The Singapore Slingers

For the Singaporean basketball team, see Singapore Slingers.

The Singapore Slingers

Album cover for When Summer Is Gone

Background information
Origin| Dallas, Texas
Genres| Jazz, Dance
Years active| 2007 (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 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 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]

Year | Title | Label | Number | Notes

|
|
|
|

2010 | When Summer Is Gone | Jazzador |  |
2011 | Midnight, The Stars, And You |  |  | Matt Tolentino solo project
2014 | The Frank Skinner Project |  |  |
2020 | Light My Way To Love | Rivermont | BSW-2257 |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Best Of 2011". Dallas Observer.
2. ^ a b "Matt Tolentino - Singapore Slingers". Matttolentino.com.
3. ^ "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 October 10, 2011.
4. ^ "Musician Matt Tolentino is so far out, he's in » Lakewood". Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
5. ^ "The Singapore Slingers » Lakewood". Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
6. ^ [1]

## External links

[edit]

* The Singapore Slingers
* The Singapore Slingers on MySpace