a Philadelphia native whose obsession with music has been life-long. He’s taken to DJing because he loves sharing his music, inspiring other dancers, and guiding the energy of a dance. He’s constantly challenging himself to bring new material to his fellow dancers and works hard to offer a variety of music in his sets that stays true to the roots of the dance. He loves all styles of music and his sets tend more toward vintage and authentic styles, but he can bring the funk if the dance calls for it.
Craig Sparks
Craig started DJing eight years ago in the Pittsburgh area. He regularly plays in Baltimore and Annapolis, and has been invited throughout the Baltimore-DC metropolitan area. His style is both familiar and forward with classic swing songs and surprising finds you never knew you could dance to. As a life-long musician, Craig knows that there are amazing songs in every style of music. He makes it his mission to cull the best of each genre for his collection, all for the purpose of leaving each dancer in a state of exhausted bliss.