Five NPOs to Consider

 Five Midwest Charities That Are Moving Mountains

 

Even though the 2013 "Spirit of the Season" Holiday Tour has come and gone, the shaun johnson Big Band Experience mission remains. Shaun and the rest of the Big Band Experience members were honored to have played a small part in helping multiple charities bring joy to thousands of people in need. The following highlights what some of those charities do best.  

 

Wishes & More 

Wishes & More creates extraordinary experiences for wish children. The goal of this children’s charity is simple: grant wishes to children with terminal and life-threatening illnesses and provide hopeful hearts, happy memories and assistance to those who love them. This November, the Minnesota Wild's Matt Cooke wrote a new page in the memory book by inviting Wishes & More families to enjoy a Wild game in a box suite. 

 

Lunch is Served, Inc.

Lunch Is Served, Inc. is a nonprofit with the unique mission of delivering simple sack lunches for working men and women who are attempting to break the chains of poverty and hunger.

 

 

 

Make-A-Wish® Iowa
Every 38 minutes Make-A-Wish® grants the wish of a child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition in the United States and its territories. We believe that a wish experience can be a game-changer. This one belief guides us in everything we do. It inspires us to grant wishes that change the lives of the kids we serve. One child, 6-year-old Esther who was adopted from Uganda, wished to go to Disney's Animal Kingdom to see some familiar animals. When her family of 17 and two helpers (picture below) made the journey from Cedar Rapids, Iowa in February of 2013, they became the largest for Wish party in Iowa history.

 

 

Open Door Mission
Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission founded in 1954 committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Each day, Open Door Mission’s campus offers 816 safe, shelter beds to homeless men, women and children, serves over 2,000 hot, nutritious meals and provides preventive measures to more than 275 people living in poverty.

 

 

360 Communities
Founded more than 40 years ago by a group of volunteers, 360 Communities provides hope and support to more than 14,000 individuals each year with 11 programs in over 40 locations, including a network of five food shelves, two domestic violence shelters, two resource centers and three programs that support school success from birth through high school graduation. A group of Burnsville food shelf volunteers is pictured below. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Five Travel Essentials for Touring Bands

Band on the Run? Bring the Five Essentials Below

The "Spirit of the Season" Holiday Tour is here and while Shaun and the gang are enjoying each stop along the way, they find themselves in the middle of a daunting artic road trip. Their Midwestern journey has inspired the following five travel essentials for a band on the road.

1) Tea
Drinking tea in moderation can be a vocalist's best practice. Hot or warm tea loosens the phlegm on a singer's vocal chords and has an overall soothing effect. For a sore throat, try a "throat coat" tea mixed with a small dose of honey. If caffeine intake is a concern, try green tea as an alternative. It's also important to remember that while tea can be a great tool, always stay hydrated with water.

2) An Opposite Genre 
Your band will likely eat, sleep, and breath the same set of songs and same genre of music for the duration of the tour. While this should be a good thing (hopefully you are performing music that you are passionate about), it can be helpful to have a completely different genre to listen to for recreation. For example, according to this article, the opposite genre of big band music is "aggrotech" music.

3) Social Media
Whether you are riding in a top of the line tour bus or something your dad lent you, a road trip is a unique opportunity to build your band's brand on social media. Facebook and Twitter pages are standard platforms, but sites such as Instagram, Pinterest, and even Snapchat are also effective ways to share pictures, video, and anything else that happened during your travels.

What's the inside of your ride look like?

4) Smartphone Apps
The smartphone world provides an ever-growing selection of travel apps that can take the stress out of any road trip. This app tracks gas mileage and this one provides a professional yet inexpensive way to film your band's most memorable encounters. There are also plenty of apps like Urbanspoon to help you find the perfect restaurant in an unfamiliar town.

5) Extra Gear
Packing back-up equipment might seem like an extra burden (and less leg room), but when someone drops a microphone on concrete, breaks a guitar string, or forgets a mic-stand, whoever packed an "extra" will be deemed a hero. In addition to packing back-up equipment, be sure to double and triple-check that you have all the equipment you need.

 

 

shaun johnson Big Band Experience

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How Big Band Came To Be

The Origin, People, and Current State of Big Band Music

Origin

The true roots of big band music began in 1898 in New Orleans. Groups of African-Americans bought decommissioned military instruments and played them in brand new way. Their approach was unconventional and offbeat in comparison to the European concept of rhythm. When the African-American groups' new style was molded with traditional European music, the genre of "ragtime" was born.

