Swing music

Swing music, or simply Swing, is a kind of Jazz music that developed in the 1920s and 1930s. Swing was mostly popular, because it had tunes that were easy to dance to, and not because it sounded good. Swing developed in the United States, from earlier movements such as Dixieland Jazz or Chicago Jazz. In Swing, musicians made compromises to make the music popular. Yet, swing had its own merits.

Swing is also connected with the development of Big bands. Until then, Jazz music had been played in small groups, of 2-3 to 8 people, Wth the Big Band, more people played. The bigger size meant that people had to change the way they played the music, but it also gave new opportunities.

Swing was most popular in the 1930s and 1940s. At first, it was developed and played by African Americans. Later, white people copied the style, and in the end, most Swing players were white.

Swing Music Media

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  Fletcher Henderson (middle) with his orchestra in 1925. Coleman Hawkins is sitting on the floor to the extreme left with Louis Armstrong above him to the right.

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  Benny Goodman, one of the first swing bandleaders to achieve widespread fame

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  Frank Sinatra at Girl's Town Ball in Florida, March 12, 1960