What Exactly is a Big Band?

A big band is a musical ensemble that originated in the United States and is associated with jazz and the swing era although the big band format gives tremendous versatility and can play versions of musical compositions originally written for many different music genres.

It typically consists of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately 12 to 25 musicians. The terms jazz band, jazz ensemble, jazz orchestra, stage band, society band, and dance band may describe this type of ensemble in particular contexts.

Standard big band is generally scored for 17-piece instrumentation consisting of five saxophones (most often two altos, two tenors, and one baritone), four trumpets, four trombones (often including one bass trombone) and a four-piece rhythm section (composed of drums, acoustic bass or electric bass, piano and guitar). However, variants to this instrumentation are common. Male and female vocalists and vocal groups sometimes feature with big bands to perform particular arrangements.

Some arrangements call for saxophone players to double on other woodwind instruments, such as flute, clarinet, soprano sax, or bass clarinet. Trumpet and trombone players are sometimes called upon to use various sound-changing mutes, and trumpet players sometimes need to play flugelhorn. This gives variation in tone colour and mood.

Players in the rhythm section may be called upon to play acoustic or electric instruments. Latin or other auxiliary percussion instruments may be added, such as cowbells, congas, tambourines, or triangles.