Big Bands Through the Years

Dorsetmike

Dorsetmike

Member
Let's have some favourites, maybe on the edge of jazz but still swings for me, some well known, some maybe obscure!



 
JHC

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
Well Kenton was at the front edge when I got into jazz and Ted Heath had a good band, I will refrain from making a list of all the big bands of the day which seems a pointless exercise to me, but you mention Benny Goodman which was IMO one of the best and his small groups were way ahead of their time, and The Duke was not too bad!! I better stop or I will create a list lol
 
Corno Dolce

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hear,hear...Benny Goodman, The Duke, and Glenn Miller - Greats whose "musicizing" will always be recognized.


Br. Colin, a great quote you share...
 
Dorsetmike

Dorsetmike

Member
Hey, I'm starting from the 1930s, the ones you mention will come along in time, I did contemplate starting with 1920s but quality of most of them on the "toob" is abysmal. I'd like to se this thread follow the development and feature as many bands as possible, please feel free to add your choices, for this week try and keep with 1930s, move on to 1940s for the following week or two, then 1950s etc. I can see 40s &50s maybe taking longer than a week each to cover, if you excuse the pun. lets "play it by ear"
 
Dorsetmike

Dorsetmike

Member
3 more early ones, I think a few here will like the second one a certain Weldon Leo something being featured. Also interesting about number 2 if you read the notes is the number of big names that featured in this combo over the years. Number 3 is a classic of the period.



 
Dorsetmike

Dorsetmike

Member
Does anybody else think these early recordings show the roots of New Orleans, Dixieland and Chicago? The use of Tuba or other brass bass, banjo, still quite a lot of clarinets compared to the preponderance of saxes in later bands.

The European bands tended to be a bit more restrained, but gradually the styles merged, I suspect Hollywood may have had some influence there.

Quite a lot of vocals too, initially from within the band but as the thirties progressed soloists and small vocal groups started to appear. Quite a few of the vocals tended towards comedy.
 
Dorsetmike

Dorsetmike

Member
Sounds OK John, as said above showing the trad jazz roots, as does this, 1920s flappers doing the Charleston to Paul Whiteman


Some early Duke


New one on me, Ozzie Nelson

 
JHC

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
Remember Joe Loss aka dead loss. these were really dance bands


I just realised I have jumped the gun ?? silly old wine drinker me.
 
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