About this item
The era of popular music from about 1917 onward saw an explosion of creative songwriting that converged with a new sound from reed, brass, and rhythm instruments. Jazz was born, and the musical sophistication that accompanied this original sound set the stage for the prominence of arrangers, whose role in big band orchestrations became as important as jazz musicians and composers themselves. The Big Band evolved as a unique phenomenon in American music history. With both studio and live vintage recordings readily available, an investigation of how to listen and experience Big Band music is overdue.In Experiencing Big Band Jazz: A Listener's Companion, composer/arranger, music historian, and music editor Jeff Sultanof takes a fresh look at Big Band music, examining why the Big Band era started when it did; how pop music changed to meet the needs of Big Bands and the reverse; the role played by well-known band leaders and the bands they led, the jazz soloists who became legendary, and the stories of several ensembles previously unexamined.
About the Author
I am a composer/arranger/conductor, writer, editor of both music and prose and American cultural historian (Movies, TV, Theater) . I've had a wide variety of experiences, from being an Editorial Director for Warner Bros. Music Publications, a school teacher, college professor and editor of classic big band and concert American music; these editions are published by Jazz Lines Publications (ejazzlines.com) . I aspire to appeal to the general reader, but also include material of use to the scholar; similarly, my music is meant for professionals, but it can be played by middle school, high school and college players. Many of my older arrangements are still available as you can see on this Amazon page.
