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A big band is a large musical ensemble that plays jazz music. The term is synonymous with the bands of the Swing Era, which were popular through the 1930s and 1940s, but is generally applied to any large jazz ensemble. The term jazz orchestra is also used.
Music for big band is highly 'arranged', leaving only specified gaps for jazz soloists, in contrast to the improvisational nature of most jazz combos.
The band is divided up into a number of sections, by instrument. Each section has about four members. Traditional bands have a rhythm section (composed of drums, bass, piano, and possibly guitar), a trumpet section, a trombone section, and a saxophone section.
Musical arrangements for big bands often make use of several common compositional techniques.
Trumpet parts can be arranged in close harmony (called a thickened line) to give a broader impression of the melody. On other occasions, trumpets play in unison, giving a powerful, penetrating sound that cannot be achieved by a single trumpet. Groups of two or three trumpets are sometimes used in simple harmony.
The baritone saxophone may be written to play the lead alto part an octave lower to reinforce the melody and provide an effective '5 part' harmony in close harmony saxophone soli. The baritone saxophone is sometimes written with the trombones, (especially in bands without a bass trombone) to give extra richness at the bottom of the trombone section. On occaisions, the baritone sax can double with the bass player and bass trombone to create very heavy bass lines or riffs.
Swing bands were very popular from the late 1920s to the early 1950s.
Later bandleaders played different styles of jazz with their bands. For example, the Gil Evans Orchestra pioneered the 'cool' style, and the Jaco Pastorius Big Band played fusion.
Modern big bands can be found playing all styles of jazz.