One late afternoon, when I was 12 or 13, I called into a talk show on a small AM station. I talked about how jazz was underappreciated and deserved a wider audience. This was an offbeat topic to bring up out of the blue, but the host said callers could discuss any subject. The host told me, "You know, maybe big band music could be making a comeback." At the time, I hadn't heard much big band jazz, but to be polite, I replied, "I hope so."
Decades later, after having heard a good amount of big band music and playing it on the air, I understand why the host wanted it to make a resurgence. It's a genre in which musicians are typically well-rehearsed, have strong command of rhythm and intonation, and show respect for the notes on the page. While I don't expect big band tunes to start appearing on Billboard's Hot 100, I understand why it had--and, to some extent, still has--a following.
