“Keep swinging!” was the way old school Jazz musicians used to say goodbye to their friends and colleagues. It was a phrase that more than likely originated in the swing era and it was used to encourage friends and colleagues to stay in sync with the music they admired and the Jazz lives they lead. It’s a directive to stay in the groove and maintain the rhythmic feel that defines Jazz. A reminder to stay in the groove and maintain the rhythmic feel that includes the rhythm of life were one and the same. The iconic phrase encapsulates the idea of maintaining the spirit, energy, and improvisational nature that make jazz music so vibrant and captivating.
The affirmation was popular as a reminder to stay on top of things in life generally but there is a another earthier connotation as well. To keep swinging was to indulge in the benefits of a young and vital healthy sex life and in extension to stay in control of things in general. Swing dancers too are very concerned with this famous encapsulates the idea of maintaining the spirit, energy, and improvisational nature that make jazz music so vibrant and captivating. So keep swinging everyone, let the rhythms of a swinging universe keep you in the groove.