In the 30's "Swing is
King" and this is the only time that jazz and
popular are the same thing. "Duke Ellington" and
"Fletcher Henderson" brought in swing with a bang with
his recording of "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't
Got That Swing" in 1932. The bigband sound came in
like a lion with up tempos, horns a blowin' and
dancers swingin' away 'til
dawn."
Duke
Ellington
Fletcher Henderson
The bands instrumentation changed and the
bands now had 16 pieces or more. The sidemen were
given more chances to do solos, that were written
in, during the song. "Gene Krupa" and "Cootie Williams"
were just two of these great sidemen and eventually
went off to become bandleaders in their own right.
Racism was still present and groups that were mixed had to play in clubs and theaters that were segregated.
Various piano styles also became popular at this time and they were the "Boogie Woogie," the "Stride" and fast "Western" also called "Barrelhouse".
In Kansas City a man called "Count Basie" was the leader of this form of bigband jazz. Improvisation was emphasised and the written passages were shorter and more simple.
Count Basie
During World War 2 both large and small bands toured Army and Navy camps under the alges of the "USO" and the "War Manpower Commission Program" . Swing was heard at bond sales rallies and concerts.
Even the cartoon charactors got int the act."
Once the war started many of the bands broke up because the members were inducted into the armed forces and many volunteered.
In 1942 "Glenn Miller" joined the Army Air Forces to do his part for the war effort. Within one year he had organized a band known as the "Glenn Miller Army Airforce Band". When he heard of a known musician that had been inducted he would request to have them transferred to his orchestra. This resulted in the biggest dance band there ever was with the best musicians. Many divas and crooners of the day joined him to entertain the troops here at home and overseas.
Dinah Shore with Glenn
Bing Crosby with Glenn
Along with the war the mid 40's and early 50's brought about the end of the bigband era. Many of the great musicians became stars in some of the many musicals that were made during those years, others retired only to have great come backs in the 50's. The front singers such as "Sinatra", "Bing Crosby", and "Ella Fitzgerald" went on to successfull singing careers and doing tv and staring in movies.
I hope that the memories of those rhythm years continue to live on through people like myself who listened to the stories of our parents and grandparents. Above all I hope you at least give a listen to some of the great songs.
