Results for "1920s"

Alexander's Jazz Time Band

Active since: 2022

Alexander's Jazz Time Band is an eleven-piece ensemble modeled on the "hot dance bands" of the 1920's and early 1930's. Our programs feature toe-tapping renditions of popular tunes and jazz compositions from the Roaring Twenties, all in authentic period arrangements.  

We have been delighting audiences in eastern and central Massachusetts since 2022 with our historically informed performances of well-known standards and forgotten gems. Most of the arrangements in our book have been specially edited to incorporate transcriptions of recorded solos by early jazz greats such as Buster Bailey, Coleman Hawkins, Miff Mole, Red Nichols, and Arthur Schutt. Additional solos are provided by AJTB musicians, many of whom are superb improvisers themselves. 

Carroll Gibbons

Born: January 4, 1903

Carroll Gibbons was a distinguished American-born pianist, bandleader and composer who became a defining figure in British Dance Band music during the 1930s and '40s. Best known for his elegant work with the Savoy Hotel Orpheans, Gibbons brought a refined jazz sensibility to popular music, blending American influences with a uniquely British charm. His smooth arrangements, stylish piano playing, and keen ear for melody earned him acclaim both in the UK and abroad. Gibbons also composed several enduring tunes, including “A Garden in the Rain”, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of light jazz and popular standards.

Jack Hylton

Born: July 2, 1892

Jack Hylton was a British pianist, bandleader, composer and impresario who played a key role in the development of popular dance music in the early 20th century. Born in Great Lever, Lancashire, on July 2, 1892, he began his career as a pianist and singer in his father's pub before working as a musical director for theater productions during World War I. In the 1920s and 1930s, Hylton's orchestra gained international recognition, recording extensively and touring across Europe. Hylton also introduced jazz and blues influences into British dance music, becoming known as the "British King of Jazz" and helping to popularize the genres in the UK