Large Ensemble Swing
tagStarted mid-1950sPeak 1955–1965; revived 1990s–presentLast big hit still active
Large ensemble swing is post-Swing-Era continuation of full-orchestra swing writing, often cleaner, more technically demanding, and more concert-oriented than 1930s dance-band swing.
History
Basie’s “New Testament” band, Ellington’s later orchestras, Thad Jones–Mel Lewis descendants, JLCO, Clayton-Hamilton, and Gordon Goodwin all continued swing as a living arranging discipline. The dance floor is no longer always the boss, but the beat still has to smile.
Defining artists
Essential listening
- April in Paris — Count Basie OrchestraSpotifyYouTube
- Such Sweet Thunder — Duke Ellington OrchestraSpotifyYouTube
- C Jam Blues — Jazz at Lincoln Center OrchestraSpotifyYouTube
- Jumpin East of Java — Clayton Hamilton Jazz OrchestraSpotifyYouTube
- Ya Gotta Try — Gordon Goodwins Big Phat BandSpotifyYouTube
- Central Park North — Vanguard Jazz OrchestraSpotifyYouTube
Sources
- modern big-band histories
- Basie and Ellington orchestra references
- large-ensemble swing discographies.