A big band is generally a jazz ensemble with 10 or more musicians that includes trumpets, trombones, saxophones and a rhythm section consisting of any combination of piano, bass, drums and guitar.
Big band music developed out of early African-American music styles, such as blues and jazz. It became popular in the 1930s.
Unlike most jazz, big band music is and was highly arranged. Improvised big band music never became as popular as its arranged counterpart.
Big bands performed a variety of jazz styles, including swing, bebop, hard bop and cool.
"The King of Swing," Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Count Basie are a few examples of bandleaders who helped make big band music popular in the early 20th century.
Big band music was highly popular with young audiences. Large ensembles were required to entertain the hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dancers who showed up at ballrooms.