What is commonly called ‘swing” was introduced in the 1920s by jazz pianists and has remained a common feature throughout the decades. The music of the swing era was performed mostly by big band swing artists like Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and many more.
Prior to 1930 very small ensembles consisting of not much more than a trombone, trumpet, clarinet, piano, drums and perhaps a stand up bass performed jazz and swing. In these ensembles, every instrument and every musician had a role to play, apart from the melody; much of the music was improvised. As the big band era came into play, this approach was carried over and the original big bands were sectionalized into not one but a group of artists all playing the same instrument. Most big bands had three or four trombone players, trumpeters, five or six on sax who also doubled up on clarinet. There was a piano; the bass was often dropped in favor of a tuba and a drummer and guitarist.
Big band swing artists often had to learn arrangements which were quite simple, the composure was straight forward repeated material that alternated between various rhythms. Improvisation was brought to the front and given featured roles while the remainder of the band members, other than the rythem section simply laid back or played some background lines.
Swing music gained in popularity due to the hard times the country was suffering. Swing gave the people an opportunity to abandon their problems for a while and steep in the pleasure of the music. During the Great Depression there is little doubt that the country suffered terribly and dancing to swing music was about the only way people could abandon their cares and worries even though it was for short periods of time. During this time, the 30s, swing symbolized happiness and ease, things that were not available anywhere else.
Count Basie was regarded at the time as the finest leader of jazz bands. For almost 50 years the Count led the band in playing simply, often bluesy music where the focus was always on easy rhythms, the aspect of swing music that all big bands hoped and strived to emulate and eventually achieve.
Sylvia Brooks is a female jazz artist that emulates the big band swing artists and the big band jazz sound of the 30s and beyond. Check Sylvia’s web site for her next concerts and reviews of her current hit album, Restless.
