"Ah, swing, well, we used to call it syncopation—then they called it ragtime, then blues—then jazz. Now, it's swing. White folks yo'all sho is a mess. -Louis Armstrong
Started in/around New Orleans Outgrowth of the Blues Followed a set form (similar to the blues) Main characteristic was improvisation
1929: Stock Market Crash Unemployment was common, but musicians continued to create new music – especially in the field of jazz Fewer records were being made, but… › recording technology was improving › and the size of the bands were getting bigger Enter “the big band era”
What’s wrong with this picture?
1929: Stock Market Crash Unemployment was common, but musicians continued to create new music – especially in the field of jazz Fewer records were being made, but… › recording technology was improving › and the size of the bands were getting bigger Enter “the big band era”
4-5 Saxophones › Different sizes for different sounds 4 Trombones 4 Trumpets Rhythm Section – Piano, Bass, Drumset › Guitar adds in later on in time
Call and response: one section calls and then imitated by another section Dance-like feel Non-improvisational Music filled with hope and energy
Swing music wasn’t seen as an “accepted style” until the mid 1930’s Artistic issues: › Music for music’s sake › music for something else
Swing music wasn’t seen as an “accepted style” until the mid 1930’s Achieved its highpoint in 1935 › Benny Goodman’s performance at a ballroom in Los Angeles One of the first musical genres to NOT have racial undercurrents!
Introduction A Section B Section Solo Section A section with a “Shout Chorus” Coda
Glenn Miller Trombone player from Iowa Served in the Air Force in WWII “In the Mood” Written in 1939 One of the most popular of the time. 12 Bar Blues form
The “King of Swing” Clarinet player from Chicago Started playing pro at the age of 16 “ Sing Sing Sing” Written in 1936 Features Goodman on clarinet Gene Krupa on drums com/watch?v=fhyhP_ 5VfKM com/watch?v=fhyhP_ 5VfKM
April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974 Played piano Gained fame leading his band (or orchestra as he called it) at the Cotton Club in Harlem Take the A- Train com/watch?v=cb2w2 m1JmCY com/watch?v=cb2w2 m1JmCY
America enters World War II after the attack of Pearl Harbor in 1941 Musicians of fighting age were drafted - could not support the large numbers required Glenn Miller – lost in an air battle › Possibly friendly fire?
August 1, 1942: AFM called for a strike against recording companies over disagreements on royalty payments Musicians could still perform … › Live concerts › Live radio broadcasts › Special military recordings From 1942 – 1944: No new instrumental music was recorded for commercial use Vocalists, (who were not part of the union at the time), continued to record, accompanied only by other singers American military swing bands still existed
From 1942 – 1944: No new instrumental music was recorded for commercial use Vocalists, (who were not part of the union at the time), continued to record, accompanied only by other singers American military swing bands still existed
The strike ended up launching the career of one of the most famous singers in pop music… Frank Sinatra
Some of the smaller record companies settled with the union by The bigger companies finally settled in 1944 There was a new issue to deal with though…