Big Band [TOP]

: A prolific composer who treated the big band as a palette for sophisticated musical innovation.

Unlike smaller jazz combos that rely heavily on individual improvisation, big bands utilize complex, written . These arrangements often use "riffs" (short, repeated melodic phrases) and "call and response," where one section (like the trumpets) plays a phrase that is "answered" by another (like the saxophones). Legendary Leaders and Icons big band

: Usually four players adding depth to the brass sound. : A prolific composer who treated the big

: Composed of piano, bass, and drums, sometimes including guitar or banjo to maintain a steady, driving pulse. big bands utilize complex

A standard big band typically features organized into four distinct sections: