Its refreshing to have a topic I know something about. I haven't thought much about this topic in years, so excuse me if I forget some things. Big Band is more of a generic name for Swing and "Jazz" bands, hence "BIG". It, in it self, was not necessarily a seperate genre. Now a days its used pretty loosely to mean almost any of the Jazz styles, but usually intended for "Jazz" (proper) and swing. It has more to do with the size of the band than the actual style. Miles Davis wrote bop songs (birth of the cool,above) for some large (and interesting) bands(how about Jazz tuba and french horn, really), but I would think no one would consider those "Big Band". Its a term used mostly by non-musicians (whom don't know any better). Remember, almost all of the Jazz styles(bebop, west coast, swing, etc.) are collectively called Jazz now a days. So "Jazz" proper tends to be referred to as Big Band, but oddly enough tends to include swing. Modern "Big Bands" play all the Jazz styles and even jazzed-up rock standards (how about a Madonna song to a swing beat)and modern jazz. Nostagia acts mostly...
I actually got my start as a professional musician playing in a so called "Big Band".

DudeManCentral

PS.I remember hearing Stan Kenton for the first time in the late 50s. His band blew the roof off the the place. It was so loud, bright, and moving. With those huge chords, HUGE DYNAMICS, and unique key changes. It really was incredible back then. The dynamics were incredible. They'd go from extremely soft to very very loud in a drop of a hat. Even in this modern day of 24bit recording and big sound-to-noise ratios, there is really nothing like it today(dynamically speaking). Electronic instruments have really zapped the use of dynamics. Remember the Memorex commercials with the guy in a chair getting blown away with the sound coming from his speakers? Thats how I felt listening to Kenton the first time. Now a days, if a band was to play that loud, the sound code police would be there pulling the plug....






[This message has been edited by DMC (edited 01-29-2003).]