11 Facts About Big bands

Big bands 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.

Big bands generally have four sections: trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and a rhythm section of guitar, piano, double bass, and drums.

Twenty-first century big bands can be considerably larger than their predecessors, exceeding 20 players, with some European bands using 29 instruments and some reaching 50.

Many of the better known Big bands reflected the individuality of the bandleader, the lead arranger, and the personnel.

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Many Big bands featured strong instrumentalists whose sounds dominated, such as the clarinets of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, the trombone of Jack Teagarden, the trumpet of Harry James, the drums of Gene Krupa, and the vibes of Lionel Hampton.

Many Big bands suffered from loss of personnel and a decline in quality during the war years.

Big bands created his band as a vehicle for his compositions.

Kenton pushed the boundaries of big bands by combining clashing elements and by hiring arrangers whose ideas about music conflicted.

Progressive Big bands were led by Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Evans, Carla Bley, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Lew Tabackin, Don Ellis, and Anthony Braxton.

Big bands maintained a presence on American television, particularly through the late-night talk show, which has historically used big bands as house accompaniment.