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Jazz Swing Era

LESSSON 5

The Swing Era (1932-1942)
• Post Depression (1929)
• Big Bands become prominent
• Instrumentation: 4-5 trumpets, 4 trombones, 5 saxophones (woodwinds), piano, bass, drums, guitar
• Arranger becomes much more important
• Written out arrangements with less, or little, improvisation
• Some up-tempo tunes
• Many more ballads with jazz interpretation
• Music often for dancing
Music become a big business
• Recordings were now very important
• Recording companies now exercised control over music
• Record salesbecame the determining factor of success, (popularity vs. quality issue) commercialism
• Arrangements & improvised solos confined to much less time in order to adjust to three minute records to fit in juke boxes
• Situation doesn't change until 1948 with 33 1/3 rpm records

About the record business
• Gold record: sells over a million dollars
• Platinum record: sells over a million units
• By 1988 there were 2800 record companies, but:
• In 1933, only 3 record companies existed: 1. American Record Company, which owned a. Columbia; b. Brunswick; c. Vocalian; 2. Victor Records & subsidiary, Bluebird; 3. Decca Records
• 1938: Start of Comodore Records
• 1939: Start of legendary Blue Note Records
Because there were hundreds of bands and band leaders, there was a perceived need for an identifying signature, gimmick or attraction
• Glenn Miller - clarinet melody over the sax section
• Tommy Dorsey - his trombone sound with sweet tone and control
• Small groups of soloists became identified with some bands, e.g., Goodman: Krupa, Hampton, Herman, Getz
1933 - Repeal of Volstead act (Prohibition)
• Ballrooms attract thousands of people
• Even in small towns thousands show up for concerts/dances
• Jazz becomes very popular
• Surge in popularity of dancing; many dance every night
Elements of Swing music
• 4/4 rhythm prevalent again (like Ragtime and New Orleans Style Dixieland)
• "Walking Bass" line...