swing bands featured sections of trumpets, saxophones, and

Ra's eclectic music was played by a roster of musicians from ten to thirty and was presented as theater, with costumes, dancers, and special effects.[1]. are described below. In the 1960s, Gunther SCHULLER developed a style known as "Third The repertoire of swing bands featured both jazz and popular arrangements. trombone. interacts with the bass and drums, and how the beat is divided up in complex Big bands uplifted morale during World War II. woodwinds (saxophones, clarinets), brass (trumpets, trombones) and a back-up of the United States between 1920 and 1970. HWYo8~G ("b+[:r$%_r8oFdnIt]5pu\Kr|z~+au/I8vTm3}` e This approach was then further expanded upon by Bebop, which largely abandoned the original melody of the song to create brand new melodies based on an established chord progression this was known as a contrafact. Hammond, John. John Coltrane's "hard bop" of The saxophone features a curved reed mouthpiece and a long brass tube that gradually expands before doubling back and bellowing outwards. Swing bands featured a large ensemble of Thats what makes it stand out. Short, repeated refrains or phrases, or riffs, are common in jazz. Instead of just embellishing the melody, he created a whole new melody based on the songs harmony by arpeggiating the chords and adding further chord alterations and substitutions to make his solo more complex. Ellington allowed individuals to retain their own identities and to expand and explore their own directions. - Packed with Ph.D.s, this scientific swing band performs a play list that leans heavily toward the heavens. endstream endobj startxref bWkwf>JW'wJj_]6/?NxP]-0_wg"2;WjbuY5sujr7g/sueG>trp~ZBV7]M(//m!o/f[^fb]x>f]aX?UnAW|ng)]s? The band features selections mostly from the swing era, with a dose of 50's Sinatra and 60's hipsters. harmony, structure and instrumentation. jazz-fusion (combining elements of jazz and rock musics). Swing grew out of New Orleans Jazz and the evolved into Bebop. 6 Steps to Big Band Writing with Steven Feifke. Ive listed someSwing Era Jazz musicians below. One of the most common forms used in jazz [24] In many cases, however, the distinction between these roles can become blurred. Choose the vocabulary word that answers each riddle. Although many of these bands maintain a close tie to the swinging style of the Basie and Herman bands, others exhibit a new and very individualized style. The trumpet section included four trumpets; the first was responsible for the highest notes. Arrangers notated specific notes for each instrument to play in every measure on a written score. clarinetist, In the late 1940s, progressive His sax playing is distinguished by a full tone, flowing lines, and heavy vibrato. (optional) Select some text on the page (or do this before you open the "Notes" drawer). Young, who also studied violin, trumpet and drums, displayed an excellent sense of melody in his lyrical soloing. They had Count Basie, they had Benny Moten, they had George Lee, they had Junior Lee, they had Lester Young, they had Walter Brown., What I heard in that first nine-piece Basie band was the sort of free, swinging jazz that I have always preferred. [29], An arrangement's first chorus is sometimes preceded by an introduction, which may be as short as a few measures or may extend to a chorus of its own. Later, a fifth bass trombone was often added. In the 1950s, Stan Kenton referred to his band's music as "progressive jazz", "modern", and "new music". And there were also 2 different styles of Swing music. The Lindy Hop became popular again and young people took an interest in big band styles again. 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. for hits such as Take the A Train, and Satin Doll, as well as colorful and "big band" backup, the most famous example, The Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy from and ingenuity. He received his BA in Political Science from the University of Chicago and an M.A. Swing bands featured orchestras with sections of trumpets, saxophones, and _________________. His music was a combination of solo and ensemble playing. 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. 1U^ p(s XA@H:@!+H30q:pYL4#9 S 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. Traveling conditions and lodging were difficult, in part due to segregation in most parts of the United States, and the personnel often had to perform having had little sleep and food. Apart from the star soloists, many musicians received low wages and would abandon the tour if bookings disappeared. "walking bass" accompaniment, - Harmony leaders in America. The music business suffered during the Great Depression. 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. From three to five plyers on each instrument might be used. This exemplifies many of the most innovative aspects of this new jazz style: (1) It Jazz elements into his famous musical, leaders in America. 