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

As the name suggests, a big band is a band made up of a large ensemble.

While swing jazz from before the modern jazz era is especially well-known, big bands are also a popular format in pop music.

Many will remember that in Showa-era music programs, dedicated big bands performed as backing ensembles for singers.

This time, we’ve gathered a selection of masterpieces born from big band performances.

Many of these pieces are used in commercials and film scores, making this a collection that even beginners can enjoy!

The appeal of large ensembles! Recommended and popular big band classics (71–80)

YesterdaysVince Mendoza & WDR Big Band feat. Joshua Redman

“Yesterdays” is a track from the 1998 album “Timeless Tales,” performed with the WDR Big Band.

The WDR Big Band is the big band of Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), the public broadcaster based in Cologne (Köln), Germany.

Joshua Redman, born in 1969, is a saxophonist and composer from Berkeley, California, USA.

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Theme of Honda Construction CompanyShibusa Shirazu

Shibusashirazu – Honda Construction Company Theme @ World Simultaneous Multiple-Outbreak Festival FUKUSHIMA!
Theme of Honda Construction CompanyShibusa Shirazu

Starting from underground activities, Shibusa Shirazu is an extraordinary collective that grew into a big band Japan can proudly present to the world.

Not only performers but also dancers share the stage, and their sound—incorporating jazz, rock, and dance music—garnered attention, leading to appearances at major festivals like Fuji Rock Festival and multiple world tours.

While they may differ in character from so-called conventional big bands, they are a group worth highlighting for the sheer brilliance and joy of their large-ensemble band sound.

The signature number they perform near the end of their shows is Honda Komuten no Theme.

Composed by the group’s central figure, Daisuke Fuwa, it delivers a dynamism that rivals rock and a band ensemble where instruments intermingle like a faraway festival.

Let it wash over you, and you’ll surely feel energized to face tomorrow.

KOH-1
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Midnight SunLionel Hampton

In jazz, the vibraphone is sometimes played, and the pioneer of this was Lionel Hampton.

Although he also thrived in small combos, in his early years he was a bandleader who led a moody big band.

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The Allure of Large Ensembles! Recommended and Popular Big Band Classics (81–90)

Martini TimeMarty Patch And His Orchestra

Marty Paich Big Band – Martyni Time 1957
Martini TimeMarty Patch And His Orchestra

“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.

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In conclusion

One of the great pleasures is that even a standard number everyone knows can reveal new charms depending on the big band performing it.

The powerful, intricate ensemble that arises from many instruments offers attractions you simply can’t experience with a quartet or trio.

If you haven’t paid much attention to big band ensembles until now, I hope this article has helped you discover the fun that big bands have to offer!