Results for "Big Band"

Freddy Martin

Born: December 9, 1906

Freddy Martin (December 9, 1906 - September 30, 1983) was an American tenor saxophonist and bandleader best known for his smooth, danceable arrangements and his adaptations of classical melodies for modern swing music lovers. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Martin began his musical career as a saxophonist and formed his own band in the early 1930s. He gained national attention with his orchestra during the big band era, performing at prestigious hotel ballrooms and being featured on widely-heard radio broadcasts.

Martin's band was known for its sweet style, appealing to audiences who favoured melodic arrangements over the harder "hot" sounds that were also popular at the time. In 1941, he had a major hit with "Tonight We Love," a song based on Tchaikovsky’s "Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat." This piece helped define his orchestra's unique classical-pop-jazz fusion approach and naturally became his theme tune. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Martin's band continued to tour and record and featured prominent vocalists such as Clyde Rogers and Merv Griffin.

The Modernaires

Active since: 1934

Formed in the mid-1930s, the Modernaires began as a male vocal quartet known for their tight harmonies and polished sound, initially gaining attention through radio broadcasts and studio work. Their big break came in 1941 when they joined forces with bandleader Glenn Miller, adding Paula Kelly as the female lead and completing the signature lineup. With Miller, the group became a cornerstone of the swing era, contributing to classics like “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and “Juke Box Saturday Night.” Their smooth blend and rhythmic precision helped redefine vocal jazz, bridging the gap between pop sensibility and jazz sophistication in an era dominated by big bands.

Sean Imboden

Sean Imboden is an American saxophonist and composer. Sean's music pioneers forward-thinking, original compositions, and presents cutting-edge live performances. Sean has performed and recorded with GRAMMY-winning artists and jazz luminaries, including Slide Hampton, Taylor Eigsti, Mike Rodriguez, Sean Jones, Emmet Cohen, Steve Allee, Kenny Phelps, John Raymond, and Valery Ponomarev (of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers). A long-time member of Indianapolis-based quartet Tucker Brothers, Sean plays on the band’s four critically-acclaimed albums. An active sideman, Sean has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis, and Idina Menzel. Sean toured internationally for many years with various Broadway productions, and as a featured soloist with Blast II. Sean has taught at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and is currently on faculty at Butler University and Ball State University. Sean works with students around the world through his online Virtual Studio.

Broad St. Jazz

Broad St. Jazz Bands has some of the best Atlanta area musicians which are passionate about the jazz music and the transformative power it can have on a community. 

Broad St Jazz Bands mission is to entertain, enrich, unify, and connect our local community through Jazz music.

Mr. Tim Otis is the musical director of Broad St. Jazz Bands.  Tim is a retired U.S. Marine Corps musician, USMC All Star Jazz band member, and National Director for Musician Recruiting.

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

Sammy Kaye

Born: March 13, 1910

Sammy Kaye (1910 - 1987) was an American bandleader and songwriter best known for his tagline "Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye." Born in Lakewood, Ohio, Kaye studied at Ohio University before forming his own orchestra in the 1930s. His band became widely successful, recording numerous hits, most notably "Swing and Sway" in 1937 and "Daddy" in 1941. Kaye's band's signature style leaned more towards more sweet, catchy dance tunes, opposed to some of the louder, brassier and more solo-based bands of the era. He was also known for audience participation gimmicks, such as "So You Want to Lead a Band," where guests conducted his orchestra

Johnny Long (2)

Born: September 12, 1914

Johnny Long (1914–1972) was an American bandleader and violinist known for his sweet dance band style during the big band era. Born in Newell, North Carolina, he formed his own orchestra while attending Duke University, gaining popularity in the 1930s and 1940s. His band was distinguished by its smooth sound and emphasis on melody, producing hits like In a Shanty In Old Shanty Town, which became his signature song. Long’s group remained active for several decades, entertaining audiences with a mix of swing and traditional pop before his retirement.

Larry Gelberg

Henry Hall

Born: May 2, 1898

Henry Hall (born 2 May, 1898 in London) was best known for conducting and directing the BBC Dance Orchestra from the 1930s to the 1960s. Hall's first job was at the head office of the Salvation Army, which he composed several marches for. In World War I he served with the Royal Field Artillery, and played trumpet and piano in the regimental band, but it wasn't until the British dance band era of the 1930s that he became a household name and broadcasting star. He died on October 28, 1989, at 91-years-old

Graeme Wilson

Graeme Wilson is a saxophonist whose playing features on over 30 albums including releases by his own Quartet, Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, ACV, Ushaw Ensemble and Bill Wells. His writing for ensembles large and small, including six jazz works for John Warren’s Voice of the North Jazz Orchestra, has been performed at venues such as Sage, Gateshead and Festspielhaus Hellerau, Dresden. Recent work includes duo releases A Cast of Thousands with Raymond MacDonald and Shoes for Losers with Andy Champion; an album of songs based on Italo Calvino stories for new group Monsterosa featuring vocalist Rebecca Hollweg; and  a score commissioned by Hexham Jazz Festival for the silent film Die Bergkatze