At 2:21 PM -0800 1/31/10, Dean M. Estabrook wrote:
So, what appellation do we ascribe to such an ensemble in these modern times?
Jazz Band, Big Band (to differentiate it from small combos), Dance Band (but only if it actually stoops to playing for swing dances, but most don't even play that kind of music!), Jazz Ensemble (to emphasize its legitimacy in a college setting by playing on the title Wind Ensemble), sometimes even Jazz Orchestra (even when there are no strings except bass and maybe guitar).
Or by a specific name, in some cases. Our Corps of Cadets marching band has a breakout jazz band called the Southern Colonels. And the USAF jazz band has long been known as The Airmen of Note. But in the heyday of the Big Band it was usually named for the band leader, and even when the band leader has now passed on the band has sometimes continued under his name, but under someone else's direction and management. THAT'S just marketing, like the Four Freshmen, who now exist without a single original member but still sound more like the originals than the originals did! If an agent or manager can sell a group, it continues on through the years.
John -- John R. Howell, Assoc. Prof. of Music Virginia Tech Department of Music College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A. 24061-0240 Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034 (mailto:[email protected]) http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html "We never play anything the same way once." Shelly Manne's definition of jazz musicians. _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