Fletcher Henderson

Flash forward two decades - ragtime's popularity led to the birth of orchestral "dance bands". Fletcher Henderson, a chemistry major from Columbia University, left the chemistry realm and returned to another passion of his - music. By the mid 1920s, Henderson experienced mild success as an arranger for the band he assembled, which included jazz legend Louis Armstrong. When Armstrong joined the band in 1924, Henderson started to incorporate jazz and blues styles into the band's arrangements. At the time, no one had ever attempted to do so with a "big" band (Henderson's band had roughly 11 musicians). Although they quickly became known as the "best African-American band in New York", the band, Henderson, and the new genre of music struggled to gain national attention.



Fletcher Henderson 

Benny Goodman

In 1935, jazz and swing musician Benny Goodman was the leader of a talented "dance" orchestra that was set to perform as a house band for the radio program "Let's Dance". Renowned producer and friend of Goodman, John Hammond, suggested that Goodman buy a few charts (music arrangements) from Fletcher Henderson. Goodman agreed to do so and his exceptional group of musicians - who were much more talented than Henderson's band - brought new life to Henderson's arrangements. The fusion of Henderson's arrangement ability and Goodman's musicians launched big band music into the national spotlight.




Benny Goodman

The Current State of Big Band
Due to the talent and work of Henderson, Goodman, and others, the genre reached the peak of its mainstream popularity in the 1940s. Since then, performers like Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Sam Rivers, Tony Bennett, and Michael Buble have carried the big band torch. While the big band genre's following has become intimate, many critics believe the state of current big band music performances fall into one of two states.

First, the "state of precision", in which a group's individual musicians play without ego. The goal of this state is to forgo the talents of individuals in hopes of bringing the arranger's and or composer's true intentions to life. While this state has merit, the second state of a big band is looked upon more fondly. This state expresses both the composer and individual musician completely by allowing talented soloists to enhance the composer and arrangers original song structure - without making such solos all about the individual musician.

shaun johnson Big Band Experience (BBE) is a current, yet rare example of the second state of performance that a big band can take on. BBE's "contemporary big band sound with a pop flair" is a result of the group's exceptional instrumentalists and Johnson's award-winning voice and confidence in front of the microphone. 

 

 

'Spirit of the Season' Holiday Tour Ticket Giveaway

Emmy-winning Musician is awarding Free Concert Tickets

A simple click on your computer mouse or a quick thumb-touch on your laptop keypad. While that is all the effort that it takes, the outcome will lead to an unforgettable experience. This can only mean one thing: a Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience “Like and Share” Facebook contest.

From now until November 25, Shaun Johnson’s Big Band Experience will be hosting a ticket giveaway. Four lucky BBE fans will win a pair of tickets to attend any of the ten “Spirit of the Season” Holiday Tour shows. To enter the contest, simply go to the Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience Facebook page and like the November 18 post. Then share the graphic with your friends so they have the potential to embark on this incredible opportunity. If you and a friend plan to attend a show together, your chances will doubled when you both like the contest post. 

Like & Share this contest post on Facebook!


Again, four winners will be announced on November 25. Below are the following Holiday Tour dates and venues:
 

12/05: Rochester, MN, Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall, 7:30 p.m.

12/10: Alexandria, MN, Alexandria Area Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
12/11: Sioux City, IA, Sioux City Orpheum, 7:30 p.m.
12/14: Willmar, MN, Willmar Education & Arts Center (WEAC), 7:00 p.m.
12/15: Sauk Rapids, MN, Sauk Rapids Rice High School Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
12/16: Burnsville, MN, Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
12/17: Sioux Falls, SD, Sioux Falls Orpheum Center, 7:30 p.m.
12/18: Omaha, NE, Joslyn Art Museum – Witherspoon Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.
12/19: Urbandale, IA, Urbandale High School Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.

12/27: Glencoe, MN, Glencoe City Center – Grand Ballroom, 7:00 p.m.

Shaun Johnson looks forward to seeing you at the show – do not miss out on this fantastic, free, and easy opportunity!

Rochester kicks off 2013 Holiday Tour on December 5

In just over a month, the 2013 Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience “Spirit of the Season” Holiday Tour will take flight from Rochester, Minnesota. On December 5, at 7:30pm, the first of ten December shows will treat Minnesota’s third largest city to a night of contemporary big band music with a pop flair at Mayo Civic Center's Presentation Hall. The folllowing is a brief background on the Rochester venue and a list of tips for attending the event.

