Elsewhere On This Site • Big Bands • Jazz • Oldies Culture

Now that it's firmly established as a permanent part of the American cultural landscape and not just a charming retro fad, "swing" or "big band" music is here to stay. So some definition is in order, because "swing" is an impossibly broad term that many people misunderstand.

Lasting roughly from the Great Depression through WWII and its immediate aftermath of prosperity, "swing" or "big band" music can be broken up into two styles. "Hot bands" refers to acts like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Benny Goodman, who were basically playing an orchestrated but rhythmically intense version of jazz music. "Sweet bands" refers to acts like Glenn Miller, Les Brown and Paul Whiteman, who were essentially playing romantic, jazz-inflected pop-vocal music. You could (and can) dance to both, but the styles are distinctly different.

In addition, with the swing revival craze of a few years ago, a lot of folks have begun to confuse "swing" with "jump blues," the kind of music made popular by acts like Big Joe Turner ("Shake, Rattle and Roll"). This music shares a somewhat similar shuffle rhythm with swing, but is more manic and bluesy (and therefore a direct antecedent of rock and roll). Many of the more popular "swing" revival bands of today are playing jump blues, although several of the better ones know the difference and can, er, swing back and forth between the two. Then there are bands like the Squirrel Nut Zippers, who essay a style more akin to earlier "hot jazz" dance bands like Louis Armstrong's.

Whatever you call it, swing music appears to be maintaining popularity, fads and fashions aside. Familiarize yourself with the style you like best, or if you're already well-acquainted with the music, just browse the sites below to find the best "big bands" of yesterday and today!

Here's a collection of links to the best websites about "swing" and "big band" music. If you have or know of a site like this that isn't listed here, e-mail me!

Pavilion In The Rain
A wonderfully detailed and insightful essay on big band music, describing what exactly it was, where it came from, how it affected us, and why it went away (for a while). Reproduced by Jim and Michelle Hensley.

The Big Bands Database Plus
By far the most complete repository of Big Band and Swing information, with page upon page of info, including a near-complete list of bands from all over the world, a guide to songwriters, a series of articles on swing music, history, and culture, and much, much more! Outstanding.