Big Band Era

From Territory bands

to the big stage
Big Band
 Big Band
 Territory bands  Big bands started to
 Bands that toured in become established in
specific regions of the certain areas
United States  Big cities following the
 “top 40” bands of the Mississippi
era  Started different
 Traveling got too styles of jazz music
expensive pertaining to the
regions they were in
 Musicians found a
“home”
 Big Band
 Dance craze of the  Musicians started to
1930’s and 1940’s become more
popular, wanted the
 Extremely popular
spotlight
during the war  Count Basie-
eras ( WWII)
Kansas City
 Started after the
 Duke Ellington-
Dixieland era, bigger
band, bigger sound New York/DC
 Big Band
 Big bands were divided  Dixieland bands wanted a
into 2 groups those that bigger sound so they
inspired improvisation added more musicians.
and those that did not More musicians meant
 Solos became important bigger sound and the
to music ability to play new and
 Improvisation- playing a different music.
made up solo over chord  Big bands were able to
changes play more music, faster
music, used for dances
 Chord Changes- the
and celebrations
outline of a song
 Big Bands
 New York (52nd  With the ease of
street) became restrictions in racial
popular hang out for segregation black and
jazz musicians and big white musicians were
bands able to perform
 Cotton Club was the together thus bands
most famous jazz club were able to be larger
 In later years Birdland
and Village Vanguard
 Make up of Big Bands
 4 trumpets  rhythm section:
 4 trombones  drum kit,
 5 saxophones ( 2  bass, used double
alto, 2 tenor, 1 bari) bass
 Saxes doubled on  guitar, accoustic
flute and clarinet as  piano
well
 Big Band
 Big bands created  Big bands also
“swing” a different created the start of
way to play music the jazz vocalist
that varied greatly to  Influential jazz
other styles of music. vocalists: Billie
 This created a “hot” Holliday, Ella
feel Fitzgerald, Sarah
 Influential big bands: Vaughan, Joe
Glenn Miller, Benny Williams, Frank
Goodman, Count Sinatra.
Basie, Duke Ellington
 Big Bands
 Scat Singing- singing  Became famous and
syllables instead of branched out on their
words own
 Louis Armstrong  Louis Armstrong,
 Ella Fitzgerald Charlie Parker, Dizzy
 Most jazz musicians of Gillespie, Miles Davis,
later years got their  Jazz Vocalists
start during the big  Frank Sinatra
band era (made name
for themselves)
 Big Band Royalty
 King of Swing-  The First Lady of
Benny Goodman Jazz- Ella Fitzgerald
 Duke Ellington
 The Divine One-
Sarah Vaughn
 Count Basie
 The Prez Lester
Young
 Lady Day Billie
Holiday
 Big Bands
 Decline of the Big Band era  As big bands started to fold
started with the Great due to economic challenges
Depression of the 1930’s the jazz combo evolved
 Was too expensive to keep a  Big band musicians went on to
large band together. start their own groups and
 Big bands began to fade due solo careers.
to economic reasons,  WWII created a renewed
ballrooms started to close, interest in the big band sound
small clubs began to open, as well as the end of the
different types of media depression
developed.  In the late 40’s the creation of
Be-Bop created a new style of
jazz thus the influence of the
big band was lessened
 Big Bands
 Glenn Miller Big Band was  Benny Goodman-created
used for entertainment swing
and morale for troops  Most musicians got their
during WWII start with a big band
 Benny Goodman first jazz  Once they got “famous”
group to racially integrate or wanted to branch out
their group they left
 Lionel Hampton-vibes  Jazz singers went solo
after making a name for
themselves
Louis Armstrong
 Most famous/popular jazz
musician
 Nicknamed Satchmo
 Jazz musician, singer, trumpet
player, entertainer
 Most famous jazz musician of
the 20th century
 Fame as a trumpet player,
band leader, scat singer, civil
right supporter
 Helped to create scat singing
 Featured in several Hollywood
movies (Hello Dolly)
 Louis Armstrong
 Born in New Orleans, first  1925- Chicago- started
gained fame in the Dixieland recording under his own name
era using his “hot” bands
 Played with Joe King Oliver,  Started touring all over the
Kid Ory State and Europe
 Started his “hot” and all-star  1943 Settled in Queens
bands in 1920’s continued touring
 1922 left for Chicago with  Played an average of 300 gigs
Oliver a year
 1924 wanted to branch out on  1950 cut his big band down to
his own so moved to New York 6 members and went back to
 Joined Fletcher Henderson Dixieland style
 1964 biggest selling album and
highest commercial success
with Hello Dolly
 Louis Armstrong
 Toured Europe, Asia, and  Was extremely generous with
Africa as a US state his money supporting different
Department Ambassador of causes
Music  First to popularize scat singing
 1971 died of heart attack age  Always played with most
69 influential musicians
 Major supporter of MLK and  Recorded with Ella Fitzgerald
was supporter of the Civil for Verve records. Some of the
Right movement most influential jazz recordings
 He was one of the first  Most famous songs are What a
entertainers to speak up about Wonderful World, Ain’t
political causes. He wanted to Misbehavin, and Stompin at
work behind the scenes not be the Savoy
in front of the cause
 Louis Armstrong
 1964 He knocked the  Influenced every
Beatles off the billboard musician to come after
carts with Hello Dolly him.