Rochester's Mayo Civic Center

Rochester has rich tradition of performing arts and Shaun Johnson BBE could not be more honored to kick off the tour in such a storied city. The Mayo Civic Center, a venue that also has a rich history, has four main performance facilities. Presentation Hall, the premier concert facility, is where Shaun and a collection of superior big band musicians will take the stage on December 5.

In 1938, community leaders deemed the original “Mayo Civic Auditorium” as the area’s premier entertainment venue. Since then, the city has continued to expand and update its facilities. Now the largest event center in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, the Mayo Civic Center plays host to over 1300 events per year. The way in which Mayo Civic Center is positioned in the Rochester community makes it an ideal place to host a winter concert. Here are a few tips for attending the show:

Parking
• Look for city wide “Parking Logos”. They will direct you to open parking lots and ramps.
• Rochester meter parking and parking ramps are FREE after 5pm.
• In addition to the ramps, Civic Center “South” Lot has 240+ parking spaces available.

Get Involved 
• Join the facebook event page.
• “Like” and “follow” Shaun Johnson BBE for news, photos, and cool contests leading up to and continuing through the Holiday Tour. 
• "Spirit of the Season" Holiday Tour dates and locations. 
• Who is Shaun Johnson?

More Ideas 
• Planning to purchase “What’ll I Do” but don’t want to wait in line at the show? Order your copies here. 
• Consider booking a night or weekend in one of Rochester’s 5000 hotel rooms.

Pre-order What'll I Do

We are excited to announce access to pre order your copy of What'll I do. All shipments will go out after November 1st. Take advantage of FREE shipping on 2 or more CD's.


Click here to PRE-order your copy NOW! http://www.shaunjohnsononline.com/store


What'll I Do

Spiderman

One for My Baby (and Another One for the Road)

Devil's in the Jukebox

What'll I Do

Brother Lee

Birth of the Blues

Hallelujah

Can I Steal a Little Love

Stay

Go Light Your World

My Girl Tonight (LIVE)

I Need You By My Side (LIVE)

WHAT'LL I DO

The BBE's first studio album, "What'll I  Do"  is about to be released!  And, like all musical projects, there is a story.  

I wanted people to see the beginning of this band and, to that end, decided to put rehearsals, special guests, practices, and first read-throughs on the BBE YouTube channelhttp://www.youtube.com/gobos2.  The initial response to these videos made me wonder if the band might put together a CD of the most "liked" songs... go into the studio and re-record a few of your favorites, now that we've had a chance to make them our own.  

I thought about calling the CD, "YouTube Sessions" but decided that we may get into some legal gray areas with that title... so instead, I named it after the first song we recorded for the album.  Like our shows, we featured the whole band as well as smaller configurations to highlight the MANY talents of the instrumentalists.  

I chose songs which run the gamut, but which are all in the style of big band or at least the BBE's version of a big band.   So, you will get to hear "Spiderman" and "Can I Steal a Little Love" from our show, but you will also hear Jeff Carver (our trumpet player) play swampy, New Orlean's style jazz licks on "Devil's in the Jukebox" before switching to sweet melodies on the title track.  You will hear our intern, Nick, join in on the harmonies of Citizen Cope's "Brother Lee," my a cappella peer, Greg Bannwarth, add vocal percussion to "Birth of the Blues,"  Aaron Moe, make you feel like you just stepped into the Copa Room on "One for My Baby (And Another One for the Road)," and hear Dave Stanoch (band leader and percussionist) on a special, live bonus track - just as if he was in your living room.  Too, we've included "Hallelujah" and "Go Light Your World" based solely on your requests. 

I cannot wait to see where we go from here.  I know I will look back on the days of recording with the best of memories, but I'm already looking ahead with even more excitement to your response.  

What'll I Do

Spiderman 

One for My Baby (and Another One for the Road)

Devil's in the Jukebox

What'll I Do

Brother Lee

Birth of the Blues

Hallelujah

Can I Steal a Little Love

Stay

Go Light Your World

My Girl Tonight (LIVE)

I Need You By My Side (LIVE)

The History of Music Recording

Do you ever wonder what music was like before iPods and Mp3 players? For starters, audio devices weren’t as compact as they are now and you couldn’t download music with the click of a button. Here is a brief history of recording that will explain just how far we’ve come in the world of music!

