The Nighthawks Know How To Party Like It's 1929
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A swing band that performs weekly in Midtown is now being featured in a new Leonardo DiCaprio film. NY1's Stephanie Simon filed the following report. On Monday nights at Sofia's Restaurant, Club Cache at the Edison Hotel in Midtown, the Nighthawks party like it's 1929.
Vince Giordano leads The Nighthawks on a musical journey back in time – swinging to the sounds of the 1920s, 30s and 40s.
"We play a lot of jazz tunes associated with big bands from the Jazz Age, like Duke Ellington, Paul Whiteman, Fletcher Hemison," says Giordano. "We play pop tunes of that time, too. So we mix it up."
They play these old-time songs on vintage instruments.
"We have a megaphone for the trombone to play through from the 1920s. It amplifies the sound," says Giordano. "I also have a bass saxophone from 1926. It provides a baseline for the band, when I'm not playing the tuba or the aluminum string base. It's kind of a relic from long ago. But a lot of band leaders used it and it had a big sound to it."
Giordano has played historic tunes in many films including 2004's "The Aviator" starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Giordano is also featured in DiCaprio's new film, "Revolutionary Road."
"When this film came up, which was a little later period, just about the whole same crew was there and it was sort of like going back home again," he says. "It was like, 'hey, here we are on another set.'"
Giordano says swing was the rock 'n' roll of its generation
"We have a dance floor, too, so they want dance music and hot jazz. So we try to make it a New Years Eve party every Monday night," he says.
"The music is absolutely fabulous," says a fan. "It makes me really proud to be a New Yorker and take advantage of this opportunity. It's a place you can eat wonderful food, come and dance, sit down at the bar, do anything and enjoy a step back in time."
The band plays music from the king of swing, the late Benny Goodman.
"There's a need for this kind of music and I wish there were more places to go and hear it," said Goodman's brother Gene.
For more information on Sofia's Restaurant, Club Cache (located on West 46th Street), go to ClubCachenyc.com or call 212-719-5799.
To listen to The Nighthawks, check out Myspace.com/VinceGiordanotheNighthawks.