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 Allure of Large Ensembles! Recommended and Popular Big Band Classics (1–10)
Take the A TrainDuke Ellington
One of the jazz standards known in Japan by the title “Take the ‘A’ Train.” Composed in 1939 at Duke Ellington’s request by Billy Strayhorn—Ellington’s band pianist and composer/arranger—who wrote both the lyrics and the music.
The “A Train” in the title refers to the A line of the New York City Subway.
Its lively melody and propulsive rhythm evoke the image of a train.
The lyrics are based on Billy’s experiences on his way to meet Duke.
Sing Sing SingBenny Goodman
Sing, Sing, Sing is a quintessential swing jazz classic.
Written by singer and trumpeter Louis Prima, the “King of the Swingers,” it first appeared in 1936 performed by the New Orleans Gang.
With its dynamic intro featuring call-and-response between trombone and trumpet, a dazzling melody carried by saxophones and trumpets, and a memorable drum solo, the piece encapsulates the defining characteristics of swing jazz in full.
CaravanSWR Big Band
Caravan, which drew attention for its use in the film Whiplash, was composed by Juan Tizol, the trombonist of Duke Ellington’s orchestra, which was immensely popular in 1920s America.
He wrote it with a different color from the then-fashionable swing jazz.
The piece spread as the first famous work to link jazz with the Afro-Cuban style—combining the African feel with dance music from Central America centered on Cuba—and it continues to be performed today in unique arrangements by a wide variety of ensembles.
In The MoodGlenn Miller & His Orchestra
The opening melody has been used countless times in commercials, films, and TV shows, so many people have likely heard it.
The piece is a jazz composition by American jazz saxophonist and composer Joe Garland.
It is also known for becoming a hit in 1939 through a performance by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and it has become one of the orchestra’s signature numbers.
With its lively saxophone melody and the trumpet phrase at the end, the song maintains a brilliant tone throughout and is known as a quintessential big band number.
Tea For TwoLeith Stevens and his Orchestra
Tea for Two is a song used in the musical No, No, Nanette, composed by Vincent Youmans with a book by Irving Caesar.
In the original production, the heroine Nanette sings it in Act II with her love interest Tom as they envision their future together.
Beyond the vocals, the piece offers many musical highlights, including saxophone ensemble and solos, a clarinet–trumpet–trombone trio, and a piano solo.
Love For SaleAnita O’Day
Love for Sale is a masterpiece composed by Cole Porter, a songwriter who gained popularity for his urbane lyrics.
When people think of big bands, many imagine glamorous, showy melodies.
This piece, however, was written with vocals in mind, and—as you can tell from the fact that it was composed by Cole Porter—it features an exceptionally stylish melody.
If you’re tired of traditional big band sounds, be sure to give this one a listen.
Pennsylvania Six-Five ThousandRay McKinley
Ray McKinley, a jazz drummer from the United States who gained popularity for his sophisticated arranging techniques, also thrived as a bandleader and left numerous classic performances with big bands.
His rendition of “Pennsylvania Six-Five Thousand” is a popular standard released in 1940, and many covers featuring swing-jazz arrangements have been issued over the years.
With an impactful structure right from the intro, it’s a perfect piece for experiencing the power of a big band.