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Jazz Bands
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Last updated 04 08 11
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Town, Jazz Bands Durban, Jazz Bands Pretoria, Jazz
Bands Johannesburg, Jazz Bands Gauteng, Jazz Bands South Africa
What are
Jazz Bands:
A jazz
band (jazz ensemble or jazz combo) is a musical
ensemble that plays jazz music usually without a
conductor. Jazz bands usually consist of a rhythm
section and a horn section. During the jazz and
swing eras in the mid-twentieth century, the most
successful jazz orchestras also employed strings and
harp in expanded arrangements, but their presence on
the bandstand was more for visual impact and not as
a key component of the ensemble, although the unique
timbres of the strings and harp combined with the
band as a whole provided an extra layer of
ear-pleasing sonorities.
The rhythm section of a jazz band consists of the
percussion, double bass or bass guitar, and usually
at least one instrument capable of playing chords,
such as a piano, guitar, Hammond organ or vibes;
most will usually have more than one of these. Large
early jazz bands such as Paul Whiteman’s employed
two pianos, an accordion and banjo. The rhythm
section is the foundation for the band; it sets the
feel for the piece.
Jazz Bands
The horn section consists of wind and brass
instruments, which play the melody and main
accompaniment. Typical horns found in a big jazz
band include 4 to 5 trumpets, saxophones (2-3 altos,
2 tenors, and a baritone), 3-4 trombones, and a bass
trombone. The saxophones may also double on flute,
clarinet, bass clarinet and soprano saxophone, the
trumpets on flugel horn, and the bass trombone on
tuba.
Jazz bands also known as marching display bands are
the second largest youth organisation in the United
kingdom behind the Scouts and Guides. These bands
were formed in the second world war as a form of
free entertainment for children to participate in.
Today,
the largest jazz band organisation is known as the
United Kingdom Federaton of Jazz Bands. This
organisation was fully formed in South Wales in 1973
by Mr Garfield Bishop O.B.E. who brought together
approximately 250 bands from across England and
Wales to compete against one another. The smaller
division is known as the Cleveland Federation of
Jazz Bands consisting of approximately 20 bands with
children of a younger age.
Jazz Bands
Jazz
bands consists of 2 sections; a perscussion section
built up of marimbas, vibraphones, steel drums,
xylophones, glockenspiels, drums, tym toms, tenor
drums, bass drums and other smaller percussion
instruments and a kazoo section made up of 9 or more
kazoo players forming shapes and routines.
This
type of band is competitive and holds an annual
World Championships every August across the United
Kingdom. The top positions have been dominated in
recent years by the North East bands known as The
Jazzmanelles, Walker Majestics and Teesside Golden
Dragoons.
Jazz Bands
Jazz Bands
Examples of Some Notable Jazz Performers and Bands:
- James Brown
- Ray Charles
- Frank Sinatra
- Michael Buble
- Louis Armstrong
- Johnny Hartman
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Art Blakey
- Max Roach
Jazz Bands
Jazz Bands
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