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. GILLESPIE: Koko (1945). (1899-1974): The '20s," "HOT" JAZZ A prominent feature of swing music is a leading brass section, which is often provided by a trumpet. improvised solo structure on the choruses: (1) piano--Ellington), (2) jazz Count Basie became an Oklahoma City Blue Devil around 1929 and also played with Bennie Moten. Ellington, Duke Kennedy. Click here for a FREE preview of The Classic Swing Bands newest CD Ballroom Dance Favorites.. The piece has an As swing developed, the second player became responsible for most of the jazz solos. So generally the pianist played very rhythmically, and helped keep the beat. CROSBY, Frank SINATRA, and Doris DAY, who blossomed as featured vocalists with prominent bands In addition, Miller had a radio program and made motion pictures. The group emphasized correct technique and accurate playing and released its first recording in 1930. Big Bands evolved with the times and continue to this day. Professor Daniels book publications include Lester Leaps In: The Life and Times of Lester Pres Young (Beacon, 2002); Pioneer Urbanites: A Social and Cultural History of Black San Francisco; and One Oclock Jump: The Unforgettable History of the Oklahoma City Blue Devils (Beacon Press, 2006). Saxophones also feature a number of keys built into the main section of the tube; these keys can change the pitch or note being played. and the Lincoln Center Jazz %%EOF ARMSTRONG took "Hot" Jazz to Chicago, where its popularity grew techniques (from native African musical tradition in which a leader does a In the 1940s, an intensely virtuosic and Orchestra. trumpet. "Fusion" in its strictest He was also a band leader and arranger who traveled throughout Europe and Japan during the 1950s and 1960s. These bands had identifiable leaders, such as Glenn Miller and the Dorsey brothers, who placed their individual stamps on their musical arrangements. is called the "12-bar blues." Since theyre built of brass, saxophones tend to produce a trumpet-like buzzing sound. Three bypass valves over the tube can be used to lower the pitch of the trumpet. And they played dance music. (1937). After 1935, big bands rose to prominence playing swing music and held a major role in defining swing as a distinctive style. For this reason the pianists left hand generally just played chords on the beat; while his right hand built rhythmic patterns around chords and chord tone, and especially guide tone often just playing arpeggios or simple bluesy licks. Hickman's arranger, Ferde Grof, wrote arrangements in which he divided the jazz orchestra into sections that combined in various ways. 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. The swing era is thought to be the best time to consider big band music as a concept for music fans. Asthe name of that sound suggests, Count Basie played in Kansas City. When the tradition came back full-circle into vocal jazz with a Daniels, Douglas. His "C" A large string instrument with an extremely low pitch, the Double Bass is a staple of most swing bands. Fueled by the non-stop nightlife under political boss Tom Pendergast, Kansas City jam sessions went on well beyond sunrise, fostering a highly competitive atmosphere and a unique music culture, attracting many bands from the Southwest known as territory bands, such as Bennie Motens orchestra and the Oklahoma City Blue Devils. By the end of the war, swing was giving way to less danceable music, such as bebop. Bassists generally assumed the role of timekeeper, while drummers functioned in a dual capacity. (Click on the titles of the pieces These artists added new instrumentssuch as congas, other percussion instruments, timbales, maracas, and clavesand relied on powerful multi-rhythmic pulses to highlight jazz compositions within the big band as well as the small combo formats. A big band typically consists of approximately 12 to 25 musicians and contains saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Fitzgerald was unique in her ability to render exact imitations of nearly any instrument in the band. Kenton pushed the boundaries of big bands by combining clashing elements and by hiring arrangers whose ideas about music conflicted. This expansive eclecticism characterized much of jazz after World War II. The music of Count Basie (19041984) represents a leading voice in the big band style. Many bands suffered from loss of personnel and a decline in quality during the war years. - The ANDREWS SISTERS: The Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy Some of the Piano techniques employed during the Swing Era were: A good example of this is the Count Basie song Kansas City Keys. Boyd Raeburn drew from symphony orchestras by adding flute, French horn, strings, and timpani to his band. !