 1968 reached number 1  Major influence on
with What a Wonderful trumpet players
World  Major influence on
 Inducted into the Rock African American
and Roll Hall of Fame, musicians and politicians
star on the Hollywood
walk of fame, Grammy
awards, jazz hall of fame,
 Airport in New Orleans is
named after him
Fletcher Henderson
 Jazz pianist,
arranger/composer
 Led one of the first
successful big bands
 1922 formed his own
band in Georgia “Best
colored band in the
South”
 Worked for Black Swan
records
 1924 Louis Armstrong
joined his band
 Fletcher Henderson
 1930’s- started arranging  Hired by Duke Ellington
music for his band as an arranger when his
 1934 started arranging band played at the cotton
music for Benny club
Goodman  Charts are still being
 1939 joined Benny played today
Goodman as player and
arranger then just
arranger
 Famous for his big band
arrangements still being
performed today
Benny Goodman
 1909-1986
 King of Swing
 Band leader, clarinet
player
 Born in Chicago
 Started playing
professional at 16
 1926- His first
recordings
Benny Goodman
 Parents were blue
collar working class
citizens
 Father urged him to
quit playing and get
an “honest Job”
 Father never saw him
play professionally
 1932 formed his own
band in New York City
 Benny Goodman
 1934- Lets Dance radio show  1952 broke up big band due to
 1935- Palomar Ball room economic reasons
 Gene Krupa  Benny Goodman achieved the
 1937- movie Hollywood Hotel same success with jazz that
Elvis did with rock and roll
 1938- January 16th Carnegie
Hall (Sing, Sing, Sing)
 1936 Goodman added Lionel
Hampton on vibes to form the
 1950- LP recording of this Benny Goodman Quartet
concert became the first
million selling lp
 first musicians to racially
integrate their band. 10 years
before Jackie Robinson
entered the Major Leagues.
 Benny Goodman
 On January 16, 1938, the  Many of those who played with
Benny Goodman band played him as sidemen later achieved
at Carnegie Hall. fame as leaders of their own
 First jazz band to play at bands, soloists, actors,
Carnegie Hall actresses, musicians for
 Carnegie Hall had been the movies and television
nation's greatest temple of  Huge impact on popular music
musical art, home of the New and the importance of the
York Philharmonic and scene clarinet in both jazz and
of every important artist's classical music.
debut  Thousands of youngsters
throughout the world were
influenced to play the clarinet
through listening to Benny
Goodman
Gene Krupa
 considered to be the
first drum "soloist."
 father of the modern
drumset
 help with developing
the modern hi-hat
cymbals.
 the first drummer to
record with a bass
drum
Gene Krupa
 First real gig was with Benny
Goodman and Glenn Miller,
performed in the pit band of
the new George Gershwin play
"Strike Up the Band.
 Benny Goodman urged
Gene to join his band with the
promise that it would be a real
jazz band.
 Gene's classic performance on
"Sing Sing Sing" has been
heralded as the first extended
drum solo in jazz
 Gene Krupa
 Left Goodman on March 3,  briefly joined up with Benny
1938 Goodman and Tommy Dorsey
 Started his own band before re-forming his own
 authored his own book titled band
"The Gene Krupa Drum  big band was one of the first in
Method"(1938) the mid-forties to introduce
 began an annual Drum Bop arrangements with the
help of Gerry Mulligan and the
Contest(1941). playing of trumpeter Red
 Louie Bellson was first winner Rodney.
 Bellson went on to become a
famous jazz drummer
 Gene Krupa
 The Gene Krupa Trio was one  Gene's last commercial
of the first acts recruited by recording was in
Norman Granz for his "Jazz At
The Philharmonic" November of 1972
 The JATP dates introduced the  Gene's final public
famous "Drum Battles" with performance was with a
Buddy Rich in October of reunion of the old
1952 Goodman Quartet on
 In 1959, "The Gene Krupa August 18, 1973.
Story." The film was very loose
in the facts of Gene's career  Gene died October 16,
but did feature an excellent 1973 of a heart attack
soundtrack recorded by Krupa
himself.
Glenn Miller
 First gig was with Ben Pollack’s
band that included Benny
Goodman
 1928 freelance musician in
New York played with Tommy
and Jimmy Dorsey, Benny
Goodman, Gene Krupa, and
young singer named Bing
Crosby
 April 1935, Glenn Miller
recorded, for the first time,
under his own name.
 Glenn Miller
 His band emphasized the  Chattanooga Choo Choo
clarinet playing the melodic becomes first million selling
line while the tenor sax plays album for Miller
the same note, and supported  Sun Valley Serenade and
by three other saxophone Orchestra Wives were movies
 Tuxedo Junction, Moonlight the Glenn Miller Orchestra
were in
Serenade, and Pennsylvania 6-
 On October 7, 1942, Alton
5000 were some of his songs
Glenn Miller reported for
 In the Mood was his most
famous song induction into the Army
 1941 left for Hollywood to  assigned to the Army Specialist
record for and make movies Corps
 Glenn Miller
 appointment as a Captain to  500 were broadcasts heard by
modernize the army band and millions
ultimately improve the morale
of the men
 First professional musician
inducted into the military to
 transferred into the Army Air serve as military band leader
Corps, where he ultimately and musicians for troop morale
organized the Glenn Miller
Army Air Force Band
 1944 Stationed in London
 Six week tour of Europe, was
 Glenn Miller Army Air Force
to be stationed in Paris
Band engaged in over 800
performances
 Glenn Miller
 Miller decided to go ahead, in  Plane and body was never
order to make the proper recovered
arrangements for the group’s  1945 Last recording of The
arrival Glenn Miller orchestra was
released
 December 15th, Glenn Miller
boarded a transport plane to  1954- The Glenn Miller story
starring Jimmy Stewart
Paris
 2003- Glenn Miller received
 Bad weather made Grammy Lifetime Achievement
communication difficult award posthumously
 Plane crashes early morning of
December 15th
Duke Ellington
 Band Leader, piano
player, arranger
 One of the most
popular most
successful big band
leaders of all time
 Famous for is
arrangements and is
personality
Duke Ellington
 Born in Washington
D.C.
 Began performing
when he was 17
 1923 moved to New
York City
 1927- House band for
the Cotton Club
 Duke Ellington
 One of two of the most  Was key figure in symphonic
famous big bands (Count big band jazz
Basie)  Composed jazz suites and not
 used the best musicians from just simple “charts”
around the country  1943-Black, Brown, and Beige
 One of the most famous  Most famous songs were Satin
African American musicians Doll and Take the A train,
and celebrities Mood Indigo
 Arranged for the musician not  1956- Newport Jazz Festival
the band which gave his band revived popularity
a distinct sound  1957- Such Sweet thunder-
 1940s was peak success based on Shakespeare and
 Arranged music for bands and dedicated to Queen Elizabeth
movies II
 1965- Pulitzer prize winner
 Duke Ellington
 1966- Sacred concert  Band still touring today
combination of jazz music  Major influence on jazz
with Christian readings music and musicians
 1969-presidential Medal  Created new forms of
of Freedom jazz music and jazz
 Multi Grammy award arrangements
winner  One of the most
 1973 Legion of Honor by influential musicians of
the French government the 20th century
Cotton Club
 The Cotton Club
 One of the greatest jazz clubs  House band was required to
in New York perform every night, especially
 Operated during and after weekends
prohibition  New songs performed every
 Jack Johnson (heavy Weight concert.
champ) owned the club  Cab Calloway took over as
 Run by Mob in 1923 house band after Ellington
 Helped to launch the careers  Minnie the Moocher
of many of the big band era  Closed in 1936- after race riots
musicians in Harlem
 Ellington was the house band  Re-opened on Broadway
from 1927-1931  Closed for good in 1940
 Recorded over 100 songs there
Count Basie
 Band leader, piano player
 One of the best and most
influential band leaders
and musicians of all time
 1924 toured with the
TOBA
 1928 moved to Kansas
City joined the Blue
Devils
Count Basie
 Became piano player for
Benny Moten jazz band
 1935- Became leader
changed to Count Basie
Big Band
 Created the Kansas City
style of jazz ( laid back
jazz)
 Always hired the best
musicians available
 Count Basie
 Once you were a member of  Quincy Jones was trumpet
the Basie band you remained a player and arranger for the
member Basie band
 Players went on to start own  1974 had cameo in Mel Brooks
careers but always returned to film Blazing Saddles
Basie band to play with them  Sammy Nestico, famous jazz
 Launched careers of many arranger for Count Basie
famous musicians  Freddie Green famous jazz
 Influential to the start of the guitarist
jazz singers  One O’clock Jump, All of Me,
 Joe Williams, Frank Sinatra, April in Paris, Lil Darlin- most
Ella Fitzgerald all got their start famous songs
with the Basie Band
 Count Basie
 Created a new style  Horn players used
of jazz called Kansas riffs and motifs
City Style.  New style of piano
 Off shoot of swing playing called the
music where players Basie Style
“laid back”  Stressed
 Famous for its rhythm improvisation
section
 “Space” was
important
Lester Young
 The Prez
 Famous Tenor Sax
player
 One of the most
influential saxophone
players
 Started playing in
vaudeville and
territory bands
 Lester Young
 Got his start in his father’s  Nick name was given to him by
territory bands friend Billie Holliday
 1932 joined the Blue Devils  Was eccentric creating his own
 Landed in Kansas City playing style and language for
 Played with King Oliver, his friends
Fletcher Henderson, and Count  Used to hold the horn out to
Basie his right when he played (like
 1934 joined the Count Basie a flute)
Band  1942 recorded with Nat King
 This group would lead him to Cole
national attention and make  1943 inducted into the Army
him famous  Black musicians were put into
the regular army White
musicians were put into
military bands like Glenn Miller.