The Record Player: 1920s

Recording technology started out with an acoustic horn instead of electric motors or amplifiers. The earlier record players relied on acoustic horns. However, as home radios became more popular the  record player evolved. People started purchasing the record player that had electric motors or amplifiers for better sound.

The Tape Recorder: 1940s-1950s

Tape recording brought a more convenient and inexpensive option to the music recording industry.  It allowed producers to alter the music. For example, they were able to cut sounds out, rearrange sounds, compile recordings, mix sounds and fade sound in or out. Before these features musicians either had to record their song perfectly or they had to remake the entire recording.

Stereo Sound: 1950s-1960s

Stereo sound included two microphones, two amplifiers and two loudspeakers.  The first stereo sound recordings were available on reel-to-reel tape.

The Cassette: 1960s-1980s

Cassettes ruled the music world for decades. Cassettes were the most popular recording devices for home recording and pre-recording listening applications. The cassette was the first movement toward personal audio.


The CD: 1990s-Present

When the compact audio disc (CD) was first introduced it wasn’t a big hit.  It took almost a decade for the CD to become more popular than the cassette but the CD eventually became the most popular home recording format. Today, iPods and Mp3 players have overtaken the CD.


If music recording had not evolved, we wouldn’t get to hear the great beats or the  music effects as well as we do today. Musicians weren’t able to make a mistake while recording unless they wanted to re-record the whole song!  Today we have the privilege of listening to music whenever and wherever we want to. The best part is, now we can listen to Big Band Music the right way—with ample volume and much appreciation!

Behind the Scenes with Shaun Johnson

1. Do you ever get nervous before a performance?
I do tend to get nervous before a performance. Often, the first song (and the audience's response) dictates the feel of each show for me. I have gleaned tips and tricks from voice lesson teachers and mentors to lessen the impact of that initial adrenaline rush, but I don't know that I've ever stepped on stage without a bit of fear. Healthy? I hope so. Too, it is easier for me to sing for strangers and much more difficult if I have close friends and family that I can see. I suppose I watch their reaction more closely and lose myself a little less in the songs.


2. Who is your favorite singer?
My favorite singer changes with my favorite ice cream. By that I mean that I love ALL ice cream and am willing to try any flavor that is labeled as such. I typically download 10 to 20 songs per week... artist's I've recently discovered or been turned on to by friends, artists I've read about or met in passing. I hesitate to make a list, as I will read the list next week and wonder what I was thinking. While I answered emails last night, my playlist included: "Golden" by Lady Antebellum, "February Seven" by the Avett Brothers, "Here Comes My Man" by the Gaslight Anthem, "The Way You Look Tonight" by Adam Levine, "The Man Comes Around" by Johnny Cash, "Let it Be" the Beatle's "naked" mix, "The Sound of a Million Dreams" by David Nail, "One Lovely Day" by Citizen Cope, "Runaways" by the Killers, "Everybody Talks" by Neon Trees, "No Words" by the Script, "Gawd Above" by John Fullbright, and "I've Got a Crush on You" by Mayer Hawthorne.

3. What is your most memorable performance?
I would have to say my most memorable performance - as of late - was actually in my adopted hometown, Saint Cloud, MN. After we had finished the final chord of"Hallelujah" (about 1/2 way through the first half that evening), a gentleman from the balcony to my right stood up and shouted "Bravo!" I've performed on 1000's of stages over the last decade and don't remember that ever happening. Sometimes, it's the little things...


4. Which venue is your favorite (in which to perform)?
Typically, we perform in theaters, and some theaters definitely give off a vibe because of their history or because of cutting-edge technology, etc. But I have to say that my favorite venue always comes down to the people who populate it. Whether we perform for 30,000 or 30, the show's success hinges on the relationship between myself and the audience members. When those two are in synch, there is absolutely no better rush.


5. What is your all time favorite song?
Unfortunately, I don't have an all time favorite song. I like songs for different reasons... for perfection, for storytelling, for mood and emotion. To me, music can bridge all gaps. Two people who don't understand each other's dialects can still find common ground in a melody. I wish that, like a movie, our lives had a soundtrack, and I suppose (in some ways) they do. So at this moment, I may love Ray Charles, and his expression may fit my needs but in a few minutes, I will be moved by an up and coming songwriter from Nashville.


