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!
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The appeal of large ensembles! Recommended and popular big band masterpieces (41–50)
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.
The charm of large ensembles! Recommended and popular big band classics (51–60)
BLUES ON PARADEHarunobu Hara to Shaapusu & Furattsu
One of Japan’s premier big bands—and a group important not only in jazz but in the broader history of popular music—is Nobuo Hara and His Sharps & Flats.
With a glittering career that includes being the first Japanese band to perform at the Newport Jazz Festival in the United States, they stand as a truly great big band.
The central figure, Nobuo Hara, was not only a tenor saxophonist but also a gifted composer—he even wrote Misora Hibari’s famous hit “Makkana Taiyō” (Crimson Sun).
This time, let’s feature their performance of the standard number “ ”.
The original was by Woody Herman, a clarinetist who also made his mark as a big band leader, and it seems a 7-inch record was released in Japan at the time.
The sparkling, quintessentially big-band melody, the surging four-beat walking bass, and the shuffling drum groove make it sheer joy to listen to.
Get UpBob Mintzer
Even after the advent of the fusion era, big bands were sustained.
While thriving as a saxophonist, Bob Mintzer also led a big band.
This piece is a jazz-funk work inspired by James Brown’s funk.
Mambo de ParisPeresu Puraado gakudan
In May 1951, the big band led by Dámaso Pérez Prado—who spearheaded the mambo boom of the 1950s and stood as a leading figure of Cuba—released a masterpiece that skillfully infused a touch of French essence while fusing mambo with jazz.
The vivid melodies woven by the brass section and saxophones, combined with lively, buoyant Latin rhythms, create an exquisite harmony.
Later included on the album “Mambo by the King,” this piece has captivated many as a song emblematic of the golden age of Latin music.
It’s recommended not only as passionate dance music but also for those seeking a refreshing mood—an essential mambo number.
Cucurrucucú PalomaPeresu Puraado gakudan
A magnificent work that breathes a beautiful Mexican soul into Cuban mambo.
Known as a signature piece of the Pérez Prado Orchestra, it fuses a melody that evokes the plaintive cooing of a dove with passionate Latin rhythms.
It was released in 1958 as the B-side to “Maria Bonita,” and the following year, 1959, it was included on the album “A Touch of Tabasco” with American jazz singer Rosemary Clooney.
In the 2006 film “Bella,” John Secada’s cover version was used as an insert song, enhancing an emotional scene.
Its powerful brass section and lively rhythm make it a great choice for livening up dance parties or mealtime gatherings.
Crazy About MamboPeresu Puraado gakudan
This track captivates with a passionate Latin sound woven from a powerful brass section and dynamic rhythms.
It’s a signature work by the Pérez Prado Orchestra, led by Cuban-born Dámaso Pérez Prado, and is included on the December 1996 release PEREZ PRADO DELUXE 1.
MAMBO SUCCESS.
In July 2016, it was also featured on the album The Ultimate Mambo.
Its innovative arrangement skillfully fuses elements of jazz and rock, overturning conventional notions of mambo and captivating many dance fans.
The brilliant interplay between the horn section and percussion has made it a timeless favorite across generations, a staple for energizing party scenes and dance floors.
Mambo on SaxPeresu Puraado gakudan
This irresistible track features a passionate Latin sound woven from a powerful brass section and lively percussion.
Included on the 1958 album “Mambo En Sax,” it showcases the Pérez Prado Orchestra, led by Cuban bandleader Pérez Prado, in a grand performance highlighted by soaring saxophone melodies.
The exquisite fusion of Latin music and jazz delivers dynamic rhythms and dazzling melodies that stir the soul.
Perfect for dance parties or whenever you want to savor a Latin atmosphere, it stands as an iconic performance of the 1950s mambo boom and continues to captivate music fans around the world.