Swing is an era of jazz popular during late 20s and early 30s (but lasted a long time), which coincided with the Great Depression.

During this era:

Artists

  • Josephine Baker: dancer, first Black movie star
    • famous for her “Charleston” dance (1925) during her Paris tour
    • professes primitivism through her dance and behaviorisms
  • Mary Lou Williams: pianist
  • Billie Holiday: singer

Common Band Structure

  • wind/horns
    • 3-4 trumpets
    • 3-4 trombones
    • 5 reeds (clarinet, 3-4 saxes)
  • rhythm
    • piano
    • bass (instead of tuba)
      • not amplified until 1950
    • guitar (instead of banjo)
    • drums