/$v}5cliH_+B9W#PBY]C ::B) In Kansas City, Bennie Motens and Count Basies bands had begun developing a looser type of big band arrangement that allowed for freer styles of soloing, giving rise to a unique Kansas City swing style in the 1930s. The Double Bass is shaped like other string instruments such as the guitar or violin. NY: Penguin Books:1977. Above all else, Swing music is dance music which means it was: This also meant it was incredibly commercial. Swing was hugely popular in fact, it was the pop music of the 1930s. Perhaps it started with the habanera in Mortons early compositions, and in the bridge of W. C. Handys St. By the late 1930s, prosperity was returning, and records and radio were extremely helpful in publicizing jazz. George GERSHWIN (1898-1937): Rhapsody Duke Ellington wrote a song in 1931 titled It Dont Mean a Thing (If It Aint Got That Swing), and for a generation of music lovers those were words to live by. Beside her vocal timbre, her unique style delayed the placement of words and phrases compared with the musical pulse, producing a behind-the-beat effect that became her trademark. [30], Some big ensembles, like King Oliver's, played music that was half-arranged, half-improvised, often relying on head arrangements. [36]:p.31, Before 1910, social dance in America was dominated by steps such as the waltz and polka. Louis ARMSTRONG (1900-1971): Hotter Than That (1927). 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.. The saxophone section included two alto saxophones, two tenor saxophones, and one baritone saxophone. Swing music was performed by a larger ensemble consisting of saxophones (sometimes also clarinets), trumpets, and trombones. 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. is America's Rewrite each sentence following the instructions in parentheses. As purely instrumental jazz All Jazz styles have two common features: - 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). Rhythm Section: (click here to see a YouTube often feature virtuoso performers, on - in Blue (1925). Another interesting and important development happened with Swing improvisation. As jazz was expanded during the 1950s through the 1970s, the Basie and Ellington bands were still around, as were bands led by Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton, Earl Hines, Les Brown, Clark Terry, and Doc Severinsen. basic chord progression of a 12-bar blues in the key of "C". . This is where one section (say, the brass section, i.e., trumpets and trombones) would play a musical phrase and then be "answered" by another section (say, the saxes); the first phrase is the call, the answer is the response (like a musical conversation). Typically the most prominent shows with the earliest time slots and largest audiences have bigger bands with horn sections while those in later time slots go with smaller, leaner ensembles. hb```. @1&$3.YTyfx.=**hE+f|5SSz/=n/ hundreds of different melodies. Ellington expanded Armstrong's small Count Basie played a relaxed, propulsive swing, Bob Crosby (brother of Bing), more of a dixieland style,[39] Benny Goodman a hard driving swing, and Duke Ellington's compositions were varied and sophisticated. violin--Ray Nance), (3) trumpet--Rex Stewart, (4) tenor saxBen Webster, In the mid-1930s, he was the featured soloist in the Basie Orchestra. Swing was massively popular during the 1930s, so popular, in fact, that it was the pop music of its time. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
. He created his band as a vehicle for his compositions. Bob Hope, Shep Fields and The Rippling Rhythm Revue", Photograph of Bob Hope as master of ceremonies on the "Rippling Rhythm Revue" Show in 1937 on Gettyimages, State University of New York, Fredonia. Her version of the nursery rhyme A-Tisket, A-Tasket (1938) brought her international fame. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Unlike the vague term 'orchestra', writing for a big band is a little more specific with regards to the instruments and number of players at your disposal. African American theaters and night clubs, the Apollo, the Savoy, and the Lafayette, became legendary for presenting jazz combos and orchestras. When it comes to swing music, keyboards are typically used as a harmonic element. Other research interests include African popular music and the use of oral history and photography in the study of culture. Don Ellis, an excellent trumpet player and drummer, is influenced by music from India. In the early 1950s a smoother, more Singers Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald came to the popular forefront during the swing era. - trombones The invention of ______ helped the record industry to recover in the mid-1930s. clip on the basic jazz rhythm section. While drum sets are typically used for this important task in swing music, single drums can also do the trick if theyre played with precision. a vocalist with piano or a small backup group. 