6. What is your favorite song to perform?
Oftentimes I like to perform the song that is the newest to the show. At that point, I am still experimenting... still a bit nervous... and am not sure where the song will "go," or where it might fit. The newest songs tend to have an energy that can't be exactly duplicated as the song ages. Currently, I love performing our version of "Spiderman."


7. What is the funniest thing that ever happened during a performance?
We are a fairly loose group and are able to roll with the proverbial punches. Sometimes, the funniest moments are inside jokes with a bunch of guys you have gotten to know throughout the tour. I'm not sure if it's funny, but I once performed at a college in West Virginia (which shall remain nameless) during Thanksgiving break. The people who hired us forgot that nearly the entire student body would be gone. so we ended up performing for a few foreign exchange students who could not return home for the holidays, and some food service workers who'd pop their heads out from the kitchen in between baking tasks.


8. What is the largest audience you have performed for? 

32,000 people. The size was a little disconcerting. I remember seeing people clap and cheer but then hearing those cheers seconds later. However, I think I could get used to it. Ha!


9. What is Jay Leno like?
I met him briefly before a show in Southern California. I'm sure he remembers me clearly. Okay, maybe not. He looked just like he did on TV, but we did not become friends. He watched a bit of our show and we watched a little of his.


10. What is your favorite book?
I like anything that is historical and/or non-fiction. However, my dad used to tell me that learning should be a challenge (Chemistry for me), so I do try to deviate... to push the boundaries. Recently I loved a short book entitled "The River of Doubt" (about Theodore Roosevelt) and am currently reading "Why Does the World Exist."

1. Do you ever get nervous before a performance?
I do tend to get nervous before a performance. Often, the first song (and the audience's response) dictates the feel of each show for me. I have gleaned tips and tricks from voice lesson teachers and mentors to lessen the impact of that initial adrenaline rush, but I don't know that I've ever stepped on stage without a bit of fear. Healthy? I hope so. Too, it is easier for me to sing for strangers and much more difficult if I have close friends and family that I can see. I suppose I watch their reaction more closely and lose myself a little less in the songs.


2. Who is your favorite singer?
My favorite singer changes with my favorite ice cream. By that I mean that I love ALL ice cream and am willing to try any flavor that is labeled as such. I typically download 10 to 20 songs per week... artist's I've recently discovered or been turned on to by friends, artists I've read about or met in passing. I hesitate to make a list, as I will read the list next week and wonder what I was thinking. While I answered emails last night, my playlist included: "Golden" by Lady Antebellum, "February Seven" by the Avett Brothers, "Here Comes My Man" by the Gaslight Anthem, "The Way You Look Tonight" by Adam Levine, "The Man Comes Around" by Johnny Cash, "Let it Be" the Beatle's "naked" mix, "The Sound of a Million Dreams" by David Nail, "One Lovely Day" by Citizen Cope, "Runaways" by the Killers, "Everybody Talks" by Neon Trees, "No Words" by the Script, "Gawd Above" by John Fullbright, and "I've Got a Crush on You" by Mayer Hawthorne.

3. What is your most memorable performance?
I would have to say my most memorable performance - as of late - was actually in my adopted hometown, Saint Cloud, MN. After we had finished the final chord of"Hallelujah" (about 1/2 way through the first half that evening), a gentleman from the balcony to my right stood up and shouted "Bravo!" I've performed on 1000's of stages over the last decade and don't remember that ever happening. Sometimes, it's the little things...


4. Which venue is your favorite (in which to perform)?
Typically, we perform in theaters, and some theaters definitely give off a vibe because of their history or because of cutting-edge technology, etc. But I have to say that my favorite venue always comes down to the people who populate it. Whether we perform for 30,000 or 30, the show's success hinges on the relationship between myself and the audience members. When those two are in synch, there is absolutely no better rush.


5. What is your all time favorite song?
Unfortunately, I don't have an all time favorite song. I like songs for different reasons... for perfection, for storytelling, for mood and emotion. To me, music can bridge all gaps. Two people who don't understand each other's dialects can still find common ground in a melody. I wish that, like a movie, our lives had a soundtrack, and I suppose (in some ways) they do. So at this moment, I may love Ray Charles, and his expression may fit my needs but in a few minutes, I will be moved by an up and coming songwriter from Nashville.


