The Crazy Charleston Era

In the 1920s, the modern entertainment industry as we know it today was established in essential features: Cinematic films and music from records and the radio became a common part of Western culture; jazz formed the first form of a global pop music that thrilled the masses beyond the concert hall. Also in Berlin at that time in countless newly emerged dance halls, variety shows and cabarets danced a freshly imported from America fashion dance called Charleston for many an expression of newly (after the war) won joie de vivre and for some others a symbol of foreign wickedness and depravity.

This age has been labeled with various terms: Golden Twenties, Jazz Age, Charleston Era, Crazy or Wild Twenties, etc. Whichever term one uses, one will probably agree on this era's seething vitality and creativity, which remained groundbreaking for the entire later entertainment culture.

Even this aspect Stefan Schwalgin in his medley THE CRAZY CHARLESTON ERA from three classic jazz titles of this era in the foreground: Funny instrumental effects and crazy capers of the orchestra sometimes seem to roll over in this musical parforceritt, which is however technically much easier to master than the first impression suggests.

The 1920s are currently just around the corner. Let them become as wild, crazy and alive in your concert for a few minutes as they were a hundred years ago!