[21] Bandleaders are typically performers who assemble musicians to form an ensemble of various sizes, select or create material for them, shape the musics dynamics, phrasing, and expression in rehearsals, and lead the group in performance often while playing alongside them. Henderson and arranger Don Redman followed the template of King Oliver, but as the 1920s progressed they moved away from the New Orleans format and transformed jazz. Some bands, like those of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Woody Herman, that performed in the 1920s, 1930s, or 1940s continued to perform successfully into the 1970s and 1980s. Big bands uplifted morale during World War II. rapidly with both black and white audiences. Big band - Wikipedia "call" and a group does some type of "response"), (2) it woodwinds (saxophones, clarinets), brass (trumpets, trombones) and a back-up Unlike the concert band, the lead players should never be seated on the end of the section. There was a considerable range of styles among the hundreds of popular bands. Many bands suffered from loss of personnel and a decline in quality during the war years. Other swing bands in New York City and beyond incorporated the defining elements associated with the Kansas City tradition to which they added their own stamp, as did Chick Webb and His Orchestra (Stomping at the Savoy, 1934), and Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra (Flying Home, 1942). Other methods of embellishing the form include modulations and cadential extensions. Three bypass valves over the tube can be used to lower the pitch of the trumpet. Company" vocal jazz ensemble performing a the Lincoln Center in New York The music of Count Basie (19041984) represents a leading voice in the big band style. With no market for small-group recordings (made worse by a Depression-era industry reluctant to take risks), musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines led their own bands, while others, like Jelly Roll Morton and King Oliver, lapsed into obscurity. While each instrument in a swing band can be compared to an ingredient in Gumbo, none of them have been equated with the seasoning so far. But you also need to inject your style and personality into the music you make. Yes drums are like the Roux or Fil in Gumbo. In the mid-1930s, he was the featured soloist in the Basie Orchestra. Other bandleaders used Brazilian and Afro-Cuban music with big band instrumentation, and big bands led by arranger Gil Evans, saxophonist John Coltrane (on the album Ascension from 1965) and bass guitarist Jaco Pastorius introduced cool jazz, free jazz and jazz fusion, respectively, to the big band domain. Swing is sandwiched between two huge historical events. syllables). Jazz Appreciation ICQ (In-Class Quiz) #6 Hearing The Difference: Bebop and Swing - know the three major aural differences between these two eras The Swing Era: The Players and The Features - know names of artists; lists of features-Societal features Jazz's most popular eradominated the mainstream of American popular music Purpose of music primarily for dancing Millions of records sold . Scat singing, along with his gravelly voice, became Armstrongs trademark sound, as heard in Lazy River (1931). [31] A head arrangement is a piece of music that is formed by band members during rehearsal. Swing was hugely popular - in fact, it was the pop music of the 1930's. It was mostly performed by Big Bands, which were large orchestras divided into trumpets, saxophones, trombones, and a rhythm section (which consisted of the drums, bass, guitar and piano). a) Henderson's big band comprises five brass instruments (three trumpets and two trombones), four reed instruments (saxophones and clarinets), and a rhythm section consisting of piano, bass, Jazz Appreciation ICQ #6 Review Guide.docx - Jazz Since theyre built of brass, saxophones tend to produce a trumpet-like buzzing sound. and Benny Goodman (who took jazz to Hollywood in the mid-1930s). These consist of the independent use of trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and rhythm section with the use of soloists. Duke Ellington at one time used six trumpets. Check them out, though Im sure you would already recognise many of them. The bands led by Helen Lewis, Ben Bernie, and Roger Wolfe Kahn's band were filmed by Lee de Forest in his Phonofilm sound-on-film process in 1925, in three short films which are in the Library of Congress film collection. His efforts helped make it possible for jazz musicians to earn a decent wage. Count Basie's saxophone section included. saxophonist Gerry MULLIGAN (of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet So the Swing Era was during the Depression and it acted as a kind of counter-statement or rebellion against the unemployment and misery that the Depression caused. Duke Ellington's . Samplephonics Soulful Brass Constructions [28] This development may take the form of improvised solos, written solo sections, and "shout choruses". accompaniment (acoustic bass with piano and/or guitar). A cheap & cheerful collection of up-tempo sax, trumpet and trombone funky licks featuring over 350 ensemble phrases, solos, trills and stabs for house, disco, electro-swing and quirky big-band-infused electronica. Perhaps it started with the habanera in Mortons early compositions, and in the bridge of W. C. Handys St. early style of "Hot Jazz" made its way north to Chicago and east to Orchestra. Swing bands featured a large ensemble of He would conduct his band from his drum set. (Change the second verb to the future progressive form.). The Henderson band is considerably larger than most syncopated dance bands of the 1920s (eight or nine musicians). The 194244 musicians' strike worsened the situation. Here are the five most common swing band instruments, and how they commonly fit into swing music. singing" (in which he sings like an instrument on scat Glenn Miller used a clarinet over his saxophone for identification. is a Professor Emeritus in the Departments of Black Studies and History, and former Chair of Black Studies and Asian American Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The successful bands of the Swing Era featured carefully composed arrangements that held many talented players together. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991. He was also one Above all else, Swing music is dance music which means it was: This also meant it was incredibly commercial. Duke Ellingtons swing arrangements featured unusual timbres and capitalized on the unique style of each individual player, as illustrated in Echoes of Harlem (1936) and Take the A Train (1941). clarinetist, In the late 1940s, progressive L6G9MTRv&hVSOC9Y)~06CW)j#8qE#C?YOK%d\SC9IT~U {J;F\m`F># Bandleaders dealt with these obstacles through rigid discipline (Glenn Miller) and canny psychology (Duke Ellington). In the 1970s, popular fusion groups included BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS, CHICAGO, and SANTANA An Autobiography: John Hammond on Record with Irvin Townsend. leaders in America. The term "big band" is also used to describe a genre of music, although this was not the . Whiteman increased the size of his band into nearly symphonic proportion. Jazz began in New Orleans in the To learn more about the book this website supports, please visit its, You must be a registered user to view the. here to see a YouTube video on "swing" groove vs. other types of But on performance day, this band of Lab rats replaces the high-tech gizmos with trumpets, saxophones, trombones, drums and a piano. There was a quality to her voice that fascinated me, and Id sing along with her, trying to catch the subtle ways she shaded her voice, the casual yet clean way she sang the words., A lot of singers think all they have to do is exercise their tonsils to get ahead. Whiteman was educated in classical music, and he called his new band's music symphonic jazz. Big Bands began to appear in movies in the 1930s through the 1960s, though cameos by bandleaders were often stiff and incidental to the plot.Shep Fields appeared with his Rippling Rhythm Orchestra in a playful and integrated animated performance of "This Little Ripple Had Rhythm" in the musical extravaganza The Big Broadcast of 1938. Walter Page is often credited with developing the walking bass,[38] though earlier examples exist, such as Wellman Braud on Ellington's Washington Wabble from 1927. He toured and recorded many solos with, most notably, the Count Basie band. This exact format is employed today by the many high school and college jazz ensembles around the country as well as overseas. Big bands started as accompaniment for dancing. The Many musicians served in the military and toured with USO troupes at the front, with Glenn Miller losing his life while traveling between shows. Characteristics of Music: Swing | The Music Studio [24] In many cases, however, the distinction between these roles can become blurred. of Company B (1941). hundreds of different melodies. The term "big band" is also used to describe a genre of music, although this was not the only style of music played by big bands. Performers played, sang, danced, and presented shows and stand-up comedy in these large entertainment venues. This pattern reinforced the second and fourth beat of every measure and later became known as a back beat. Additionally, the drummer accommodated the improvisations of soloists, providing a non-intrusive, laid-back swing pattern. Ella Fitzgerald contributed to the success of Webbs band in New York City. The History of Jazz. projected in the way the drums and bass express the beat, how the piano Packed with Ph.D.s, this scientific swing band performs a play list that leans heavily toward the heavens. Steve Zegree; sax: Trent Kynaston; bass: Tom Knific; drums: Tim Froncek). Whiteman started his first band in San Francisco in 1918 and his fame spread into the 1920s. The Henderson band is considerably larger than most syncopated dance bands of the 1920s (eight or nine musicians). His music uses Eastern rhythms, meters, and advanced rhythmic techniques. Figure 1: The Western Jazz Quartet (piano: Survey of Jazz Midterm 2 Flashcards - Cram.com She led her Swingphony while playing marimba. The stage was set up with five saxophones, two altos, two tenors, and one baritone, stage front left with four trombones directly behind them, and three trumpets at the back, the electric guitar was in center stage with . below to see YouTube performance clips), - rock . :vQxc!#\JK?1UshqkF~[!eO W,{(HBjkps~'O;5lR. In New Orleans, black History of Big Band Jazz | JAZZ Aspen Snowmass Big band swing was at the forefront of jazz and underwent its most concentrated growth and development from 1930 . Most swing was performed by Big Bands, which were literally big bands, divided into trumpets, saxophones, trombones, and a rhythm section consisting mostly of drums, bass, guitar, and piano. characterized by independent instrumental lines, massive harmonic dissonance, ELLINGTON and William "Count" the 1930s, famed jazz pianists Edward "Duke" City. the jukebox The popular appeal of Benny Goodman's Trio and Quartet had a good deal to do with the extroverted energy of Lionel Hampton and Gene Krupa Benny Goodman (19091986) was a superior clarinetist who began appearing on stage by the age of twelve. Art-music composer/conductor Leonard His famous recording Body and Soul, recorded in 1939, is known for its continuous smooth sound. (String Bass or Electric Bass), plucked with the fingers, often providing a [1], One of the first bands to accompany the new rhythms was led by a drummer, Art Hickman, in San Francisco in 1916. Fish, Scott K. Duke Ellington vs Chick Webb: We Tore Them Up, Man. March 1, 2016. https://scottkfish.com/2016/03/01/5221/. for hits such as Take the A Train, and Satin Doll, as well as