Overview
In the 1920s, a new type of jazz emerged that was related to, but separate from, Dixieland. Called swing or big band, this music often had less improvisation, more dancing, and more instruments than its Dixieland counterpart. Led by bandleaders such as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Fletcher Henderson, swing bands provided the soundtrack for dancing and merrymaking during what were becoming increasingly difficult times in the United States.
Objectives
- Recognize the difference between swing music and Dixieland jazz such as instrumentation, form, purpose, and composition
- Examine how race relations affected the performance and recording of swing music throughout the 1930s and 1940s
- Identify various bandleaders and the way each cultivated a specific style within their individual groups such as Count Basie’s Kansas City swing style
Music Consumption in the Swing Era
As Americans’ disposable income decreased, they could no longer buy records. They could, however, listen to the radio. Network radio was the single most important way to promote popular music during the swing era. No big band could succeed unless it had exposure on the radio. Bands showed up on the radio in many different ways. Sometimes live broadcasts were made from dance halls or venues where the band was performing. Other times, the band appeared on a studio-based radio program. In addition, radio shows such as Your Hit Parade and the Make-Believe Ballroom played phonograph records on air instead of featuring live performances.
