As we draw close to Independence Day, we want to thank all of those friends, family, and fans that have served and sacrificed for these United States of America. Especially dear to us is Dawson "Red" Holland, one of the best piano tuners ever and a fine player himself, the man who taught our bassist, John, to play, and who not long after graduating from high school, drove a tank in General Patton's 3rd Army at the Battle of the Bulge. Keep swingin', Red!

We also want to honor those that do so much to boost morale among our troops. Our pinup this month is Becky Lee, one of the volunteers with The Pinup Angels, a wonderful organization started by Miss Kitty Baby, a U.S. Marine and Lola Dee, a sister to two Marines. The Pinup Angels put together and send care packages to our troops working overseas, packages that include snacks, letters, home-baked goodies, and of course, pinups. Click the link to see them in action to learn how you can help support our troops. Salute!

You have four chances to come dancing with us this month. Arrington Vineyards is a beautiful part of Tennessee, the perfect place to bring a date and dance on the patio. The Flying Monkey in Huntsville, AL is a funky old textile mill turned into an artisan village. The sound man, Chris Brown, is world class, and the Huntsville Swing Dance Society never fails to impress. Martini Mondays at Sambuca have been swinging, with several special guests dropping by to sit in. Hope to see you on the dance floor sometime this month.

For July, we want to turn you on to Davina and The Vagabonds from Minneapolis, MN. Imagine Maria Muldaur fronting the Squirrel Nut Zippers and you get a sense of their sound; part traditional jazz, part Bessie Smith-era blues, and part James Booker piano funk, rolled into a backbeat that swings like a gate. They deserve to be the hardest working band in Minnesota!

Hey there, Jitterbug!

This month's pinup is Cyndi from Atomic Cheesecake Studios in Baltimore, Maryland. We love a girl that cooks! Atomic Cheesecake does great work inspired by such 1940's pinup artists as Gil Elvgren and Earl Moran. Check out more of their work by clicking the link above. 

Summer is officially here in Tennessee. There is nothing like a classic cocktail to beat the heat in the South. A summertime favorite among the band is that grand dame of them all, the gin and tonic. JohnO and Chris prefer Bombay Sapphire, while Geno, Reggie and Ben usually call for Tanqueray. Either way you go, this recipe is spot on:

Gin & Tonic

Glassware: Highball

Ingredients: 45 ml Gin, Schweppes Indian Tonic Water

1. Add gin into a highball.

2. Top with Schweppes Indian Tonic Water.

3. Build over ice.

4. Garnish with fresh lime.

For more vintage cocktail recipes, check out Mix Wiki from Schweppes. 

Our featured band of the month is The Grand Marquis from the town where the blues grew up, Kansas City, Missouri. These guys & dolls concoct their own brand of jazz from jump blues, rockabilly, and swing that keeps you coming back for more. Check out their work at Grand Marquis. 

This month's pinup is model Neva Moore. We think this shot goes perfectly with our song Library Anne. Click the link to see more of her work:  

Here in Tennessee, April showers bring May flowers and summer concert series to local wineries. My tapenade was a big hit at the band table at our April Arrington Vineyards gig. Here is the recipe:

Geno's Finest Kind Tapenade

1/4 cup Gambino's Olive Salad (yes, this is what you use on muffaletta)

12 pitted kalamata olives

1 Tablespoon capers, drained

2 anchovy fillets

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Using a slap chopper, mince the kalamata olives, capers, and anchovy. Combine the mixture with the remaining ingredients. Serve on toast or crackers. Let us know how it works for you: geno@thedeanmartinis.com.