Jumpin’ Jive
The Nicholas Brothers and Cab Calloway
Arguably the greatest dance routine ever captured on film
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The Nicholas Brothers, Fayard (1914-2006), and Harold (1921-2000) came to fame at the Cotton Club in the 1930s for their very acrobatic and spectacular tap dancing.
They were in many films, including the two Glenn Miller movies Sun Valley Serenade and Orchestra Wives, invariably stealing the show during their featured number.
1943’s Stormy Weather was the high point of their film career and has one of the great dance features ever documented.
The first half of “Jumpin’ Jive,” which features the always-colorful Cab Calloway and his orchestra (with drummer Cozy Cole), is an enjoyable treat by itself.
The Nicholas Brothers then perform some rather unbelievable dancing, with leaps and landings that simply cannot be topped.
– Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald