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!
- [Nostalgic Collection] Classic oldies masterpieces. Recommended popular songs
- [Wind Ensemble] Recommended Western pop songs for concerts: timeless classics from every era
- Recommended Latin Music | Introducing Stylish Masterpieces
- [2026] Iconic musical numbers: from the latest releases to timeless classics!
- Various ways to enjoy jazz: The appeal of the standard tune 'Autumn Leaves'
- Overseas ska: A roundup of must-know representative bands
- [Western Music] The World of Power Ballads: A Collection of Must-Listen Gems to Start With
- Benny Goodman Popular Song Rankings [2026]
- The appeal of large ensembles! Recommended masterpieces and popular songs of big bands
- Famous piano masterpieces in Western music. Recommended popular songs.
- [2026] Brazil’s National Music! A Collection of Iconic and Popular Samba Songs
- Carefully selected Japanese songs with a Latin flavor! Recommended J-POP brimming with exotic vibes
- [Classics] Famous waltzes: recommended popular pieces
The Allure of Large Ensembles! Recommended and Popular Big Band Classics (1–10)
My Blue HeavenArtie Shaw
My Blue Heaven, released in 1972 by Walter Donaldson and George A.
Whiting, is a classic that has been covered by many jazz artists, though it was originally released as a popular song.
This cover by Artie Shaw is arranged to showcase his exceptional clarinet technique.
I think you’ll find it even more interesting if you compare it with the original.
It Don’t Mean a ThingLjubljana Academy of Music Big Band
Duke Ellington was an American jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader.
Famous for works like “Take the ‘A’ Train,” he is often regarded as one of the greatest musicians in 20th-century jazz and popular music.
While both the music and the lyrics are quite simple, the piece is packed with the essence of jazz that makes you want to move your body as you listen.
As the title suggests, it’s a track where you can fully enjoy the uniquely jazzy swing!
A String Of PearlsBBC Big Band
Among the many big band repertoire classics, “A String of Pearls” ranks among the most popular.
Composed in 1941 by Jerry Gray—one of the figures who helped sustain the Glenn Miller Orchestra after the death of Glenn Miller, the “King of Swing” who founded the band—the piece features saxophones and a buoyant rhythm that evokes the feel of individual pearls, while its brilliant yet refined melody seems to capture the luster of a necklace.
The Appeal of Large Ensembles! Recommended and Popular Big Band Classics (11–20)
All the Cats Join InColeman Hawkins
A classic created by three composers—Ray Gilbert, Eddie Sauter, and Alec Wilder—“All the Cats Join In.” It was first released by Benny Goodman and was also featured in Disney’s 1946 film Make Mine Music.
The piece is notable for its drums, and unlike glamorous, dazzling big band numbers, it has a stylish melody suffused with a touch of melancholy, which is truly striking.
Some Skunk FunkThe Brecker Brothers
Formed by brothers Randy and Michael Brecker, the Brecker Brothers are known for their classic 1978 album Heavy Metal Be-Bop, which features the popular track Some Skunk Funk.
The original is a funk number with a strong fusion flavor, but a big band arrangement—where the brass and winds take center stage in a flashy display—has also become popular.
As a relatively modern piece in the big band repertoire, it is frequently performed by younger big bands as well.
I’m Getting Sentimental Over YouTommy Dorsey
A piece composed by George Bassman for the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, formed by brothers Jimmy, a clarinetist, and Tommy, a trombonist.
Later, the younger brother Tommy had a musical dispute with his older brother Jimmy and left the band to form the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
This piece was used as Tommy Dorsey’s theme song and became widely known.
The song includes lyrics along the lines of, “I thought I didn’t need love, but now I’m sentimental about you,” expressing a bittersweet yet tender feeling of love through its graceful melody.
Watch What HappensElla Fitzgerald
Composed by Michel Legrand in 1960 as the theme for Jacques Demy’s film “Lola,” the piece became a hit when Demy added French lyrics and used it in the 1964 musical film “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.” It’s a love song from a male perspective, expressing the frustration and heartache of being afraid of love and unable to speak honestly because of past wounds.
Later, Norman Gimbel wrote English lyrics, and the song became a hit in the United States as well!