The Swing Era

Swing Era swing era was the period of time (1935–1946) when big band swing music was the most popular music in the United States. Though the music had been around since the late 1920s and early 1930s, being played by black bands led by such artists as Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford, Benny Moten, Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong and Fletcher Henderson, most historians believe that the Swing Era started with Benny Goodman's performance at the Palomar Ballroom on August 21, 1935, bringing the music to the rest of the country.

Swing Era:Big Band The big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz, a style of music which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late 1940s. Big bands evolved with the times and continue to today. A big band typically consists of approximately 12 to 25 musicians and contains saxophones, trumpets, trombones, singers (or vocalists), and a rhythm section. The terms jazz band, jazz ensemble, stage band, jazz orchestra, society band and dance band may be used to describe a specific type of big band

Big Band In contrast to smaller jazz combos, in which most of the music is improvised, or created spontaneously, music played by big bands is highly "arranged", or prepared in advance and notated on sheet music. The music is traditionally called 'charts'. Improvised solos may be played only when called for by the arranger

Big Band There are two distinct periods in the history of popular bands. Beginning in the mid-1920s, big bands, then typically consisting of 10–25 pieces, came to dominate popular music. At that time they usually played a form of jazz that involved very little improvisation, which included a string section with violins, which was dropped after the introduction of swing in The dance form of jazz was characterized by a sweet and romantic melody. Orchestras tended to stick to the melody as it was written and vocals would be sung (often in a tenor voice) and in tune with the melody.

Swing Characteristics 1) Generally, it was music for dancers. 2) Played and performed in larger ballrooms and concert halls. 3) Large rooms needed big ensembles to be able to fill the halls with sound. 4) The need for written arrangement increases, as dances are made to accommodate songs. Dances such as the “Jitterbug”, “Foxtrot”, and “Cheek to Cheek”, made arrangers consider the need for a consistent version of songtitles people could recognize.

Characteristics 5) Saxophone becomes the leading soloistic voice in this era. 6) Banjo becomes an outdated sound, as the rhythm section begins to take the shape of Bass, Piano and Drums. This leads to a more consistent “swing” feel. 7) The idea of the improvisational soloist becomes the mainstay in this era as collective improvisation fades out and remains associated with Chicago and New Orleans style. 8) Instrumentalists are better equipped and more ‘technically’ trained. They read at a higher level (because the business demanded this).

Characteristics 9) despite the Big-band era being associated with the “Swing” era, the soloists continue to master and perfect improvisation at higher and loftier standards. 10) There were many great bands in this period, the greatest “Jazz” groups, (those who focused on improvisation) were probably the Basie and Ellington Bands. Benny Goodman’s band was also one of the great ensemble bands. The difference was Goodman did primarily all of the improvising with his group. Therefore, his bands did not serve as a training ground for the great Jazz improvisers of his day.

characteristics * From Chicago’s “Hot Style” evolved the concept of ‘dance’ bands. Larger ensembles equipped to play in larger ballrooms to accommodate the hundreds sometimes thousands of dancers. Furthermore, the bands would grow in size from generally 9-10 piece bands to the commonly thought of 17 piece big band. Most big bands today are modeled after Miller’s 1945 “Airmen of Note” group which consisted of: 4 Trumpets 4 Trombones 5 Saxes 4 Rhythm

Characteristics There were several versions of this size group before the end of W.W.II and ironically the end of the “Swing” era, which ends rather abruptly in 1946 when the bands of Benny Carter, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Jack Teagarden, Harry James and Woody Herman disbanded nearly overnight. *This is not to say the vehicle for jazz using the big band has ever gone away. But in 1946, times changed overnight as to the popularity of these ensembles to the American public.

Innovations A) The Changing Role of the Rhythm Section: 1) Primarily the rhythm section consisted of: piano, bass, rhythm guitar and drums. Key Innovations seen in the Big Band movement: 2) The piano playing in this periods much more focused on the idea of “comping”, which means to accompany. With the roles of drums and bass changing and expanding, pianists no longer have to play all the ensemble roles as in stride and ragtime. Rhythm responsibilities become shared by all of of members of the R-section. 3) The upright bass replaces the tuba. String bass was much better suited for uptempo 4/4 quarter notes as well as adequately suited for playing longer more stringent arrangements. 4) Drummers were now relying on the expanding role of the hi-hat. Although they still played 4 1/4tr notes to the beat on the bass drum (called “feathering”), the hi-hat help create a more subtle “swing” pulse. It also allowed for ‘2 ‘to ‘4’ feels to shift easier. With the addition of the ride cymbal, drummers would then emphasize the far ends of the set, not the middle, creating a more relaxed swing feel in music.

