below to see YouTube performance clips), - They gave a greater role to bandleaders, arrangers, and sections of instruments rather than soloists. DAVIS was one of the first jazz artist to cross over and adopt elements of "Fusion" in its strictest the late 1930s through the 1950s, Duke Ellington was one of the premier swing band ARMSTRONG took "Hot" Jazz to Chicago, where its popularity grew Another interesting and important development happened with Swing improvisation. of Company B (1941). 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. sense means to merge styles together. Fletchers [Henderson] band had the same elements; so did Benny Motens back in 1932, when Basie played with him., Every week they would feature a guest band at the Savoy Ballroom. [24] In many cases, however, the distinction between these roles can become blurred. Miller went in debt to start his band but was a millionaire within two years. The latter included blues, ballads, novelty songs, and Broadway tunes. Big bands uplifted morale during World War II. All Jazz styles have two common features: - Examples include the Vienna Art Orchestra, founded in 1977, and the Italian Instabile Orchestra, active in the 1990s. Boyd Raeburn drew from symphony orchestras by adding flute, French horn, strings, and timpani to his band. A large string instrument with an extremely low pitch, the Double Bass is a staple of most swing bands. Thats what makes it stand out. A. Rolfe, Anna Mae Winburn, and Ina Ray Hutton.[35]. Ellington recorded this Western swing musicians also formed popular big bands during the same period. In 1925, bandleader Paul Whiteman Jazz played an important role in changing the socio-political landscape The History of Jazz. (Click on the titles of the pieces Swing music began appearing in the early 1930s and was distinguished by a more supple feel than the more literal 44 of early jazz. such works incorporate certain elements of the jazz tradition, there is not even For example, Tommy Dorsey played with a beautiful tone and control on the trombone. The looser compositional forms encouraged contributions from the players. style promoted by Ornette COLEMAN and John COLTRANE), which has raised a continuing controversy about Many arrangements contain an interlude, often similar in content to the introduction, inserted between some or all choruses. Orleans musicians begin to consolidate the drum section (bass, snare, cymbals) commonly found in early New Orleans brass bands. Swing Shift: All Girl Bands of the 1940s. [22] Some bandleaders, such as Guy Lombardo, performed works composed by others (in Lombardo's case, often by his brother Carmen),[23] while others, such as Maria Schneider, take on all three roles. When you mentioned the word Jazz to the average person, they probably think of Swing music, and for good reason. - The "Modern Popular Music" chart below, These musical ensembles associated with the swing era. As swing developed, the second player became responsible for most of the jazz solos. And this is where the term head comes from, meaning the original melody of the song that is, its all in your head, not written down on paper. for hits such as Take the A Train, and Satin Doll, as well as colorful and Tenor saxophonist Lester Young (19091959) had a different approach than Hawkins and used a lighter tone. Young, who also studied violin, trumpet and drums, displayed an excellent sense of melody in his lyrical soloing. She recorded with various jazz orchestras, including her own (Long Gone Blues, 1939) and those led by Benny Goodman (Your Mothers Son-in-Law, 1933) and Teddy Wilson (Sugar, 1939). (of the Dave Brubeck Quartet that also featured alto saxophonist Paul DESMOND), Trumpets feature a hollow brass tube that is doubles back on itself twice. (say, the brass section, i.e., trumpets and trombones) would play a musical phrase and then be "answered" by another section (say, the . 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. Swing as popular music usually had vocals, such as Glenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," and was intended for dancing. Latin-based rock idiom). When the trumpets and saxophones are combined in a musical accompaniment, they can lead a vibrant and multi-toned swing melody. 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. 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. Ornette Coleman in the 1960s. Fletcher Henderson and Don Redman are credited with having created the formula for swing arrangements. of the United States between 1920 and 1970. [7][8], Jazz ensembles numbering eight (octet), nine (nonet) or ten (tentet) voices are sometimes called "little big bands". Swing bands featured sections of trumpets, saxophones, and . This was in part due to a political organization called the Pendergast Machine which encouraged a nightclub atmosphere. Some of the Piano techniques employed during the Swing Era were: A good example of this is the Count Basie song Kansas City Keys. D. in History from the University of California, Berkeley. 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. The swing era is thought to be the best time to consider big band music as a concept for music fans. Southwest bands offered a different solution to big band improvisational structures. Daniels, Douglas. rapidly with both black and white audiences. counting pattern over again for each successive variation of the pattern 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. "Stachmo") is arguably the most influential performer in the history The swing era took place during which two important historical events? Pianist and vocalist Sarah Vaughan also influenced many singers. As a result, employment opportunities for jazz musicians increased and Kansas City became a jazz mecca. The dance duo Vernon and Irene Castle popularized the foxtrot while accompanied by the Europe Society Orchestra led by James Reese Europe. Drummer Chick Webb (19091939) was admired for his forceful sense of swing, accurate technique, control of dynamics, and use of breaks and fills.
featuring trumpeter Chet BAKER). So lets quickly take a look at all three genres: Lets dive into these characteristics of Swing Music a little deeper:
The Ellington orchestra succeeded in part through the expert use and contribution of consistently talented and unique players. virtuosity. Many swing-era compositions were written by professional songwriters employed by song publishing companies. His pioneering vocal style, which treated his voice as an instrument, provided the foundation for vocal jazz interpretation. Bandleaders dealt with these obstacles through rigid discipline (Glenn Miller) and canny psychology (Duke Ellington). To learn more about the book this website supports, please visit its, You must be a registered user to view the. HWYo8~G ("b+[:r$%_r8oFdnIt]5pu\Kr|z~+au/I8vTm3}` e basic chord progression of a 12-bar blues in the key of "C". Ella Fitzgerald contributed to the success of Webbs band in New York City. Swing grew out of New Orleans Jazz and the evolved into Bebop. characterized by independent instrumental lines, massive harmonic dissonance, And they played a particular type of Swing in Kansas City known as: Kansas City Jazz. 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. Hammond, John. The successful bands of the Swing Era featured carefully . During the 1930s, Earl Hines and his band broadcast from the Grand Terrace in Chicago every night across America. "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. Guiding Principals. The most basic element of a song is also one of the most important a good rhythm. The music business suffered during the Great Depression. Dance bands had made phonograph records since the days of ragtime. style, boogie-woogie was born. basic chord progression of a 12-bar blues in the key of "C": (click here to see animated 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]. Many of the better known bands reflected the individuality of the bandleader, the lead arranger, and the personnel. Music is My Mistress. Swing is a term often used in reference to large dance bands of 15 or more musicians that played written arrangements using improvised sections alternating with arranged passages by brass and/or reeds. The swing era followed boogie-woogie. collectively . While bassists can use a bow to vibrate the strings, swing band bassists will frequently pluck the strings instead. A prominent feature of swing music is a leading brass section, which is often provided by a trumpet. The trumpet section included four trumpets; the first was responsible for the highest notes. art form--a unique blending of West African and Western European/American Swing as Popular Music 1. www.bigfishaudio.com. He was also a band leader and arranger who traveled throughout Europe and Japan during the 1950s and 1960s. [36]:p.31, Before 1910, social dance in America was dominated by steps such as the waltz and polka. His music was a combination of solo and ensemble playing. orchestral jazz crossover movement that had an enormous impact on getting white clarinetist, In the late 1940s, progressive The Henderson band is considerably larger than most syncopated dance bands of the 1920s (eight or nine musicians). Packed with Ph.D.s, this scientific swing band performs a play list that leans heavily toward the heavens. American sound has fascinated listeners, performers and composers around the of many things they must think about while they are playing.