6. What is your favorite song to perform?
Oftentimes I like to perform the song that is the newest to the show. At that point, I am still experimenting... still a bit nervous... and am not sure where the song will "go," or where it might fit. The newest songs tend to have an energy that can't be exactly duplicated as the song ages. Currently, I love performing our version of "Spiderman."


7. What is the funniest thing that ever happened during a performance?
We are a fairly loose group and are able to roll with the proverbial punches. Sometimes, the funniest moments are inside jokes with a bunch of guys you have gotten to know throughout the tour. I'm not sure if it's funny, but I once performed at a college in West Virginia (which shall remain nameless) during Thanksgiving break. The people who hired us forgot that nearly the entire student body would be gone. so we ended up performing for a few foreign exchange students who could not return home for the holidays, and some food service workers who'd pop their heads out from the kitchen in between baking tasks.


8. What is the largest audience you have performed for? 

 32,000 people. The size was a little disconcerting. I remember seeing people clap and cheer but then hearing those cheers seconds later. However, I think I could get used to it. Ha!


9. What is Jay Leno like?
I met him briefly before a show in Southern California. I'm sure he remembers me clearly. Okay, maybe not. He looked just like he did on TV, but we did not become friends. He watched a bit of our show and we watched a little of his.


10. What is your favorite book?
I like anything that is historical and/or non-fiction. However, my dad used to tell me that learning should be a challenge (Chemistry for me), so I do try to deviate... to push the boundaries. Recently I loved a short book entitled "The River of Doubt" (about Theodore Roosevelt) and am currently reading "Why Does the World Exist." 

Is there a questions you want answered by Shaun Johnson?  

Watch & Win Wednesdays

Watch & Win Wednesdays

Want FREE concert tickets? How about an in-studio session with Shaun Johnson BBE? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to Win.  Over the next five weeks we will be releasing five live in studio videos on our YouTube channel. We will be releasing one video per week every Wednesday. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and be one of the first twenty people to comment on these videos and you're entered to WIN.

We will release one video per week every Wednesday of the contest. Every Wednesday the first twenty people to subscribe to our YouTube Channel AND Comment on the video will be entered into the five week contest.  

At the conclusion of the contest one winner will be randomly chosen. The winner will have their choice of one of the following prizes.

1) Attending a live in studio session with Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience 

2) VIP Package which includes show tickets to an upcoming show and backstage passes.

Top Five Big Band Movies

Beginning in the 1930’s Big Band music was extremely popular.  This popularity made Big Band music a favorite among the Hollywood movie production community. During this ‘swing’ era artists such as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsie and Glenn Miller were courted by the movie industry.  Big Band music was in high demand by the public and the movie industry was more then happy to deliver this music to the public.

Here is a list of our list of the top five Big Band music movies.

1.     The Glenn Miller Story  (Universal, 1956)

2.     The Benny Goodman Story  (Warner Brothers, 1937)

3.     The Fabulous Dorsey’s (United Artists, 1947)

4.     Hollywood Hotel (Warner Brothers, 1937)

5.     Las Vegas Nights (paramount, 1941)

If you’re like us and can't get enough of the Big Band sound, check out these movies.

Well leave you with a quote:

"I'm supposed to have a Ph.D. on the subject of women. But the truth is I've flunked more often than not. I'm very fond of women; I admire them. But, like all men, I don't understand them." Frank Sinatra

What is Big Band Music?

 Big Band is a type of musical ensemble and is associated with jazz and the Swing era.  Big Band music generally consists of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments.  This type of music originated in the United States in the 1920's.  Around 1916 bandleaders like Paul Whiteman and Vincent Lopez took elements of "sweet sounds" that people liked to dance to. They then decided to increase the size of their bands until they were actually considered orchestras.

As a decade of rebellion, the Roaring 20's was made for jazz. The young and the hip loved anything new and exciting.  However, the exciting new sounds were ultimately the irresistible force behind society's acceptance of jazz and Big Band music.

As World War II came about, the big bands reached their apex in popularity. It was unpleasant times and the mood of the country turned to sentimental sounds. As popular as these bands were on radio and records, there began to be a severe shortage of able musicians as most males were being drawn into the armed forces.

Today Big Band Music is making a comeback with bandleaders like Michael Bublé and Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience.  These artists bring back a time of classic  rhythms and harmonies with a mix of todays "pop" music.