Chick Webb Orchestra

E82120

The Chick Webb Orchestra was a prominent American swing-era big band led by drummer Chick Webb, best known for launching the career of jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald.


Statements (45)
Predicate Object
instanceOf American jazz ensemble
big band
swing band
activePeriodEnd 1930s
activePeriodStart 1920s
associatedAct Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra
associatedWith Decca Records
basedIn Harlem
city New York City
country United States
era swing era
genre big band jazz
swing
historicalSignificance major influence on later big band drumming and arranging
one of the leading African-American big bands of the swing era
instrumentation brass section
reed section
rhythm section
leader Chick Webb
leaderFullName William Henry "Chick" Webb
leaderRole drummer
legacy helped define the sound of Harlem swing
served as a training ground for Ella Fitzgerald’s early career
notableEvent battle of the bands against Benny Goodman at the Savoy Ballroom
battle of the bands against Count Basie at the Savoy Ballroom
notableFor battle of the bands performances at the Savoy Ballroom
launching the career of Ella Fitzgerald
notableMember Ella Fitzgerald NERFINISHED
notableSong A-Tisket, A-Tasket
Blue Lou
Don’t Be That Way
Liza (All the Clouds’ll Roll Away)
Stompin’ at the Savoy
peakPopularity mid-1930s
performedWith Benny Goodman
Count Basie Orchestra
Duke Ellington Orchestra
recordLabel Decca Records
residentVenue Savoy Ballroom
styleCharacteristic dance-oriented swing arrangements
powerful drum-driven rhythm section
tight ensemble playing
timePeriod 1930s Harlem jazz scene
vocalist Ella Fitzgerald NERFINISHED
Taft Jordan

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Ella Fitzgerald
memberOf

Please wait…