Music of a wonderful world

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

Former vocal coach specializing in Western musicRyo
With the motto “Learn the basics and enjoy putting them into practice,” I worked as a vocal coach specializing in Western music. As a teen, I questioned the idea that “Western music equals English,” and started listening to songs from around the world. Today, I devour music from over 80 countries and run a personal blog introducing tracks. I often listen to genres like nuevo flamenco, bolero, canzone, and R&B. I’ll keep updating articles daily to find the one perfect song you’re looking for!
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

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 masterpieces (21–30)

Down By The RiversideOliver Nelson

Oliver Nelson “Down By The Riverside”

Down By The RiversideOliver Nelson

Oliver Nelson, like Gil Evans, was a renowned modern jazz saxophonist and arranger known for his forward-thinking arrangements.

While his arrangements for small combos with three-horn lineups shine, he also left remarkable works for big band ensembles.

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Soul Bossa NovaQuincy Jones

Quincy Jones – Soul Bossa Nova

Soul Bossa NovaQuincy Jones

Even if you don’t know the title, many of you have probably heard it somewhere.

It’s a piece that has been quoted countless times in TV shows, films, and video games.

Composed by American music producer and composer Quincy Jones, it became a major hit thanks to its familiar opening melody and lively rhythm.

In the 1997 comedy film Austin Powers, it was used almost like the main theme song.

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The Appeal of Large Ensembles! Recommended and Popular Big Band Classics (31–40)

BirdlandMRT BIG BAND

MRT BIG BAND – “Birdland” live at Suli An

BirdlandMRT BIG BAND

Birdland is a signature song by Weather Report, the legendary jazz fusion group formed around Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter.

Overflowing with captivating pop sensibility, the piece is a classic—its cover by The Manhattan Transfer even won a Grammy Award.

While the melody is simple and easy on the ears, the track offers the enjoyment of various instrumental solos and ensemble passages.

It has been arranged for formats such as wind band and is frequently performed.

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ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BANDIRVING BERLIN

ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND- ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK- IRVING BERLIN.

ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BANDIRVING BERLIN

A song composed by Irving Berlin in 1911 that sparked the ragtime craze.

It sold one million copies within a year of its release, became a hit in the United States and across Europe, and attracted considerable attention.

It has since become a jazz standard.

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Days Of Wine And RosesWoody Herman

Woody Herman Days Of Wine And Roses w/Bill Chase

Days Of Wine And RosesWoody Herman

Black big bands such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie, and white big bands like Glenn Miller’s, had different musical styles, partly due to racial issues.

The first white big band to break down that barrier was Woody Herman’s band.

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April in ParisCount Basie and his Orchestra

April in Paris – Count Basie and his Orchestra (1965)

April in ParisCount Basie and his Orchestra

April in Paris, composed by Vernon Duke for the 1932 Broadway musical Walk a Little Faster.

The musical tells the story of a chorus girl who falls in love with a State Department official she meets aboard a ship bound for Paris.

This song brims with vitality, uniting two warm feelings: the thrill stirred by Paris’s gentle spring and the excitement of new love.

Please enjoy this elegant yet modern jazz classic!

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Move To The BigbandBen Liebrand feat. Tony Scott

Ben Liebrand Feat Tony Scott Move to the bigband

Move To The BigbandBen Liebrand feat. Tony Scott

Move To The Bigband is a track by Ben Liebrand released in 1990, an Acid Jazz/Disco-style song featuring Tony Scott.

Ben Liebrand (born 1960) is a remixer, producer, and DJ from Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Tony Scott (born 1921) was a jazz clarinetist and baritone saxophone player from Morristown, New Jersey, USA.

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