colorful and Big bands maintained a presence on American television, particularly through the late-night talk show, which has historically used big bands as house accompaniment. Carnegie Halls interactive Timeline of African American Music is dedicated to the loving memory of the late soprano and recitalist Jessye Norman. art form--a unique blending of West African and Western European/American Choose the vocabulary word that answers each riddle. Columbia, Victor, and Decca were the three most important, Swing bands featured sections of trumpets, saxophones, and. Trumpet image courtesy: PJ via Wikimedia Commons, Saxophone image courtesy: via Wikimedia Commons, Keyboard image courtesy: Eurotuber via Wikimedia Commons, Double Bass image courtesy: David Price via Wikimedia Commons, Drum set image courtesy: Pbroks13 via Wikimedia Commons, Gumbo image courtesy: Amadscientist via Wikimedia Commons, For more than 10 years, The Classic Swing Band of Dallas has offered the best in live entertainment. and the Lincoln Center Jazz Big bands generally have four sections: trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and a rhythm section of guitar, piano, double bass, and drums. A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. "Call and Response" was a common musical device. And they played a particular type of Swing in Kansas City known as: Kansas City Jazz. [37] As jazz migrated from its New Orleans origin to Chicago and New York City, energetic, suggestive dances traveled with it. Swing band music was organized in homophonywhere two or more instruments played similar or complementary lines. New York was an important geographic area for the developments leading toward the swing style of jazz. photo by Patricia Schneider. Jam Blues features a 12-bar blues pattern with each subsequent varied chorus Ive listed someSwing Era Jazz musicians below. They refuse to look for new ideas and new outlets, so they fall by the waysideIm going to try to find out the new ideas before the others do., I stole everything I ever heard, but mostly I stole from the horns.. Playing multiple riffs playing at once as a kind of call and response. BASIE popularized "pure" jazz through a "Big Band" The Great Depression, which started with the stock market crash in 1929, and WWII which ended in 1945. The string bass replaced the tuba and the guitar replaced the banjo. They established independent patterns for the trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and the rhythm section within segments of the arrangement that featured improvised solos. of American jazz. [19], It is useful to distinguish between the roles of composer, arranger and leader. A distinctly new genre appeared in the late 1930s that to some degree bridged the differences between big band swing and bebop combos, and this was West Indian influenced music. PDF Chapter Six: "In the Mood": the Swing Era, 1935-1945 In a big band jazz group, at least three trumpets, two trombones, four or more saxophones, and a rhythm section of piano, guitar, bass, and drums are combined with a vocal element. [1][2] The division in early big bands, from the 1920s to 1930s, was typically two or three trumpets, one or two trombones, three or four saxophones, and a rhythm section of four instruments. "C" Jam Blues (1942). of main line "crooners" such as Bing Trumpets feature a hollow brass tube that is doubles back on itself twice. The music business suffered during the Great Depression. The methods of dance bands marked a step away from New Orleans jazz. can keep track of this form by counting to 4 twelve times ("1 2 3 4", "2 2 3 4", "3 2 3 4", "4 2 3 4", "5 2 3 4", etc. The latter included blues, ballads, novelty songs, and Broadway tunes. In 1925, bandleader Paul Whiteman Holiday crossed musical genres, singing jazz, blues, and pop while keeping her individual singing style. a vocalist with piano or a small backup group. [32] They experiment, often with one player coming up with a simple musical figure leading to development within the same section and then further expansion by other sections, with the entire band then memorizing the way they are going to perform the piece, without writing it on sheet music. The composer writes original music that will be performed by individuals or groups of various sizes, while the arranger adapts the work of composers in a creative way for a performance or recording. Big bands originated during the early 1910s and dominated jazz in the early 1940s when swing was most popular. Guiding Principals. Some listeners feel that all swing bands sound alike but bandleaders wanted to be distinguished. Trumpets provide a brash buzzing sound thats well suited for a melody. ragtime The swing era followed boogie-woogie. Many bands featured strong instrumentalists whose sounds dominated, such as the clarinets of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, the trombone of Jack Teagarden, the trumpet of Harry James, the drums of Gene Krupa, and the vibes of Lionel Hampton. ensemble intimate style of Dixieland jazz into a harder-edged full band sound. art form--a unique blending of West African and Western European/American The Cotton Club, Harlem, New York City, early 1930s. In contrast to the typical jazz emphasis on improvisation, big bands relied on written compositions and arrangements. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_band&oldid=1142698476, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 22:19. Southwest bands offered a different solution to big band improvisational structures. in its strictest sense means to merge styles together. Q G("CH^T)daA]yg~zN^y>.g~01D%>7dj.|K+8'9 q*U!i|O1#"v\YOGtc_GD1JL. Modern big bands can be found playing all styles of jazz music. initiated by a 4-measure lead-in improvised over a "C" chord %PDF-1.5 % New York in the late 1920s. In the early 1970s, Miles Davis began exploring A. Rolfe, Anna Mae Winburn, and Ina Ray Hutton.[35].