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Making the Scene

Contemporary New York City Big Band Jazz

Alexander Stewart author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:University of California Press

Published:13th Jul '07

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Making the Scene cover

The received wisdom of popular jazz history is that the era of the big band was the 1930s and '40s, when swing was at its height. But as practicing jazz musicians know, even though big bands lost the spotlight once the bebop era began, they never really disappeared. "Making the Scene" challenges conventional jazz historiography by demonstrating the vital role of big bands in the ongoing development of jazz. Alex Stewart describes how jazz musicians have found big bands valuable. He explores the rich 'rehearsal band' scene in New York and the rise of repertory orchestras. "Making the Scene" combines historical research, ethnography, and participant observation with musical analysis, ethnic studies, and gender theory, dismantling stereotypical views of the big band.

"A gold mine of information... Stewart takes his knowledge of, and observations on, the subject and weaves them into a compelling narrative." Music Educators Journal

ISBN: 9780520249547

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 25mm

Weight: 590g

416 pages