20th-century popular music and culture. world. Whether your event needs a small ensemble or a full big band sound, we have the professionalism and class needed for functions requiring real live music! is exactly what the jazz musician does to keep track of the blues formone "[34][35] Head arrangements were more common during the period of the 1930s because there was less turnover in personnel, giving the band members more time to rehearse. And after years of economic depression, many Americans wanted to have fun. Kansas City was busy with musical activity from the early 1920s to about 1938. He was also one The Dorsey Brothers started with a large-band version of Dixieland featuring singer Bob Crosby who later developed his own band. The rhythm section would typically include piano, string bass, drum set, with occasional additions of guitar or other chordal/melody instruments. You must have javascript enabled to view this website. All the big bands would go up there. Until the political climate changes in Chile, Allende will write from her current home in https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_band&oldid=1142698476, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 22:19. Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, and Jimmie Lunceford each led orchestras that achieved international standing. The successful bands of the Swing Era featured carefully composed arrangements that held many talented players together. It is usually played by big band ensembles that use a rhythm section with drums, bass, sometimes a guitar, and almost always a piano, a brass section of trumpets and trombones, and a reed section of saxophones and clarinets. In New Orleans, black rapidly with both black and white audiences. Swing was almost entirely commercial and part of the mass entertainment industry. Figure 3: WMU's "Gold A. For the trumpet and trombone players, the most common configuration is 2-1-3-4, from the director's . The Ellington orchestra succeeded in part through the expert use and contribution of consistently talented and unique players. He would conduct his band from his drum set. The project is also supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. They gave a greater role to bandleaders, arrangers, and sections of instruments rather than soloists. Vocalists began to strike out on their own. Glenn Miller used a clarinet over his saxophone for identification. [3] They incorporated elements of Broadway, Tin Pan Alley, ragtime, and vaudeville. The swing style developed in the 1930s and continued to be popular throughout the 1940s and beyond as a distinctive genre. A big band typically consists of approximately 12 to 25 musicians and contains saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Paul Whiteman (18901967), called the King of Jazz, sought after talented top names for his band like Bing Crosby, Bix Beiderbecke, and Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. Swing is an outgrowth of the 1920s big band traditions in Chicago, Kansas City, and New York City. performing at the same time." 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. emerged as piano was added to the rhythm section, and a stronger driving rhythm sense means to merge styles together. Ella Fitzgerald contributed to the success of Webbs band in New York City. early style of "Hot Jazz" made its way north to Chicago and east to The trumpet section included four trumpets; the first was responsible for the highest notes. style known as SWING. Important New York figures of this time include Chick Webb, Jimmie Lunceford, and Duke Ellington. Ella Fitzgerald, the featured vocalist of Chick Webbs Orchestra during the late 1930s, is considered to be one of the most outstanding singers of the swing era. The Cotton Club, Harlem, New York City, early 1930s. of main line "crooners" such as Bing Scat singing, along with his gravelly voice, became Armstrongs trademark sound, as heard in Lazy River (1931). [19], It is useful to distinguish between the roles of composer, arranger and leader. Jazz played an important role in changing the socio-political landscape In general, swing refers to the music of large dance bands that played written arrangements. (of the Dave Brubeck Quartet that also featured alto saxophonist Paul DESMOND), orchestral jazz crossover movement that had an enormous impact on getting white Beginning in the mid-1920s, big bands, then typically consisting of 10-25 pieces, came to dominate popular music. His music uses Eastern rhythms, meters, and advanced rhythmic techniques. The trumpeter blows on the mouthpiece at one end of the trumpet with closed lips, and the sound wave reverberates through the tube until it exits out the widened far end of the instrument. grooves, click YouTube clip with basic piano chords, click here to see a YouTube Then circle the object of the preposition. . "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" - Duke Ellington & Ella Fitzgerald, It Dont Mean a Thing (If It Aint Got That Swing),, Kansas City was the swingingest sound in the world. Figure 1: The Western Jazz Quartet (piano: Maria Schneider assisted Gil Evans, wrote for Woody Herman and Mel Lewis, and has conducted jazz orchestras around the world. Here are the five most common swing band instruments, and how they commonly fit into swing music. The genre was gradually absorbed into mainstream pop rock and the jazz rock sector.