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Session 7 - The Bigbands Part 1
Session 7 - The Bigbands Part 1
The more rigid Northern Styles started to use larger ensembles to play written arrangements with
sections of improvisation. Bands started to grow in size, septets octets, and eventually
‘Big-Bands’.
Compared to the early 1920 styles, big-band jazz was a more sophisticated sound that had an
exciting sound of its own. Some big-bands were more jazz orientated than others; Benny
Goodman’sbig band had plenty of room for improvisation while bands such as the Glen Miller
Orchestra had virtually none. Notable bands include Fletcher Henderson, Paul Whiteman and
Don Redman. It would be unjust+++++ to talk about ‘Swing or Bigband’ jazz without mentioning
the bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. The bands were very different but they were the
quintessential big-band orchestras.
James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. (December 18, 1897 – December 29,
1952)
Fletcher Henderson, American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, was important in the
development of big bandjazz and swing music. His was one of the most prolific black orchestras
and his influence was vast. He was often known as "Smack" Henderson (apparently named due
to his college baseball hitting skills).
Wiki: Henderson, along with Don Redman, established the formula for swing music. The two
concocted the recipe every swing band played from (i.e. sections 'talking' to one another, 'hot'
swing). Swing, its popularity spanning over a decade, was the most fashionable form of jazz ever
in the United States. Henderson was also responsible for bringing Louis Armstrong from Chicago
to New York in October, 1924, thus flipping the focal point of jazz in the history of the United
States (although Armstrong left the band in November, 1925 and returned to Chicago). A museum
is being established in his memory in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Term 1, Session 7 10th of November
Track #4 - Liza
Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987), known as Woody
Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band
leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the
1930s and '40s bandleaders. His bands often played music that was experimental for their time.
After two and a half years on the Decca label, the band had its first hit, "Woodchopper's Ball"
recorded in 1939. Woody Herman remembered that "Woodchopper's Ball" started out slowly at
first. "It was really a sleeper”. But Decca kept re-releasing it, and over a period of three or four
years it became a hit. Eventually it sold more than five million copies--the biggest hit I ever had.
William Henry Webb, usually known as Chick Webb (February 10, 1905– June 16, 1939)
was an American jazz and swing music drummer as well as a band leader. He alternated
between band tours and residencies at New York City clubs through the late 1920s. In 1931, his
band became the house band at the Savoy Ballroom. He became one of the best-regarded
bandleaders and drummers of the new "Swing" style. Drumming legend Buddy Rich cited Webb's
powerful technique and virtuoso performances as heavily influential on his own drumming, and
even referred to Webb as "the daddy of them all".The Savoy often featured "Battle of the Bands"
where Webb's band would compete with other top bands (such as the Benny Goodman Orchestra
or the Count Basie Orchestra) from opposing bandstands. By the end of the night's battles the
dancers seemed always to have voted Chick's band as the best. As a result Webb was deemed
the most worthy recipient to be crowned the first "King of Swing." Of note that he lost to Duke
Ellington in 1937, and tied with Count Basie in 1938,
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an
American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in
Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer. Calloway was a master of energetic
scat singing and led one of the United States' most popular African American big bands from the
start of the 1930s through the late 1940s. Calloway's band featured performers including
trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie and Adolphus "Doc" Cheatham, saxophonists Ben Webster and Leon
"Chu" Berry, New Orleans guitar ace Danny Barker, and bassist Milt Hinton. Calloway continued
to perform until his death in 1994 at the age of 86.
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Term 1, Session 7 10th of November
Track #9 - Minnie the Moocher
Alton Glenn Miller (March 1, 1904 – missing in action December 15, 1944) was an
American jazz musician (trombone), arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He
was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known
"Big Bands". Miller's notable recordings include "In the Mood", "Moonlight Serenade",
"Pennsylvania 6-5000", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "A String of Pearls", "At Last", "(I've Got a Gal
In) Kalamazoo",
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1987) was an
American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of
Swing". In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in
America. His January 16, 1938 concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City is described by critic
Bruce Eder as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming
out' party to the world of 'respectable' music." Goodman's bands launched the careers of many
major names in jazz, and during an era of segregation, he also led one of the first now well known
racially-integrated jazz groups. Goodman continued to perform to nearly the end of his life,
including exploring his interest in classical music.
In next week’s session, we will be looking at the trio of top Big-Bands: Ellington, Basie and
Lunceford. These bands changed the music forever and the band-leader Duke Ellington, in my
view, should be regarded in the same light as Stravinsky, Beethoven or Mozart. He was a true
American Genius.