About 1920s bands
1920s bands are characterised by a
wonderful bouncy ‘two’ feel – the music being quirky
and humourous, full of energy and with a slightly unhinged
delivery.
1920s bands evoke the spirit of a decade
famous for its excesses and extremes. Dance crazes such as The
Charleston, The Shimmy and The Foxtrot were all the
rage.
While flappers flapped, Lord Carnarvan
broke into Tutankamen's tomb, forever associating the 1920s and 1920s
music with Egyptology, cork hats, khaki shorts and shirts, desert tents
and fezes. Think of Rudolph Valentino and The Sheik of Araby.
Now, no party with an Egyptian or Arabian
Nights theme is complete without a 1920s band in character
and costume. A 1920s band would be a great part of an evening of murder
mystery along the Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple lines.
There’s dressing up in top hat,
white tie and tails, the odd centre parting and slick back hair, and an
unmistakable vocal delivery: entertaining to the modern ear.
Many of the 1920s dance bands and hotel
orchestras were eleven piece bands – but you can get a damn good
flavour of 1920s music with a 5-piece band –
singer/tenor banjo/flugel player, plus pianist, double bassist,
saxophonist/ clarinet player and drummer.
Some of the famous bands of the 1920s are:
- Louis Armstrong’s hot fives and sevens
- Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
- Ambrose and his orchestra
- and the bands of Rudy Vallee, Guy Lombardo, Ted Lewis and Al Lentz.
- Some of the great popular singers of the 1920’s were:
- Bing Crosby
- Hoagy Carmichael
- Fats Waller
- Whispering Jack Smith
- and of course Al Jolson!
Al Jolson of course starred in The Jazz Singer - the first ever talking movie.
Great songs that characterise this quirky period must include:
- Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue
- The Charleston
- Crazy Rhythm
- Black Bottom
- Baby Face
- Pasadena
- I Got Rhythm
- and Sweet Georgia Brown
Like the sound of that? Why not hire the Charleston Charlies for your 1920s party? Click here to see our showcase.
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