What big band?

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In preparation for the soon-to-be released album by The Matthew Herbert Big Band, I want to listen to some big band jazz. Where to start? What's the cream of the crop?

― JoB (JoB), Monday, 7 April 2003 11:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Sony's 3-CD "Swing Time! The Fabulous Big Band Era 1925-1955," is a pretty good starting place.

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Monday, 7 April 2003 11:22 (twenty-two years ago)

For big band jazz the first people to listen to are Duke Ellington and Count Basie.

For jazz played by a big band (important distinction) the 3 albums Miles Davis recorded with Gil Evans (Miles Ahead, Porgy & Bess and Sketches Of Spain) are indispensible.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 7 April 2003 12:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Fletcher Henderson's fuckin' ace man

― dave q, Monday, 7 April 2003 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

find a good version of benny goodman's one o'clock stomp. and yes, duke ellington and count basie rock! as an orchestral jazz composer ellington is peerless.

― j.a.e., Monday, 7 April 2003 20:47 (twenty-two years ago)

the new don ellis big band goes underground is a pretty great psychedelic record from the 60's (ring modulators! horns!)
the 70's Peter Herbolzheimer discs on MPS are hot!

― gaz (gaz), Monday, 7 April 2003 21:39 (twenty-two years ago)

dave q OTM.

Really you can't go wrong with-
Duke Ellington The Blanton-Webster Band (is this thing still in print? might have been superseded by another comp)
Duke Ellington At Newport
Count Basie The Complete Decca Recordings, 1937-1939
Fletcher Henderson A Study in Frustration
Woody Herman The Thundering Herds, 1945-1947

And if you want something really nutty, check out
Stan Kenton City of Glass: Stan Kenton Plays Bob Graettinger

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Monday, 7 April 2003 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

or for Ellington with more contemporary rhythms (a relative term, I know) check Afro-Eurasion Eclipse from 71 (almost "rocky" rhythms. The Far East Suite is alsom great.

― gaz (gaz), Monday, 7 April 2003 22:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I second A Study in Frustration, all the Fletcher henderson stuff arranged by Don Redman is pure gold as far as the '20s go. It's great! Actually Diamond's whole list is impeccable. Benny Goodman "Live at Carnegie Hall (1938)." The Best of Count Basie CD with "One O'Clock Jump," "Jumpin' at the Woodside" and "Jive at Five" is a great starter. Then move on to the later Complete Atomic Basie. If this counts as big band: Mingus' Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is a perfect album.

― scott m (mcd), Monday, 7 April 2003 22:41 (twenty-two years ago)

For more modern big band stuff, check out David Murray Big Band and the Mingus Big Band

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 02:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Buddy Rich's big band will blow your fscking mind

― Millar (Millar), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 02:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I second Mingus (esp. Ah Um/Tijuana Moods) & would add Sun Ra's early recordings.

― Jez (Jez), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 11:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Anybody heard the Herbert Big Band live? I was really not at all impressed.... Possibly on account of knowing shit all about big band music, but it didn't seem to have much life or spark to it...

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 11:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Another Dave: Dave Holland Big Band (ECM). And to repeat it again, Ellington and Basie.

― Andrew Norman, Tuesday, 8 April 2003 11:23 (twenty-two years ago)

i can't claim to know a huge amount about jazz,but that ellington at newport thing is great,as is any mingus i've heard...
i'm listening to an mp3 of the first track of the herbert thing now,its really good...
has anyone else heard it?
is it out yet?

― robin (robin), Monday, 21 April 2003 16:44 (twenty-two years ago)

six years pass...

Peter Herbolzheimer dies at 74, 27.03.2010
Erwin Lehn dies at 90, 20.03.2010

― meisenfek, Monday, 29 March 2010 14:56 (fifteen years ago)

For a free improv big band there's nothing finer than Peter Brotzmann's Chicago Tentet.

― anagram, Monday, 29 March 2010 15:39 (fifteen years ago)

eleven months pass...

Bill Holman records are fuckin' hot big band just fyi

― five gone cats from Boston (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Saturday, 19 March 2011 18:11 (fourteen years ago)

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