Episode 218:Evolution of Swing, or Bopless Jazz.

What if Bebop never happened? And ‘swing’ evolved into something very different from the swing of the 30’s, 40’s, and even 50’s?

That’s the question I asked of jazz musicians and aficionados who frequent the JazzWorld site on facebook. And I received some great responses!

My favourite was a questioning of the question: “bit like if ancient ape-like creatures did not evolve into humans what might they have become that was more ape-like”

But I received some great ideas for this week’s and next week’s episodes.

I play recordings that demonstrate how big band music evolved from Benny Goodman to Duke Ellington—and all the way to Don Ellis. And throw in some 3rd Stream Music a la Sketches of Spain, Cuban music thanks to Roberto Fonseca, and some Gypsy jazz of Django Reinhardt.

I also explore some of the evolution from Louis Jordan to hip-hop and pop-rock via Post Modern Jukebox and Victoria’s “Downtown Mischief”,

And we can’t forget The WDR Big Band (and their evolution), Woody Herman, and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band.