Big Bands
Big bands became popular during the early to mid nineteen thirties and their popularity remained until well into the late nineteen forties forming part of what is known as the swing era. Probably one of the best known of the big bands was that lead by the American jazz musician Glenn Miller who sadly went in a missing in a plane crash in 1944.
Big bands generally contained between 10 and 25 musicians, typically playing such instruments as trombones, trumpets and saxophones along with a rhythm section of guitar, bass and drums.
Popular American bands of the ‘swing era’ were headed by Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Each band would have a singer too – one of the most famous lady singers probably being Ella Fitzgerald. Some British big bands include those lead by Nat Allen and Harry Acres.
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