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. Big bands originated during the early 1910s and dominated jazz in the early 1940s when swing was most popular.

Mar 15, 2025 · Vote on your favorite Big Bands and Big Band leaders. From the onset of the Roaring '20s to the Great Depression, and even throughout the 1940s and '50s, classic jazz-heavy big bands redefined the music industry and overall entertainment worldwide.

While their place in popular culture dimmed greatly since their heyday in WWII, modern big band has made a resurgence, with the Roy Hargrove Big Band nominated for a Grammy and the Christian McBride Big Band winning a Grammy in 2012.

Nov 1, 2024 · Big band music boasts a vibrant mix of brass, woodwinds, and rhythm sections that come together for an unforgettable sound. The genre significantly grew in popularity in the swing era of the 1930s and 1940s, is brimming with infectious rhythms and timeless classics.

Jun 7, 2021 · Big band is a style of music defined by an ensemble of musicians, known as a jazz orchestra, playing together. Big band music includes complex harmonies and syncopated rhythms. A vocalist or instrumental soloist is often featured, adding a …

The Big Band Era – The Swing Era. The Big Band era is generally regarded as having occurred between 1935 and 1945. It was the only time in American musical history that the popularity of jazz eclipsed all other forms of music.

Big band ensembles usually consist of 14–16 musicians who play from scored arrangements that incorporate repeated riffs, call and response, improvised solos, and rhythmic breaks. These features distinguish big jazz bands of the 1920s from the collective polyphonic style of the typically seven-member New Orleans jazz ensemble.

Oct 2, 2024 · The roar of swinging big band music in full flight is one of the most impressive sounds in all of jazz history. In this article, we’re going to check out some of the best big band music in history, via the celebrated bands famous bandleaders responsible for them.

Swinging sounds from Mancini, Esquivel, and more! The music of an American treasure, Tony Bennett, plus other songs and stars you'll love. Masterful vocal harmonies of the '40s-'60s with the Ink Spots, Mills Brothers, Four Freshman and ...

The American Big Band Preservation Society, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, promoting, and performing the sounds and history of the Big Bands, with an emphasis on education and keeping this art form in schools.