American Big Bands (Book) [Paperback] Review

After a few pages of interesting quotes by the big names in big band (both conductors and singers,) Dr. Taylor commences with over 350 pages of biographies and timelines for each decade of big band, beginning with the early 1900s.This is a wonderful reference for any music lover.The timelines give the stories of the musicians a new dimension.With the decline of 'classic' big bands, the sections on the 60s through the 90s don't have as much information, but they do discuss 'ghost bands' and the future of big bands.

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Product Description:

This ultimate guide to big bands includes hundreds of entries spanning the history of this American musical style. Each entry contains the band name, its leader, essential personnel, the years it existed, tops hits, and a brief description of the band.



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The Big Band Almanac (Da Capo Paperback) [Paperback] Review

The low-key, down home alternative to George Simon's often-lauded "Big Bands," this has a charming, almost DIY, quality to it. The graphic layout is pretty funky, but there are more and better photographs than in Simon's book. Also the writing is less jaded and more breathless, conveying the author's continued enthusiasm for his favorite artists of year gone by.Most significantly, Walker puts all the artists on an equal footing, listing them from A to Z, whereas Simon makes a big distinction between "major" artists, and lesser or non-swing musicians, shunting them to separate sections in the back of the book. Both books are informative, but I have more of a soft spot in my heart for this one -- I'd recommend it first!

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Product Description:
With more than 500 pictures, and extensive entries on more than 350 orchestras, this complete coverage of black and white bands-from the almost-forgotten Basie, Ellington, Miller, Shaw, and Dorsey-will prompt memories and establish important facts about a glorious era of jazz and popular music. Forewords by Les Brown and Harry James and an index with more than 6,000 names bracket a book that should be part of any music library.

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