The appeal of large ensembles! Recommended masterpieces and popular songs of big bands

Georgia on My MindSANT ANDREU JAZZ BAND

2011 georgia on my mind EVA FERNANDEZ SANT ANDREU JAZZ BAND direccion JOAN CHAMORRO

One of the jazz standard numbers that also serves as the state song of Georgia, USA.

It has even been used in commercials for the canned coffee brand “Georgia.” Some say the song was written on commission as a piece evoking the American South, titled “Georgia,” while others say it was dedicated to the composer Hoagy Carmichael’s sister, also named Georgia.

The lyrics weave together both a longing for one’s hometown and feelings for a loved one.

Set to a comfortable jazz rhythm, it’s a song that voices emotions both wistful and passionate.

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La vie en roseLouis Armstrong

La vie en rose – Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong, a trumpeter who came from the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, sang as well as played the trumpet after going solo.

The classic chanson “La Vie en rose” is now so well known that his rendition with a big band backing is the more famous version.

Cry Me A RiverGroover Big Band

Groover Big Band – Cry Me A River

This is a standard number written and composed in 1953 by American songwriter Arthur Hamilton, and released as a vocal performance by Julie London in 1955, becoming a major hit.

Since then, it has continued to be arranged and sung across various genres, including rock, jazz, and blues.

Addressed to a lover who once betrayed her but now seeks reconciliation, the song coolly pushes him away with the line, “Serves you right—cry me a river,” blaming him while occasionally revealing the lingering feelings she still can’t erase—an expression of a woman’s conflicted heart.

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Martini TimeMarty Patch And His Orchestra

Marty Paich Big Band – Martyni Time 1957

“Martini Time” is the B2 track from the 7-inch EP “The Picasso Of Bigband Jazz,” released by Helviodor in 1958, in the Big Band and Cool Jazz styles.

Marty Paich (born 1925) was a pianist, composer/arranger, producer, musical director, and conductor.

He began on the accordion before switching to piano.

He formed a band at age 10 and by 12 was performing at neighborhood weddings.

He majored in music at university and earned a master’s degree in composition in 1951.

He also worked on the score for Disney’s film Lady and the Tramp.

ManhattanGeorge Russell

George Russell: Manhattan

Modern jazz began with a reform of improvisation performed by star players who had come to prominence in jazz.

Many of these reforms involved determining which notes could be used based on chord progressions, but Russell devised a completely different approach, creating an entirely new current in jazz.

Market MamboPeresu Puraado gakudan

Market Mambo

It features a passionate Latin sound highlighted by a lavish lineup of brass and saxophones led by Cuban-born Pérez Prado.

Riding on especially powerful brass and a sprightly rhythm, this track vividly captures the energy and bustle of a marketplace, punctuated by Prado’s signature shout, “Ahh—Uh!” Released by Victor Entertainment in July 2016 as part of the album ‘The Ultimate Mambo: Japan Tour Commemorative Edition,’ it showcases masterful performances from Prado’s mature period, the very artist who sparked the global mambo craze of the 1950s.

Its dazzling, step-inducing dance hall sound remains a staple for livening up party scenes and continues to be loved around the world today.

Black Horse MamboPeresu Puraado gakudan

Black Horse Mambo - Pérez Prado

This Cuban classic, brimming with the allure of mambo music, was released in 1952.

Listeners will be irresistibly captivated by the powerful brass section and the energetic, explosive performances centered on saxophones and trumpets by Pérez Prado—known as the King of Mambo—and his orchestra.

The performance style features bold arrangements that blend Cuba’s traditional music with a big band sound, sending dance halls into a frenzy.

The work was re-recorded in December 1970 at the Nippon Victor studio in Japan and is also included on the renowned album “The Ultimate Mambo [Commemorating the Japan Tour].” It’s a must-hear track that delivers a stellar performance from the golden age of mambo to all lovers of Latin music.