This being a sort of valedictory, I'm going to write on the very pleasant subject of Spring Dances, and as far as swing music goes, there's plenty to write about.

The big news, as you all know, is Count Basie at Adams House on the 19th. Despite the fact that having the country's number one jump band for a House dance is something in the nature of a revolutionary move, I'd like to point out that fact that the Count, surprisingly enough, plays as tasteful a brand of sweet music as you could hear anywhere. If you'll listen to records like If I Could Be With You or Our Love Was Meant To Be, you'll hear popular ballads played the right way--completely devoid of the corny ornaments that are identified with too many dance bands today. I mention this because there are an awful lot of people who get the idea that Count Basie plays only jump tunes.

On the 12th, Teddy Powell will be playing at Kirkland House, and if you didn't hear him when he was at the Famous Door, Kirkland gives you the opportunity to dance to one of our better up-and-coming orchestras. Powell, too, has a nice jump style, and features a number of boogie-orchestrations, some of which (Teddy's Boogie-Woogie and Teddy Bear Boogie) you can hear on Decca records. He's got a gang of good soloists, and gives them ample opportunity to "get off."

America's youngest name band will play for the Eliot-Winthrop Dance on the 9th--Same Donahue, who for the past few years has had a chair in the reed sections of the Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, and Harry James bands. Needless to say, you can't go wrong on an alumnus of these orchestras. I've been an admirer of Donahue's style for a long time, and am glad to see that he's finally got a band together.

Finally, the Freshmen are offering Bobby Byrne at the Jubilee, and at the Smoker tonight you can hear the Jones Brothers. I've raved about showmen above everything else, and I don't think they'll have any trouble holding their own with Margie Hart and Sally Rand.

As I look back over this column, it occurs to me that I've written a press release. All I can say in defense of myself is that I'm sincerely glad that we're having such a collection of jazz musicians around here, and I hope it doesn't stop with the spring dances.

Starting Saturday this column will be written by Harry Munroe '43, who really knows his stuff despite the fact that he plays the violin, and quite badly at that. Well, I guess I had more fun writing about swing music this year than you had reading it, and at least I can be satisfied with myself for turning the column over to competent hands.