[45]. Although During the "Roaring The popularity of their bands in the mainstream reveals the extent to which jazz and blues had become the most popular dance music of the 1930s and 1940s. An Autobiography: John Hammond on Record with Irvin Townsend. "Duke" ELLINGTON The Cotton Club started in Harlem before it moved downtown. Swing as Popular Music 1. Two other musical characteristics of swing bands are a return to the use of a flat-four rhythm and the use of block chords (chords with many notes moving in parallel motion). Coast" Cool Jazz emerged, using Bandleader Charlie Barnet's recording of "Cherokee" in 1942 and "The Moose" in 1943 have been called the beginning of the bop era. Theyre noticeable, but not overwhelming. [3] In the 1940s, Stan Kenton's band used up to five trumpets, five trombones (three tenor and two bass trombones), five saxophones (two alto saxophones, two tenor saxophones, one baritone saxophone), and a rhythm section. 1. uses "call and response" Big band swing was at the forefront of jazz and underwent its most concentrated growth and development from 1930 . The swing era followed boogie-woogie. Four trombones comprised the trombone section. The wind component of a big band consists of three sections: the saxophones (usually three to five players with various combinations of alto, tenor and baritone saxes and with some of the players doubling on flutes and clarinets); the trombones (typically three or four players, one of whom specializes on the bass trombone); and the trumpets . of many things they must think about while they are playing. Loops are played at 120 and 125 bpm. introduction, the main theme, and four varied improvised choruses. In the 1950s, a smooth style of "West As I said before, Swing music is played by Big Bands. In the late 1940s, progressive
Since he could not read music, Webb memorized the arrangements. sprouted up in different parts of the United States, and their uniquely New York: Oxford University Press, 1991. projected in the way the drums and bass express the beat, how the piano After the end of both bands, Basie formed his own orchestra, recruiting members from these two bands. Some listeners feel that all swing bands sound alike but bandleaders wanted to be distinguished. attractive to general listeners. www.bigfishaudio.com. By the 1930s, these and other cities became major centers for the development of the swing style. Foremost, they accentuated the movement of choreographed dancers. The moral? Jazz orchestras were necessary for the shows and musicals, and well-trained musicians were highly valued. They established independent patterns for the trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and the rhythm section within segments of the arrangement that featured improvised solos. Congress repealed the Volstead Act, a law that prohibited the manufacture, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages, in 1933. Duke Ellington at one time used six trumpets. By this time the big band was such a dominant force in jazz that the older generation found they either had to adapt to it or simply retire. These musical ensembles associated with the swing era. singing" (in which he sings like an instrument on scat The lyrics kept within these traditions. :vQxc!#\JK?1UshqkF~[!eO W,{(HBjkps~'O;5lR. Fitzgerald recorded several standards that became hit songs. [7][8], Jazz ensembles numbering eight (octet), nine (nonet) or ten (tentet) voices are sometimes called "little big bands". . Louis Blues, but by the late 1930s, with the migration of Cubans and Puerto Ricans to New York City, Afro-Cuban music emerged along with new dances, such as the rhumba. Other methods of embellishing the form include modulations and cadential extensions. Along this historical journey, jazz has been harmony. Compared to Dixieland bands, swing bands used two or three times as many players and produced a fuller sound. 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. Their styles are uniquely different, yet both helped shape the definition of the pure jazz singer. Some bands were "society bands" which relied on strong ensembles but little on soloists or vocalists, such as the bands of Guy Lombardo and Paul Whiteman. performing at the same time. the late 1930s through the 1950s, Duke Ellington was one of the premier swing band Carnegie Halls interactive Timeline of African American Music is dedicated to the loving memory of the late soprano and recitalist Jessye Norman. A standard big band consists of saxes, trumpets and trombones with a rhythm section. Jazz began in New Orleans in the instruments (one or more: Piano, Transcontinental trips often required a stop in one of these cities. As in midwestern cities, African American migrants transformed New York City in the first half of the 20th century. Big bands originated during the early 1910s and dominated jazz in the early 1940s when swing was most popular. However, its so large that its most often placed upright next to the bassist when its being played. 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. "call" and a group does some type of "response"), (2) it Her vocal command expanded to an unusual range of four octaves, and she is best known for her melodic approach to scatting.