Innovations 5) The quintessential example of rhythm guitar in this period was the playing of Freddie Green. The 4/4 quarter note strumming supported the quarter note time feel of the bassist (Walter Page) and the drummer (Jo Jones). The Basie Rhythm section became a model for nearly all the bands of this period. B) The Influx of the Modern Arrangements: 1) Redman was the first to build a formula of featuring prominent soloists around tight riff backgrounds. 2) The Basie band had a very similar approach. They also geared there arrangements around call and response antiphonal backgrounds, while featuring some of the best soloists in Jazz. 3) Ellington had a very original approach to all of this. He believed you wrote each part for the ability of the musician playing it. He created a philosophy known as crossvoicing, where the individual parts effected the layer and colored the score in a unique way. Thus, it is very difficult to truly imitate an Ellington score. For it had intentions for the players it was it was written for.

Kansas City K.C. developed their own style in the Swing era. They seemed immune to the depression as music was played in a variety clubs and concert halls. One of the highlights in K.C. was the after hour jam sessions. During these sessions where musicians would jam, much trading and improvisational exploration took place. Legend has it that Hawkins and Young could spar for hours and hours. K.C. has a city alderman by the name of Teddy Pendergast. During these depression years, Pendergast ran a corrupt regime which allowed gambling, liquor and prostitution to be ready available. In this way nightlife flourished. Not interested in music per se, Pendergast’s practices made possible for a new style of Jazz in K.C. to flourish.

Kansas City Sound a) Developed charts based on head arrangements. b) Within these arrangements prominent soloists were featured. c) Much of the melodic ideas both compositionally and improvisation were based on “riff” playing. d) riffs-a short melodic idea which is usually one or two measures long. These ideas are used for both melodic composition and improvisational ideas. Antiphonal/call and response happened frequently between sections in both soli passages and backgrounds for soloists. e) Much of the time the blues was the basis for many of the tunes in this style.

Artists Coleman Hawkins * One of the first musicians to gain wide acclaim as a top tenor soloist. * Many consider him the first major sax virtuoso. * Harmonically based improviser. Improvised vertically, as to outline the harmony (chords) while he played. * Gained much attention for his work with the Fletcher Henderson Band. He also played bass and clarinet in the band. * Originally influenced by Armstrong, later his biggest influence was Art Tatum. * His solo on “Body and Soul” is one of the most analyzed and listed solo in the history of Jazz.

Artists Benny Carter * Contributions in several key areas: -Created a definitive Alto style that was widely imitated. -Great Swing trumpeter. - Wrote many Jazz standards. (“When the Light are Low”) -As an arranger, he was a chief architect of the Big Band Style. ( 2 i.e.s- ”Lonesome Nights”, “Symphony Riffs”) - Scored television specials “The Bob Hope Special”, “The Sarah Vaughn Special”, “The Alfred Hitchcock Show”, “Ironside”, M Squad” and “Chrysler Theater”. -Movies credits include, “A Man Called Adam”, The Five Pennies”, The Gene Krupra Story”, “Buck and the Preacher” and “The Louis Armstrong Story”.

Artists Ben Webster * Became the prominent soloist of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. * A leading exponent of the style of Coleman Hawkins. * A leader in the tenor school in the late Swing period. * Helped bring the Ellington to prominence. * Boasted a big sound which has been imitated by many tenor players.

Artists Johnny Hodges * Created a definitive Alto style as lead Alto with the Ellington Band. * This style was built around pitch bending and expressive phrasing. * Many Ellington Ballads were written for his beautiful sound. * Also had an interesting way of using rhythm in his solo’s. * One of the many players who played all but a few years ( had his own combo) with Ellington. * His personality is distinctive of the Ellington sound and vice a versa. * One of his chief influences was said to be Sidney Bechet.

Artists Roy Eldridge *Nickname was “Little Jazz” * Leading trumpet improviser of his day. * Influenced by saxophonists Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter. * Extreme high Register, with great instrumental technique. * Important link to modernist Dizzy Gillepsie. * Made giant leaps for black musicians by playing with prominent White Bands. Most notable may have been his time with Gene Krupra. * “Rocking Chair” a most notable solo with Krupra Band.

Artists Mary Lou Williams * Another great K.C. performer. * Arranger, Player, Composer, her compositions fill many of the great Swing Band libraries. * Had strong affiliation with luminary bands of Ellington, Any Kirk and Benny Goodman. * Set up foundation to help musicians. * Received many honorary Doctorates and taught on the faculties of Duke University and University of Mass.. * First woman to compose and arrange for big-time Swing acts. * Considered one of Jazz great pianists.

Artists