Ridin’ in Rhythm:
The Thirties and Swing
Professor Jeff Rupert, Director of Jazz Studies, The
University of Central Florida
jrupert@mail.ucf.edu407.823.5411
Swing,
Americas Popular Music
of the 1930’s and 40’s
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Swing Summary
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Randalls Island
Fletcher Henderson (1897-1952)
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Innovator of the big
band style.
Composer and arranger
for:
his band
Benny Goodman
Chick Webb, and others.
Fletcher Henderson and the
American invention
Fletcher Henderson
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Ensemble passages are written in the style of a soloist.
Big Band arrangements feature ensemble and sections,
as well as soloists.
These sections are:
Trumpets (usually 4, may be 3-5)
Trombones (usually 4, may be 3-5)
Saxophones (5, and they all usually play clarinet, too)
Rhythm section; piano, bass, drums, and sometimes guitar.
The Drum set evolves
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Features the Hi-Hat.
Drummers able to
accents beat 2 &4 in a
new way.
Drummers began using
“ride pattern” on the
cymbal.
Benny Goodman
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Virtuoso clarinetist
Known by the masses as
the King of Swing
Used integrated bands
for recordings
Used the arrangements
of Fletcher Henderson
Brought jazz into the
parlor of America.
Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
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The “King” of Swing
Chicago born clarinetist
Popularizes swing.
Great band, great soloists
Always used the best
musicians, regardless of
race.
Benny Goodman to California
Jimmy Lunceford Band
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The Greatest Dance
band of all time.
Underrated group.
Outstanding performers
and arrangements.
Lunceford, Dorsey, Miller
Alt version 3:30
Cab Calloway
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Bandleader/singer
Unique vocalists with unusual lyrics. (Minnie
The Moocher).
His band featured great musicians.
Coast to coast broadcasts helped popularize
his band.
The Kansas City Bands
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The Jay McShann Band.
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The Benny Moten Band,
which becomes the
Count Basie Band.
William “Count”Basie
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1904-1984
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Pianist from the stride tradition, helps define
the swing era and classic big band sound.
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Leads big bands and small groups from the
1930’s to the 1980’s.
The Kid From Red Bank’s
Early influences:
Basie in Kansas City
1929 talks his way into Benny Moten’s band.
He takes it over in 1935 when Moten dies.
 Takes over the band.
 1930’s band called the “Old Testament” band.
 1952 the “ New Testament” band is born.
 (arrangers Neil Hefti, Benny Carter, Quincy
Jones and Frank Foster).
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The Kansas City Bands
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The Jay McShann Band.
The Count Basie Band.
Aka The Kid from Red Bank.
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Basie’s Big Band
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The band could roar, but was probably best known
for playing slowly and quietly.
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His piano style becomes more sparse, and is known
more as an ensemble player.
Basie and the Blues
Basie was deeply influenced by the blues, after
hearing the Blue Devils band.
Jimmy Rushing/Basie
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His band became known as the band swinging
the blues out of Kansas City.
Basie adds key players to his band- Jo Jones on
Drums, and Lester Young on tenor saxophone.
Other key players;
Walter Page on Bass, Freddie Green,
Guitar, and Hot Lips Page
Duke Ellington (1899-1974)
Stride Pianist
 Composes thousands
of pieces:
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Mood Pieces
Jazz Standards
Suites
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Band Leader.
Composes dozens of popular songs:
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In a sentimental mood
Mood Indigo
Don’t Get Around much anymore
Sophisticated Lady
I’m Beginning to see the light
Ellington
If he had never composed a popular song, he
would still be a major force in American music
composition.
Ellingtons band has three theme songs during it’s
existence
 East St Louis Toodle-0
 Sepia Panorama
 Take the A Train
Ellington as pianist and composer
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Ellington was a brilliant pianist, however his
main instrument as he used to say,
Was his band.