 Lester Young
 Court- martial for various  By the late 50s drinking had
offenses taken a toll on him was
unhealthy never ate, drank
 1945 dishonorably discharged constantly could barely
 1946 JATP- jazz at the perform
Philharmonic with Norman  December 8 1957- The Sound
Granz of Jazz-Billie Holliday, Ben
 Toured with them for 12 years Webster, Coleman Hawkins,
Gerry Mulligan, Roy Eldrige
 1950- Lester leaps in solo at
Carnegie Hall
 March 1959- final studio
recording, European tour
 1952- Start of his drinking  March 15th New York died age
problem, started to affect his 49
playing
 1955- Hospital stays due to
drinking and nervous
breakdown
Billie Holliday
 1915-1959
 Lady Day
 One of the most influential jazz
singers of all times
 Major influence on modern day
singers
 Born in Philadelphia (mother
was 13 at time of her birth)
father was jazz guitarist
 (Divorced early)
 Began performing at an early
age to provide money for the
family
Billie Holliday
 Early 1930 moved to New York
 Father was absentee only
showing up on rare occasions
(shake down)
 1932 Discovered by John
Hammond
 1933 first recording with
Benny Goodman ( My Mother’s
Son-In-Law)
 November 23, 1934 Apollo
Theater
 Regular performer on 52nd
street clubs
 Billie Holliday
 Her music had impeccable  Famous songs were God Bless
timing, nuanced phrasing, and the Child and Fine and Mellow
emotional immediacy  Major influence on female
 Worked with al the great artist singers from Janis Joplin to
became one of the greatest Madonna to present day
black singers of all time singers
 Became addicted to drugs  May 1947 arrested for drug
starting at 13years old and bad possession had cabaret card
addiction to heroin taken away for 12 years
 Cursed with bad abusive  1954 European tour was a
relationships most of her life huge success revamped her
 Sang about her relationships in career
her songs
 Billie Holliday
 March 1959- Final studio recording
 May 31 1959 taken to hospital in New
York for liver and heart problems
 July 17 1959 died age 44 died from
cirrhosis of the liver
 When she died she had 70 cents in her
bank account
Ella Fitzgerald
 1917-1996
 Lady Ella- First Lady of Jazz
 Won 13 Grammy awards
 National Medal of Art,
Presidential medal of freedom
 Influential jazz singer and
innovator of scat singing
 Orphaned at age 14
 Started singing career at age
16
 November 21, 1934- Apollo
Theater
Ella Fitzgerald
 Started singing with Chick
Webb big band in 1935
 1939- Took over after Webb’s
death became Ella Fitzgerald
and her famous orchestra
 Solo career 1941
 Norman Granz created record
company Verve records for her
 Ella created Songbooks she
recorded for the Verve Label
 Toured all over the world
promoting the songbook series
 Ella Fitzgerald
 Most famous collaborations are with Frank Sinatra, Louis
Armstrong, and Count Basie.
 June 1974 combined concert at Caesars Palace was the
top grossing concerts in Vegas of all time
 Went to Broadway and grossed 2 million in 2 weeks
 Was cursed with bad romances
 Suffered from Diabetes and died from complications due
to diabetes in 1996
 Major influence on female singers from all genres
Sarah Vaughn
 1924- 1990
 one of the greatest
female singers of all
time
 Began performing in
1940’s
 Went solo in 1945-
Tenderly, It’s Magic
 Famous 1950- Misty
Sarah Vaughn
 Huge vocal range, being able
to sing baritone to soprano,
think Mariah Carrey
 Musically trained in theory and
skills
 Inspiration for Bosa Nova in
the 1960’s
 Was huge influence on modern
singers
 Started singing pop style songs
in 1950s as well as jazz, cross
over artists
 Continued to record and win
awards well into the 1980s
JATP
 Jazz at the Philharmonic
 Started by Norman Granz
 He created Verve records
 First all star setting
 Toured around the country
 Give exposure of jazz music to
people who would not usually
see a concert
 World famous musicians in a
jam session type concert so
the audience could get closer
to the musicians