THE AMAZING KEYSTONE BAND

The Big Band tradition

Synopsis

When the jazz bands of the past structured themselves as orchestras with brass ensembles expressing themselves around the rhythmic section, this led to the birth of the Big Bands.

Fletcher Henderson, pianist, conductor, arranger and composer, is credited with creating the first Big Band. Among the most famous were Count Basie's and Duke Ellington's. There were still many such bands until the 1960s, such as those of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Cab Calloway, and Artie Shaw.

Today they are rather rare but the tradition continues thanks to The Amazing Keystone Big Band.