Historical references to London's sounds

A Public for Jive

But now Heilige Nacht has ended, the last notes like toothpaste have been squeezed from the tubular saxophone, the muted trumpet. A short pause and then all the brass of the orchestra crashes open the first tidal chord of a fast swing tune. An epithet much used in the idiom of swing is 'solid'. A 'solid' driving beat is produced that 'sends' the dancers. It seems almost as if an invisible material force is at work, as though the instruments emit successive walls of sound that force the dancers on their way. And now these walls have already galvanized the floor with a strange excitement. The force of sudden movement, the unison enthusiasm, is palpable. The hep-cats are at it, the jive is on, they're in a groove.

[. . .]

Lastly, on a fortissimo note, there is the night of a special jive competition . . . The huge band plays only jive, and almost without a pause. There is little general dancing, the floor is split into huddled circles of enthusiasts pressing forward to see virtuoso exhibitions by experts . . . jiving the night out to cheers and clapping and cries of 'Harry!' and 'Go it, Bert!' till the selections are made and the winners announced.