Big band

A big band (historically referred to as jazz orchestra) is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music. It usually has ten or more musicians. These musicians are in four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands made lively music that filled dance halls and brought joy to listeners.

Big bands began in the early 1910s. They became very popular in the early 1940s when swing music was loved by many people. They often played music for dancing the Lindy Hop, a fun and energetic dance.

Unlike some other kinds of jazz, big bands usually played music that was written down by arrangers. This style highlighted the bandleader, the arranger, and the different sections of instruments. This made the music rich and full.

Instruments

Big bands have four main sections: trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and a rhythm section with 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 got bigger. 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 sit 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, and may include solos or special sections. Some bands created music by experimenting during rehearsals.

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 lift spirits. After the war, big bands kept changing and exploring new 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 played their music on the radio. Earl Hines and his band performed every night from the Grand Terrace in Chicago, and people all over America could listen. Other leaders like Bennie Moten, Jay McShann, and Shep Fields also became famous on the radio.

The radio helped big band music reach more people. Shows like Benny Goodman and Guy Lombardo’s New Year’s Eve shows made these musicians popular. Women also led their own bands on the radio, such as Gloria Parker and Phil Spitalny.

Movies

Big bands appeared in movies from the 1930s to the 1960s. At first, the bandleaders had small roles that didn’t matter much to the story. For example, Shep Fields played 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 showed bands led by Helen Lewis, Ben Bernie, and Roger Wolfe Kahn. They are now kept in the Library of Congress film collection.