Big band

A big band (historically referred to as 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. These groups created lively music that filled dance halls and brought joy to listeners.

Big bands originated during the early 1910s and became very popular in the early 1940s when swing music was the favorite style of dance music. They started as accompaniment for dancing the Lindy Hop, a fun and energetic dance that people loved to do.

Unlike some other kinds of jazz, big bands often played music that was written down by arrangers instead of making up solos on the spot. This style gave more importance to the bandleader, the arranger, and the different sections of instruments, making the music rich and full.

Instruments

Big bands are made up of four main sections: trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and a rhythm section that includes guitar, piano, double bass, and drums. In the early days, from the 1920s to the 1930s, a typical big band had two or three trumpets, one or two trombones, three or four saxophones, and a rhythm section with four instruments. By the 1940s, some big bands grew larger. For example, Stan Kenton’s band had up to five trumpets and five trombones, along with five saxophones and a full rhythm section.

Today, big bands can be even larger, sometimes having more than 20 musicians, with some European bands including up to 50 players.

Seating and arrangements

In a typical 17-piece big band, musicians are seated in a special way to make the music sound its best. The band has four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. The lead players, like the first trumpet or first saxophone, sit in the middle of their sections. Solo players sit closest to the rhythm section. Some players can switch instruments, like using a flugelhorn instead of a trumpet.

There are different jobs in a big band. The composer writes the original music. The arranger changes the music to fit the band. The bandleader puts the group together, picks the music, and leads the band during performances. Sometimes these roles overlap. For example, some bandleaders also arrange the music. Big band arrangements often follow set patterns, like a thirty-two-bar song form, and may include solos or special sections called "shout choruses". Some bands created music by experimenting during rehearsals, remembering the tunes without writing them down.

History

Main article: Swing music

Before 1910, people in America mainly danced the waltz and polka. But when jazz moved from New Orleans to cities like Chicago and New York City, new, more energetic dances like the jitterbug and Lindy Hop became popular. Famous dancers like the duo Vernon and Irene Castle helped make the foxtrot well-known.

One of the first bands to play this new music was led by a drummer named Art Hickman in San Francisco in 1916. His arranger, Ferde Grofé, organized the band into sections like saxophones, trumpets, and trombones. This way of arranging music became a key feature of big bands. Later, bands like those led by Paul Whiteman and Duke Ellington kept building on these ideas.

Swing music started to become popular in the early 1930s. It had a more relaxed, swinging feel compared to earlier jazz. Famous bands during this time included those led by Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Duke Ellington. Many of these bands had talented solo players and famous singers like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

Big bands played an important role during World War II, helping to boost morale. After the war, big bands kept changing and evolving, exploring many different styles of music. Today, big bands are still performed by musicians around the world, keeping jazz alive and exciting.

Radio

During the 1930s, many big bands shared their music with listeners through radio broadcasts. Earl Hines and his band played nightly from the Grand Terrace in Chicago, reaching audiences all over America. Other bandleaders like Bennie Moten, Jay McShann, and Shep Fields also became famous through radio shows.

Radio helped spread big band music across the country. Shows like Benny Goodman's performances and Guy Lombardo's New Year's Eve broadcasts made these musicians well-known. Women also made their mark, leading their own bands on the air, such as Gloria Parker and Phil Spitalny.

Movies

Big bands started showing up in movies from the 1930s to the 1960s. At first, the bandleaders often just made short appearances that weren’t very important to the story. For example, Shep Fields performed with his Rippling Rhythm Orchestra in an animated scene called "This Little Ripple Had Rhythm" in the movie The Big Broadcast of 1938. Later, in the 1950s, movies were made about famous bandleaders like Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa, and Benny Goodman.

Some early films of big bands were made in 1925 by Lee de Forest using his Phonofilm process. These short films featured bands led by Helen Lewis, Ben Bernie, and Roger Wolfe Kahn, and they are now kept in the Library of Congress film collection.