Night of the Big Band....

Big Band is one of my favorite genres of music! The music is so pure, and just makes you want to get all dressed up and go dancing! It originated, and dominated music, in the 1920s, as a form of Swing, and was popular through the 1950s. Big Bands consisted of approximately 12-25 musicians, and the music was arranged and practiced thoroughly on sheet music before a performance. Big Bands made appearances in ballrooms and clubs across the country during the 1930s and 1940s, and also began to appear in movies and on television programs in the 1930’s right on through to the 1960’s. Common instruments used were saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section, including drums, guitars, and pianos. Vocalists became included in Big Bands around the mid-1930s. The music started out with a fast-paced melody, and soloists and "shout choruses" followed, which often included a call-and-response section with the audience. Most of the popular Big Band artists in those decades have since been forgotten, but I added some of the classics to the playlist! And here is a link to a performance by a Big Band on a television show in the 1920s-30s.

Playlist: Songs 119-123