Big Band Swing Era opened on August 21

CAIRO - 21 August 2017: Benny Goodman and his Big Band opened Swing Era after presenting an exuberant performance at Palomar Ballroom on August 21, 1935.

Swing Era was also known as the Big Band Era, started in 1930 and continued until World War II. During that time, big bands used multi-instrumental ensembles, such as trumpets, trombones, clarinets, tubas or upright bass, banjo or piano, and drums to perform a particular African American form of Jazz. The improvisation was also a part of the performance over the melody of the soloists.

This kind of music had a driving intensity that brought pleasure to Americans at the time.
Big bands were Jazz bands with 10 or more instruments, the most common number of instruments in big bands were usually 17 including five saxophones, four trumpets, four trombones and four "rhythm" instruments (piano, bass, drums and guitar).

Goodman was the king of swing, a successful featured soloist, the leader of a trio, and big band before making his breakthrough at Palomar.

He was born into a Jewish family on May 30, 1909 in Chicago. In 1919, his father sent him to a synagogue for clarinet lessons.

He left the school at the age of 14 to join the American Federation of Musicians. At the age of 24, he succeeded in landing his band in a weekly program broadcast where he performed hot arrangements by the African-American bandleader Fletcher Henderson.

Familiar with Goodman new style in radio, a huge crowd turned out on this day for his performance of swing music at Palomar Ballroom. It was a huge and great success.