The Whiteman Orchestras could be up to forty musicians and required written arrangements. Someone in the band would come up with a short musical line or riff to which the other sections would add more riffs which would become an arrangement.
These arrangements were not typically written down. Kansas City was known for riff-oriented songs that featured extended solos. From the Kansas City swing where Count Basie got his start to the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. As swing became more popular different styles emerged. The orchestra’s extended stay at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City influenced other bandleaders such as the great Duke Ellington. When Louis Armstrong joined his orchestra soloists began to get featured more and backgrounds were written for the orchestra to support the soloist. These arrangements were smoother than the hot dance music of ragtime. Henderson’s orchestra introduced horn sections trumpets, trombones, saxophones that required written arrangements. The swing feel began with jazz in the 1920’s with the genre called swing developing in the 1930’s with larger ensembles like the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. Whether it is a Sinatra pop song or a Bob Willis country song, as Duke Ellington wrote “It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing”. It is this small change, with other elements in swing music, that create the art of swing. Swing brings a lilt to the same eighth notes so the first note is a bit longer and the second a bit shorter, though written the same way. The march feel is “straight up and down” with notes (here eighth notes) values are all equal. Schuur’s recording with the Count Basie of “Deedles’ Blues”. It is best to listen and compare a march, like Stars and Stripes Forever, with Ms. What is swing? Like trying to describe a color it is difficult to put into words.
#Kansas city jazz style head arrangements how to
Schuur, winner of two Grammys in jazz, knows how to swing. Kansas City style jazz was the bridge between the more formally written big band arranged music of the 1930s and the less through composed music played by small group jazz artists like Charlie Parker in the 1940s.What is swing, it’s history, and what is new? The Reno Jazz Orchestra (RJO), after two great concerts featuring the music of Earth, Wind, and Fire, is bringing Diane Schuur to Reno and Tahoe 8/22 and 8/23. The pioneering style had a characteristic walking 4 beat bass line, drummer playing a two beat feel and included head arrangements with lots of improvised solos by performers. “Historically, Kansas City Style of jazz was defined during the swing era of the 1930s and 1940s. musicians began their careers as ragtime players, and ragtime songs were central to every musician’s repertoire.” (Pearson 25) Formal ragtime began in Missouri near Kansas City.
“Ragtime and New Orleans-styl e jazz were also directly influential. Many of the important sources of that style-rural music-making, the blues, traveling shows, brass bands, and formal musical training-formed much of the musical and cultural context or Kansas City’s musicians.” (Pearson 25) “Kansas City jazz was characterized by the fundamental elements of jazz: improvisation and the rhythmic drive that was initially called ‘hot’ and later ‘swing.’ It was also noted for its own distinctive style. “During the 1920s and 1930s, musicians from across the country flocked to Kansas City, drawn by the easy ambiance and plentiful jobs in the dance halls and nightclubs sprinkled liberally between 12th and 18th Streets.”
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